I was working out this morning at the club I belong to on my favorite cardio equipment.  This morning was a bit different for me.  This area of the club is on the second floor and my equipment of preference is facing a series of windows that overlook their golf course and approximately 200 yards further out are homes.  When I do my cardio, I put on me headphones, listen to my favorite music and I have a habit of shutting my eyes.  Just prior to shutting my eyes I noticed out in the distance an individual that appeared to be a golf course maintenance employee walking around with a shovel. He was doing some work on the field which wasn't all that surprising because although it was the middle of winter, the weather was pretty mild.  So, I started thinking about the shovel he was using.  Shovels have many purposes.  It can be used to dig ditches.  It can be used to dig roads.  It can be used to dig graves.  It can be used to shovel snow.  It can be used to plant beautiful gardens, etc.  It can even be used as a murder weapon.   
 When I look back at my life, I think at everything that I have done that have led me to where and who I am today.  I look back at the way I was raised and my experiences and yes, some pretty dumb decisions that I made.  However, I would not change one thing.  You see, my past doesn't define who I am.  It has had an impact on my present life but, it's still the past and the past is gone; buried by using my metaphorical shovel to dig a grave. That part of me back then no longer exists. 
 I'm not delusional or in denial, but your past is expired time.  It truly has no business in your present moment.  Many individuals constantly live in their past. In other words, if in your past you were an illicit drug user, that doesn't mean your present or future has to be that of an illicit user, unless you allow it and unless you give it permission.  You have the power to decide what your life will be from this moment going forward.  I needed to let go of my past -  a Latino male, raised in the ghetto, poor, English as a second language, a father who barely had four years of elementary school in his home country of Cuba, who worked and supported 6 children on a waiter's salary, a mother who stayed home raising the children the majority of the time and when she worked cleaned toilets part time, who has/had 5 siblings who none finished high school, who had an older sister who died of HIV related illness, a younger brother who was a severe alcoholic, who died of an alcohol related injury.  I can keep going but it's not necessary. 
 I used my shovel and buried my past and decided to finish high school, college and law school to become an attorney.  If I were to live in my past or better yet let my past define my future, I probably would have repeated history and lived in government subsidized housing, with a menial job, existing on government assistance, perhaps with a severe drinking problem who may be dead by now.   However, that was not what I expected of myself.  I used my metaphorical shovel to dig a grave and bury my past a long time ago.  Then I used the same shovel to dig my road to success. 
 I'm not pointing this out to pull my own chain.  I'm referring to my past and my present to stress to the reader that it can be done if you want to do it.  I always have a tendency to see things not just with my eyes but with my mind.  Seeing things with your eyes is vision.  Seeing thing with your mind is insight. I hope that after reading this article you will use your metaphorical shovel to start digging your road to success. 
 I leave you with a quote on point.  "Where you are coming from doesn't matter but where you are going does.  Hence look forward and not backwards.  Your eyes are placed in front of you for a reason.  Your eyes only look backwards for special references.  Keep your eyes on the road."  Oscar Bimpong.
 Just a thought.  

Why do most individuals lie?  There are countless reasons why individuals lie.   Perhaps too many for this article but, my goal is to attempt to answer the question.  Some of the most common reasons are, not wanting to hurt someone's feelings, fear, pretentiousness, cornering someone without sufficient time to think, etc.  There are also what is referred to as white lies.  Some justify white lies as not really lies. Regardless of how harmless or trivial a lie may be, it's a lie.  It can be a red, white or blue lie or my favorite color of green.  It's still a lie.  Or to use a cheesy analogy, no pun intended, regardless of how you slice Swiss cheese, it's always going to have holes and smell like Swiss cheese.  In addition, some will lie through omission, but it's still a lie.  I'm not saying that just because individuals lie that they are a sort of monster or are societal misfits, so please don't get me wrong.  I personally know of individuals who can't tell the truth if the truth hit them in the face.  Some of these individuals are loving, friendly and productive members of society, although, I would not put any trust in what they say. Remember, if you lie, you're not just lying to the recipient, you're lying to yourself.  In some very limited circumstances, I can understand why a lie may be justified, but that is the exception not the general rule.  The following is an example of such an occasion.  I believe it was the difference between life and death.   In my previous career as a police officer, I knew of a narcotic agent that was assigned for some time to a sophisticated major drug unit.  Needless to say, he was in a secretive major drug taskforce or what is commonly referred to as "undercover."  He was summoned by a group of 3 men who he was in close contact with for several months over high-level narcotic investigations.  In was in a condo close to the beach in an affluent neighborhood of South Florida.  As soon as he walked in, he described to me that he felt something was out of the ordinary.  He described it as a premonition or what some may refer to as I understood it as a sixth sense.  However, it was too late for him to just turn away and walk out.  He was guided to sit on a bar stool type chair surrounded by these three individuals.  Everyone in the group including himself were armed with pistols which is not uncommon in the drug trade.  One of the individuals who he knew to be a runner for the main dealer pulled his gun out, cocked the hammer and stuck it quite force fully into his right temple.  After a few seconds he had vivid thoughts of dying. He told me that while this was happening rapidly, that he was, at peace because of his perceived imminent death.  The only thing running through his mind was that they found out that he was an undercover agent.  As stressful as this incident was, he described a sense of relaxation because a shot to his head would be painless and quick.  He wasn't playing the victim.  Afterall, he did sign up for this position well informed of the risks.  He also revealed to me other thoughts of them wrapping his lifeless body in a sheet and dumbing him in the Atlantic Ocean.  The person holding the gun to his head was yelling at him that they thought he was a cop and therefore a trader and that is why they were going to kill him.   He appeared to be a quick thinker on his feet, and he specifically told me he heard loud and clear that they "thought" he was a cop.  So, he started thinking maybe just maybe they are not sure so therefore, what would he have to lose by sticking to the lie that he wasn't a cop? He pretty much accepted that he was going to get killed.  After a few second, which felt like an eternity, as he described it, the person holding the gun to his head uncocked the hammer and they all started laughing and saying that they believed him all along, but they had to make sure because they were getting ready to do a substantial drug deal. That is as much as I will say about him because this isn't a police story but rather, I wanted to maybe give the reader an example of when a lie may be appropriate.  
 Also, on point of why some individuals lie can be explained in a book I'm currently reading titled "12 Rules for Life," by Jordan B. Peterson.  Dr. Peterson, who is a clinical psychologist describes life being a struggle between good and bad and that all individuals have a dark side that they have to reconcile. To support his theory, he gets into world atrocities caused by humans against others such as the Holocaust, Russian Gulag camps, mass shooters, etc.   He compares life to the Chinese Philosophy of Yin and Yang of two opposite forces at work in all humans.  So, maybe it helps in answering the question of why individuals lie.  If you look around, we do have a history of building societies adhering to law and order, therefore, we have been very successful as humans.  Of course, there's always work to be done to continue our progress and development.  If an article like this can help you understand that although we are not perfect, we are in general good. The proof is in what we've accomplished so far.  Therefore, maybe the question should be, how far can we go as a person if we catch ourselves when we want to lie?  What I would say to solve that dilemma is pretty simple. Don't lie!
I leave you with a quote on point.  "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."  Mark Twain
  Just a thought.

I was doing my cardio recently and while I was getting off of my favorite equipment, which is an elliptical air glider, I was approached by a member at the club where I work out who asked me "How do you have the time to work out as much as you do?"  My response was pretty quick and spontaneous. I told him, "I don't have the time not to work out."   I literally cannot afford not to work out and do my part to stay healthy.  To me life is all about priorities and adjustments.  I am at the health club religiously, almost every day.  I do cardio every other day about an hour and a half and on the none-cardio days I lift weights.  In addition, I incorporate stretching and foam rolling every day.  I don't have to do this but, fitness and staying healthy has always been a priority for me.  Life doesn't require me to be fit but, if I want to enjoy my life with my family, I require that of myself.  I do not want to leave you with a false impression that it is easy, especially the older I get but, nothing in life is easy.  I was under the misguided impression that life is smooth.  I was never told that as you get older things start to ache. I was never taught that in any physical education courses I took in the past.  I was under the impression that aches and pain was for individuals that were unfit.  Boy was I wrong.  Just imagine if I wasn't fit.  So yes, life is not easy but, quite frankly I don't want easy.  I want challenges.  That is what makes me better and stronger. The view is always better the higher you climb the mountain.  The problem is that many want the best view however, they don't want to sweat, grind or work for it.  In other words, many individuals want the best life with the least amount of effort.  That's not how it really works.  I also understand that things happen that are out of our control but, that's the exception.  To that I say, that's life.  I'm always going to continue going until I say it's over.  Sometimes when the unexpected happens, we have to make adjustments.  
 To me adjustments are a necessity of life.  My fitness routines have been adjusted throughout my life many times.  I'm sure they will continue to require adjustments especially as I get older.  You have to be nuts to think that at 40, 50, 60 and so forth you could do what you were doing at 20.  There are age factors, injuries etc., that show up in this dance called life.  But, as aforementioned, that's life.  What's the alternative?  In other areas of life, business, family, mental, spirituality and financially etc., adjustments are a necessary component in advancing to the next level.  For example, in my professional life as an attorney, I started in a certain area of law but as the needs changed in the community, I changed my area of practice.  You need to understand that just because you have done something in a certain way, it doesn't have to stay that way.  In business you have to continue to explore different ways of marketing your product of services in order to stay relevant.  In order to continue to grow you need to make adjustments.  That's part of the life deal.  When I first started the practice of law, I would have never imagined having a trial by Zoom.  In some jurisdictions it is now common practice.  If the attorney doesn't adjust and change his ways he is done.  Life will never stop for you, nor should you want it to.  You are the one who bears the responsibility to continue moving forward; to continue growing; to continue making the required adjustments to truly enjoy your time on this planet.  Life is not meant to be easy; it's meant to be lived - and lived to the fullest.
  Just a thought.

I was recently accepted into a Ph.D., program titled Global Leadership and Change.  I was asked several times by colleagues and friends, why am I doing it? My answer is clear to me but, you will have to read the entire article to get my answer.  So, I started thinking about things.  I started to focus on the word leadership.  I started thinking in a deeper spiritual way about what it truly means to be a leader.  In the context of what is currently going on in Europe where the Russians invaded Ukraine, I was motivated to write an article titled "Leadership" to emphasis my definition of leadership.  Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, is the leader of Russia.  But is he truly a leader? The former KGB operative is the longest serving leader in Russia since the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.  On the flip side, the country he decided to invade is its neighbor, Ukraine.  The president of Ukraine is, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  Four years prior to being elected president, he was one of Ukraine's most popular TV comedians.  To give you a bit more perspective, he starred in a satirical TV show where he performed a troupe where he played the piano with his penis for five minutes.  Is he a leader?  
 The aforementioned individuals are elected leaders of their countries but are they actually leaders?  Putin is described as a tyrant, a dictator and even a super villain.  Zelenskyy has been described as a positive, inspiring democratically elected leader.  Is he a leader?  Webster defines a leader as, a person who has commanding authority or influence... I guess by that definition, we can all agree Hitler was a leader.  In fact, he inspired many to commit atrocities.  To me society has it all wrong when it comes to leaders or leadership.  It seems that the powers to be want us to believe that a leader is born with some power that is only reserved for a few.  In my opinion, a leader is not a leader just because he was elected to a certain position or has certain titles bestowed up them.  To me, leaders are not about the person who is in a leadership role.  It is about being able to inspire others to be their best.  A leader is a mom or dad, coach, teacher or anyone regardless of their status who understands that being a leader is not about them but about serving others.  It is about making a positive impact on someone else's life.  Not to coerce people into compliance or using fear for an end result. It is not about holding degrees or titles.  To me, two core principles of a leader is an understanding that it is not about the person in the role of a leader and, the impact has to be a positive one.   If you are privileged to be in a position of leader and inspire others to do positive for the common good, that is the ultimate definition of a true leader.  The only person so far that has met my definition of leader was my father.  He immigrated in this country from Cuba with my mother and had six children and never complained.  He inspired me to be who I am today.  So why am I embarking on a Ph.D., in global leadership and change at this point in my life with 25 years of experience as an attorney and still in private practice?  It is so I can play my part in inspiring positive change in individuals.  My goal internationally is to assist the Cuban people with a non-profit after they transition to a free market.  Domestically, I intend to do my dissertation in assisting to reform policing in a positive way.  I believe that a chief of police should be a civilian.  If our commander-in-chief is a civilian, then why can't a police chief be a civilian?  It would be akin to a CEO leading an organization.  That would be true positive reform.  I leave you with a quote by Ronald Reagan.  "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things.  He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things."
      Just a thought.

I never stop thinking and evaluating my dreams and aspirations.  I was asked once regarding my working out routine, which among other things, consist of doing an hour and a half of cardio each day, why do I work out so much and my response is, why do you shower every day?  To me staying fit is a life style.  It is a  commitment to maintain, as far as we know, the only body the universe has given us to navigate life.  The same goes with thinking about always doing better in life.  Regardless of your age, young, middle age or senior, you are here to continue to grow, learn and create.  As I see it, if you stop growing you are done living.  If you stop learning or think you know it all, you are done living.  If you stop creating, you are done living.  The reason is that there would be nothing else for you to do on this earth.  You would be a waste of space on the planet.  That is why it is common to hear stories about when individuals retire, they pass on soon thereafter.  But the real disturbing element of  being ambitionless is that if you really think about it, many individuals are empty vessels.  Who came up with the idea that we are supposed to go to school, get a job with a pension that we are to one day, after many years doing this job that we may hate, earn a vested interest to be given the privilege to trade our precious time for a pension that in many cases is not enough for the basic necessities, in the interim get married, raise a family, pay your taxes and die.  I certainly did not sign up for that.  But then, I was never one to follow the rules.  I was always the one to make my own rules, at least as it pertains to my life.  
 It reminds me of a song by Jackson Browne titled, "Running On Empty."  Part of the lyrics are as follows, "Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels, looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields.  65 I was 17 and running up 101, I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on.  Running on empty, running blind, running into the sun, but I'm running behind.  Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive, trying not to confuse it, with what you do to survive.  69 I was 21and I called the road my own, I don't know when the road turned into the road I'm on..."  Relatively speaking, the 70 to100 years we have on this planet is very short compared to the universe.  But, most individuals don't really pay much attention to their limited time.  I happen to believe that we really never die because the essence of our true self is spiritual in nature so we live on in infinity but, what I am referring to is our physical presence on earth.  I can almost bet you that most individuals when they're younger have said to themselves, When I'm 35 I will be..., you fill in the blank.  Then when they reach 35 and are behind on their dreams say, when I'm 45 I will ..., you fill in the blank.  And so forth and so on.  You get my point.  Many are living on empty.  Empty is great, if you are referring to emptying out your mind before you go to sleep at night of all the negative garbage put in during the day.  Aside from the aforementioned, Living on empty or as Jackson Brown would say, running on empty is, I believe, a wasted existence.  However, it it never to late to change your life.  It is pretty easy to do.  By changing the way you think you can change your life dramatically.  Live your your life to the fullest.  Set goals and take steps to accomplish them.  I promise you that if you were to change your ways to a more productive and positive lifestyle that you will make it to the top.  How can I make such a bold prediction?  Because, I have done it.  So you too can do it.  I leave you with a quote on point by Mandy Hale.  "Hope for love, pray for love, wish for love, dream for love...but don't put your life on hold waiting for love."  
     Just a thought.

I recently spoke at a school regarding the power that we all have individually to live a full and abundant life. The audience was 8th graders.  It appeared to me that they were very attentive.  The focus of my speech was the individual self.  The power to manifest the life of your dreams.  A life, that they are the only ones who can determine and define exactly what that life is.  This life is not determined by their parents, teachers, friends, grandparents, etc.   They are the only ones that have the power to define the direction of their lives.  I am not suggesting to a group of 13 year olds to defy their parents.  True parents love their children unconditionally and want not only what's best for  them but, for their children to do better than them.  I go back to my relationship with my father who was a very kind and loving man.  He had tremendous work ethics and I know I learned that from him.  He came over as an immigrant with absolutely nothing and supported my mother and six children on a waiter's wage.  He worked several jobs just to keep his family afloat.  Unfortunately it was never enough.  I am not blaming him for the standard of life that he provided because that is all he thought he could do.  I would not be here today if it wasn't for my parents .  I am very grateful to have had them and I would not have wanted any other parents.  However, my father was missing the knowledge of the ages of the power that he possessed  to live an abundant life. I'm not letting my mother off the hook because she too was unaware of this knowledge but she was a home maker.  In addition, I am not singling out my parents because I truly believe most individuals are unaware of this power.  It all starts with the law of attraction and how we think.
 The law of attraction states that whatever we think about and believe, we will attract.  It can be positive thoughts or negative thoughts, if we think about them and believe in them, we will manifest them.  In fact, whether you understand the law of attraction or are unaware of the law of attraction, it exist.  If you think about negative thoughts you will attract negative results.  If you think about positive thoughts you will attract positive results.  It all starts with a thought.  Everything you see around you started with someone having a thought in their mind about it.  Whether it's the chair you're sitting on, the bed you sleep on or the I-phone you possess.  It all started with someone thinking about the "thing," and putting all their energy and effort into manifesting it.  It is all on "you."  You and you alone have that power as it relates to manifestations in your life.  There are so many individuals that are just living with no purpose in life.  That is horrible on it's face but, also add in that most individuals are miserable in their chosen vocations.  Or I should say, their "unchosen." vocations.  This was my point about parents.    Just because your mother or father have chosen for themselves a certain profession or vocation, that doesn't mean that, it is the path you should take or want to take.  If your mother is a successful dentist and encourages you into dentistry, that may not be your bliss.  That may be your mom's calling but not yours.  Your passion may be to scoop ice cream in your ice cream shop in Miami beach wearing Birkenstocks,  shorts and tank tops.  At 13, Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's International wrote in his school year book that he wanted to flip burgers for the rest of his life.  I'm sure he was laughed at and it probably worried his parents.  But, just look at what he created.  He had a thought, a belief and a passion!  
 Moreover, there are two other elements that we must be aware of, as I see it, and deal with to reach our entitled life of abundance - victimization and fear.  It seems that in todays society that there is a push towards victimization.  Victimization is only an excuse for failure.  Many blame everything from politics, weather, race, gender, parents, teachers, money, religion, and everything in between for their failures in life.  You need to take a good look in the mirror and from this point on talk to yourself.  Accept that there are no more excuses.  It is all on you.  You own it! It all starts with you.  If you stubbed your toe, it's your fault.  If you are broke, it's your fault.  If you fall down the stairs on a wet staircase at a pool in a plush hotel in Miami and fracture your tail bone and wrist as I recently did, it's my fault.  If the client I was expecting to show up to pay a retainer fee does not show up it's my fault.  If the roof on my house leaks it's my fault.  If I am fat, it's my fault.  If I am not as healthy as I want to be it's my fault.  You get my point and, if you don't, it's your fault!!! Just being humorous.  So from this point on, accept responsibility for your life.  Understand that life will at times hit you hard but, that will make you smarter and wiser.  The other element as I see it is fear.
 Fear can not only kill your dreams and aspirations, but it can have a serious negative impact on your health.  There are many studies that show a correlation between living in constant fear and ill health.  I believe the greatest illness we face in society today is fear.  The irony is that fear really does not exist.  It is a self created illusion.  You see we all have this internal "thing," to be creative but then fear creeps in and kills our dreams.  It took me many years to get to what I am about to say but, I can sincerely say to you that I fear nothing.  I used to fear death but not any longer.  You see, death is the one thing that we will all experience.  It is the ultimate equalizer.  Rich or poor, black or white, male or female, we will all experience it.  So once you no longer fear it, your entire perspective changes.  It is a liberating experience.  Don't get me wrong, we all want to live long, healthy lives.  So stop thinking about it.  You have no control over it so let it go and enjoy living your life.  Live your life the way you wish to live. Someone's opinion of you does not have to be your reality.  I go even further by saying that someone's opinion of you is none of your business.  I read where the odds of you being born is one in four hundred trillion.  So ask yourself a simple question.  Why am I here? You have already won.  You have beaten the odds.   You are special and you have something to offer.  What are you waiting for?  I leave you with a quote on point by the Wizard of Oz.  "You've always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself."
      Just a thought.

Today I purchased a new vehicle.  The entire experience was a positive one.  I am not mentioning my purchase for the purpose of bragging.  To make this point clear, I am not mentioning the make or model of my purchase because it is irrelevant to this discussion.  Although, I am immensely grateful to be able to do so.  So, I started to think as I often do about my experience.  Thinking about this experience was not any different as when I think about other life experiences. The sales person happened to be a young male.  He was in his early to mid 20's.  We hit it off immediately.  I believe this to be the case because of my belief in the law of attraction.  We attract not necessarily what we want but what we are in association with our way of thinking.  That is how I approach my life view.  I not only want to have pleasant and successful experiences in whatever I do but, I expect it.  So in return, I receive what I put out.  This to me, seems very much to be common sense.  So then I started thinking about marketing in general.
 Marketing is the action or business of promoting and selling products or services.  I think marketers have it all wrong.  They seem to focus on certain groups or segments of a population.  As in for example, when Nike hired a controversial figure to promote their product.  I am not here to make a political statement or take any sides as it is my habit not to mention any names.  However, by Nike making such a decision, they missed out on a large segment of the population.   It seems that Nike is not even close to being the only company to take such a position.  Many companies seem to focus strictly on their product or services.  What if companies decided to shift their strategy to focusing on their employees as the main component in their marketing strategy?  In other words train and hire their employees who truly believe in the product they are selling.  I understand there has to be a balance because if the company has a lousy or defective product, they are not going to do well regardless of who is their spokes person or sales person.  Moreover, I believe a true sales person, doesn't really have to sell anything to be successful.  Either the product will sell itself or the person selling it will be so enthusiastic and positive about the product that the buyer will purchase it.  If companies change their philosophy in marketing it would be a win win for the company and consumer.  Most consumers have a stereotypical view of a successful salesperson as being very aggressive.  Then once the consumer gets home they have buyers remorse.    I am sure you have heard about aggressive sale persons being able to sell anything to anyone.  To me, that sounds more like a con person.  It would be exceptional, to have a sales person who assists the buyer in purchasing something that the buyer truly needs or wants in a positive way.  That is exactly what I felt when I purchased my vehicle today.  The sales person was pleasant and positive.  It made me feel like I was rooting for him so that he can get the deserved commission.  He truly made me feel that he loved the product that he was selling.  Even though I knew exactly what I wanted, he reinforced my desires in a positive way.  I leave you with a quote on point by Theodore Roosevelt.  "The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."
    Just a thought.

My favorite fruit is any type of melon.  But, if I had to pick one it would be the watermelon.  The melon family, cucurbitaceae, is a plant family commonly known as melons, gourds or cucurbits and includes crops like cucumbers, squashes, including pumpkins, luffas and melons, which includes watermelon.  Since I do not eat sugar, by choice, to satisfy my sweet tooth I eat fruits which have natural sugars.  I also find that a slice of watermelon or any other fruit in the morning prior to my workout is a great source of energy.  In addition, eating fruit can lower your risk of disease.  Studies have shown that eating fruit each day will reduce the risk of heart disease by 7%.  Another study showed that eating fruits like grapes, apples and blueberries is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.  Now, this is not an article about the benefit of eating fruit.  But, for those who know my writing style, I usually start some of my articles leading the reader down a path where they think they know where I'm going then I  switch gears.  So to stay true to form, this article is about the spiritual aspects of fruit.  
 I am not a religious person.  But, I am  spiritual.  I am not in any way trying to offend any religious individuals.  I am not trying to sell you anything or attempting to indoctrinate you into any organizations.  I am just a writer who enjoys sharing my thoughts with the readers.  I do believe in God however, the God I believe in is akin to energy - a complete love force.  However, not a love associated with any religion.  I was born and raised a Catholic but ever since I became an adult and was able to choose and do my own research, I decided that religion was not for me.  I probably can be called a deist because of my belief in God but not in religion.  I am not a biblical scholar  nor do I pretend to be.  But, I find the bible a great self help, inspiration literary publication.  Although I admit that I have not read it from cover to cover, I have studied many parts but not in any orderly way.  I am a strong believer in the power we all possess to live a life of our choosing.  However, most individuals do not see it as I do.  That is perfectly fine.  That is our choice and freedom.  We are not clones.  I believe that eventually we will all get it and that is when we will start to see amazing changes in our lives.  After I "got it," or as some may refer to as enlightenment, my life changed in amazing ways.  I can sincerely tell you that I fear nothing in my life.  I can also tell you that I live everyday with a connection to my source.  I know and expect to succeed in whatever it is that I want to accomplish.  I see through my mind in a spiritual way not through my eyes.  I have never seen a bump on the road or barrier that I can not walk around.  For every single alleged problem you encounter, there is a solution.  How would I know that? Because, if there wasn't a solution you wouldn't be here reading my article.  Part of my belief is that this universal source or energy or some may call Jesus or Christ like or Allah or call it whatever you want to call it, is part part of everyone of us.  What you call this source doesn't matter.  What matters is that we all have it.  We came from this source and we will one day be going back to this source.  In scripture it states that when Jesus was being stoned for blasphemy for saying he was God he stated, "did I not say you are all gods?"  We all have this power within but, the majority of individuals do not use it.  I do not believe I am better than you or anyone else.  I believe, I am you and you are me.  We are all connected.  How I treat you or the environment in essence, is how I treat myself because we are all one.  It is easy to see who is living an enlightened life.  In scripture it states, and I am paraphrasing,  "you don't judge a tree by the name it wears, you judge a tree by the fruit it bears."   The fruit we should all strive to bear is love.  Love will lead you to happiness which will lead you to wherever you want to go.  I leave you with a quote on point.  "Knowing others is wisdom.  Knowing yourself is enlightenment." Author unknown.
     Just a thought.  

I mediated today as I usually do.  I have made it my habit to do so for a long time.  While in my meditative state I had an epiphany.  So I started thinking about what is currently going on in the world with the Covid-19 virus.  Let me just continue with a disclaimer.  I am not in the business of making political statements or taking political sides. I am not in the business of judging others.  I am not in the  business of giving medical advise about whether you should or should not get vaccinated.  I am a writer who enjoys the art of writing and opening an individual's mind.  I enjoy expressing my thoughts to the readers.  If I say something that may benefit you, great.  If whatever I write about you find as hog wash then just ignore it or discard it.  It seems that Americans today are in a bad place and the people in power just want to stoke the flames of discourse because in some delusional way they may thing it is beneficial to maintaining power.  The issue of whether a person is vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus or has chosen not to, is none of my business.  I believe that is a personal choice between you in consultation with your doctors and spiritual advisers.  Enough about Covid.  However, one deadly virus that I see that the majority of individuals are exposed to but we rarely hear about is what I like to coin, the "Negative Mind Virus."
 This negative mind virus has killed many dreams.  Maybe a reason it's not front and center is because Big Pharmaceutical companies can't make money with this virus.  Although there are mind altering pharmaceuticals to alleviate some mental health issues, it is not the big revenue maker as for example, a Covid vaccine. Another factor is that this negative mind virus is 100% curable.  We all have it within us to cure this epidemic with how we think.  Negative thinking can create chronic stress which can upset the body's hormone balance and impact a person's immune system.  In fact, chronic stress from negative thoughts can actually decrease our lifespan.  Science has also identified that stress and negative thoughts can shorten our telomeres which are the end caps of our DNA strands which cause us to age more quickly and shorten our lives.  Therefore, not only does negative thinking and the stress associated with such behavior deadly, but spiritually, it too is a killer.  Negative thinking has killed countless dreams and aspirations.  It forces an individual to ruminate over perceived negative experience instead of experiencing wonder and life to the fullest.  It really all comes down to an individual choice.  It is that simple.  All you have to do is make the choice to think positive thoughts.  When a negative thought enters your mind, catch it for the thief that it is and get rid of it by thinking thoughts that inspire you.  Maybe listen to your favorite music or picture your favorite piece of art or pet you dog or go for a walk in nature.  Whatever floats your boat to change a negative thought into a positive should be your priority.  The best part of this negative mind virus is that you do not need medication or external influences to quash it.  We all have the power and, I would say, the obligation to terminate it so that we can be productive, loving, grateful and abundant spiritual beings.  We are here to live life to the fullest.  You are never too young or too old to get started.  What are you waiting for?  I leave you with a quote by Lou Holtz.  "If you put negative thoughts into your mind, you're going to get negative results.  It's just as true that if you put positive thoughts into your mind, you will be a recipient of positive results."
      Just a thought.

I have always enjoyed the experience of food shopping.  My wife on the other hand despises it.   I enjoy being around crowds.  I enjoy the energy but in addition, I find it entertaining with a sprinkle of education.  I find a supermarket experience similar to life.   Let me try to explain before you assume I have received too many blows to my head from my football playing days.  Walk into any supermarket and you will find thousands of items for the consumer. In fact there are so many choices that it may seem as if there is a never ending inventory of merchandise.  As you walk through this adventure called life, you will find an infinite amount of  things to do or choices to make. In a supermarket, some choices are beneficial or in some cases needed, for whatever you are planning.  In life, you will have an infinite number of choices to make on a daily basis.  Some are important, some are not.  The unimportant ones will be ignored like a leaf falling off a tree in the cool fall breeze.  In a supermarket, some items are marked down because they may be getting a new shipment, it's not selling well or they are soon to expire.  After all consumer goods do have an expiration date.  But, whatever the reason may be, a marked down item gives you a sense that it's not as good as a regular priced item.  Whether this is true or not, that is the feeling I get regarding items that are marked down.  There is a sense of cheap energy associated with it.  In life, some individuals live a a very casual life and so they become casualties of life.  You see, they subconsciously live a marked down life because they worry about taking chances.  In other words, they live a limited life.  They fear letting it all out.  They worry too much about failing instead of the ultimate prize if they were to succeed.  They seem to major in the minor things in life.  For the baseball aficionados, Reggie Jackson, a hall of fame baseball player, holds the record for the most strike outs by a professional baseball player.  Notwithstanding, he was one of the best sluggers in baseball history.  He was certainly not worried about swinging and missing.  As aforementioned,  we all have an expiration date.  We all have a prime time in this theatre of life.  So why not go for it?  If you really break it down, what can happen if you swing and miss?  I prefer to swing and miss and depart this life with an empty tank than not swing and depart with a full tank.  
 One of the most important aspects of my supermarket experience is that if you walk into a supermarket with no true objective of what you want, you will most often then not end up in the wrong isle.  Or purchasing something that you did not intend to buy.  As in life, if you walk around without a defined purpose, you may end up with a life that you really did not want.  Life will do what life does.  So why not choose the life you want to live.  The way I see it, most individuals walk around as wonderers and allowing life to choose for them.  The individuals that get out of life what they want, is not because they are better than you, it is because they have a purpose and focus on that purpose until they accomplish it or they are ready to move on.  You have to be hungry and stay hungry, no pun intended, towards your goals.  If the hunger or drive is missing in whatever it is you want to accomplish, you will just be a dreamer without any real plan.  You have to bring a sense of enthusiasm to your dreams and aspirations.  I encourage every reader to step into the supermarket of life with a purpose.  Go right to the isle of your dreams with a hunger and enthusiasm that is obvious and go for it!! There is nothing stopping you.  I leave you with a quote on point by Winston Churchill.  "If you're going through hell, keep going." And I will add with enthusiasm!
      Just a thought.

I recently had my cell phone upgraded.  This process took about 3 hours to complete since there are 4 lines attached to my account.  The experience was pleasant compared to previous occasions.  So today while I was at the gym, I mediated as is routine for me and I started thinking about the importance and necessity of upgrading ourselves.  We upgrade our cars, our phones, our residences, or relationships, our employment, the food we eat, the beverages we drink, our political opinions, our pictures, our furniture, our clothes, etc.  However, when was the last time you decided to upgrade yourself?  We are under the erroneous assumption that by upgrading the aforementioned, it will make us happy.   But, does it really?  The  way I have always seen it is that happiness has to start within.  All external stimulants may make us think we are happy but, if you are honest with yourself, they contribute nothing towards our internal spiritual needs.  The true measure of success is how you measure up to yourself and your potential not your neighbor.
 We seem to be all too busy upgrading everything in our lives except, ourselves.  We upgrade ourselves by understanding that we have the most important element to happiness and success literally right in front of us.  Actually, I should say inside of us instead of in front of us.  This metaphorical self upgrade is in the choices we make through our thinking.  I have concluded through my many years of reading and studying this subject that most individuals worry by nature.  The default program in the brain is to scare you so that you worry and therefore hold back. In a way it is there to protect us.  However, this kind of protection I do not want.  I separate the brain and the functions of the brain with the mind.  You see the mind is the controller of your life.  The mind, in my opinion, is what separates us from any other species.  We can change our lives in an instance just by changing and choosing what we think about.  As a kid and through all my years of formal schooling I was never taught about the unlimited inherit power of the mind that we all possess and, how simple it is to change your life in an instance.  I learned about the brain but was never taught that the brain and the mind are two separate elements.  The power of thinking and the thoughts produced by the mind can be life changing.  We all have this power.  However, beware that this power of the mind does not discriminate between good or bad thoughts.  Its purpose is to bring your ideas and thoughts to life.  Our thoughts are a very powerful instrument to either create happiness and wealth or sickness and poverty.  If you are not where you want to be in life, maybe it's time to upgrade your way of thinking from the old to the new.  Einstein said, "There is no go or bad only thinking makes it so."  I encourage all the readers to accept  a challenge.  After you read this article, for the next 24 hours, think positive,  smile and be welcoming to strangers on the street.  If you have a worry or a negative thought, catch yourself, scold yourself and immediately think of something positive.  I leave you with a thought on point.  "When things go wrong, don't go with them."  Elvis Presley.
    Just a thought.

My wife and I recently had a discussion about the importance of a formal education.  Her position is that formal education is an absolute must for a successful future but, not for the reasons that the majority of individuals think.  My position is the opposite.  How can we have different positions on education even though we both have extensive formal education? So I meditated as I usually do and I came up with ideas that to me seem to go to the core of societal problems.  Before I start, I want to inform the reader that my articles are thoughts on my opinions.  It is the way I view the world.  I am not any more intelligent than you are.  I am not anymore powerful or special than you are.  I respect all ideas and opinions.  A diverse, robust, opinion filled society is a recipe for success and tolerance.    If whatever I write about or opine about can be useful to stimulate someone's creative thinking then great, use it.  But, if on the other hand you find my articles or opinions useless then discard them.  So, I started thinking about what is currently going on in our country of late where individuals with opposing views seem to be cancelled and, many are upset with an economic system that seem to benefit a few while leaving the majority behind.  So naturally the revolt is against our economic system that seems on the surface to be unfair to the masses.  As I see it, this anger is displaced.  You see, the economic system that we have today which is capitalism and which built the most advanced and richest country on the planet, the United States, is not the problem.  The real problem lies with our educational system.  
 I believe, our educational system is broken and needs to be re-imagined.  I use the term re-imagined because we hear this word lately about re-imagining policing.  Rarely do we look at, probably the most important institution in our country, which are schools.  Schools were set up to teach children to comply.  And, if the students  obey they will be rewarded with a job.  A job  that they will have for 40 plus years, pay taxes, retire and die.  In particular, I focus on public school but, private and religious or parochial schools operate the same way.  Politicians allocate enormous amounts of money to a completely broken system.   That is what politicians do.  They seem to have an open check policy to fund a system that has consistently failed our students.  That is probably because their only concern is getting the support of the powerful teacher's union to remain in power. To begin with there is no accountability for the product that schools are producing in the form of students who will be left behind.  Ironically the "No Child Left Behind Act," was created to fix our public schools but in fact has done more to damage the system than to fix it.  A huge component of the no child left  behind act is test scores and punitive action.  However, a one size fits all system that the public schools adhere to is a complete failure.  How is it that despite the United States spending more per capita per students in K-12, than any other nation, they lack considerably behind other countries in educating and preparing our students for success?  Finland  is currently ranked as the number one K-12 education system.  Finnish students consistently have the highest scores in math, science, and reading.  Finnish schools also have a very low key model that allows students to learn at a more relaxed pace. They seem to understand that a one size fits all model of teaching is counter productive.  Denmark, South Korea and many other countries rank ahead of the United States.  By any benchmarks, the United States is lagging behind.  Some will blame politicians and some blame the teachers unions.  They both are contributors to the failing educational system for sure but I believe in fairness.  Therefore,  parents need to accept responsibility for this catastrophic failing system.  I believe, it is time for parents to demand accountability from teachers, school boards and politicians.  If one good thing came out of the Covid-19 lookdown and school closures is that this decrepit educational system was exposed for what it is.  This failed system isn't a new phenomena.  I believe it was set up purposefully years ago during the industrial revolution to get a compliant work force.  Students are treated for the most part the same.  Cookie cutter systems of education,  are unacceptable.  Maybe a cookie cutter system is fine for building houses in a suburb but not to educate our most precious commodity which is our children.  And, if doctors should not be prescribing the same medication for all their patients why is our school system prescribing the same form of education for all our children, knowing that they are all different?  I remember growing up when being a teacher was admirable.  It seems that the Covid-19 pandemic, as aforementioned, has changed that perspective.  By this I mean that it seems that teachers would rather listen to there union representative and stay home or teach remotely than to be in a class room.  Teachers bare a large portion of the responsibility for our broken educational system.  Maybe a good start to fixing the system is a grading system for teachers and if they miss the grade fire them.  If you really think about it, public school teachers are just typical government workers.  It seems that they can't get fired regardless of their work production. They need to say to their union bosses enough is enough.  But, instead seem to hide behind the union shield.  
 I read once where it stated, "Everyone is a genius.  But, if you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." If we continue to judge children based on standardized test scores alone, we are saying they are all stupid.  Stupid because if you passed it, it is a standardized test that is useless.  Where it only teaches you to memorize and not necessarily learn anything.  Or, stupid because if they failed it,  even though it is a useless  way of grading and evaluating student progress, they failed so they are stupid.  Grasp that concept for a moment.  There was an experiment performed in a remote village in Ethiopia by, One Laptop Per Child organization, where 100 lap tops were dropped off to children with no formal education or ability to read and write and they figured out how to operate the laptop and taught themselves how to read and write.  They did this on their own without teachers.  But yet, here in the United States, our educational system seems to be in shambles.  All of us are empowered and programed to succeed.  Our teachers instead of taking conference trips to a resort in Hawaii in the interest of learning new concepts, at tax payor expense, should learn themselves how to really teach students. They should be teaching the concept of empowering students. Teaching is not a business.  It is a true calling for individuals that truly want to make a difference in people's lives.  Ironically, if it was a business, the majority would have been fired based on the services and product they are producing.  I leave you with a quote on point by Albert Einstein.  "The wit was not wrong who defined education in this way:  Education is that which remains, if one has forgotten everything he learned in school." 
     Just a thought.  

Poverty sucks!! I truly believe that poverty should be classified a disease.  You don't need to be a genius to understand this proposition.  However, it's not classified as such.  In an impoverished society, there is a much higher rate of physical or mental diseases.  There are higher rates of disability.  There are higher rates of premature death.  There are higher rates of violence.  There are higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse.  There is a higher rate of crime.  There are high rates of vices.  There are higher rates of high school drop outs.  There are higher rates of TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS.  So why is poverty not classified a disease?  It truly rattles my intellect.  In my opinion, poverty is the root of all evil.  Ironically, some may think that money is the root of all evil.  I am disappointed to say but, in my opinion, why poverty is not classified a disease is because the powers to be are kept in power by not focusing on eliminating it.  This is a disease that can be eradicated off the face of the earth.  It is up to each and everyone of us to play our part.  
 Poverty and wealth are the opposite sides of the same coin.  Remember as a youngster we would play a game by flipping a coin and saying out loud, "Heads I win , tails you lose."  In this metaphorical coin where heads is wealth and tails is poverty, I am more inclined at this stage in my life to say that heads I win and tails we all lose.  You see, if we do not rid the world of this disease, we all lose.  The world as I see it is not set up to help the impoverished succeed.  Most politicians or even individuals in general, are living in denial.  Politicians pretend to care by giving hand outs and investing tax dollars on social programs but, the way I see it, that is just handing out  scraps to keep society from revolting against those in power.  Powers by the way that were supposed to have been given to them temporarily by we the people to hold in trust.  Moreover, we all have an obligation to use our endowed powers granted by our creator through the power of our thoughts to make a difference.  Joe Lewis said "everyone wants to go to heaven but, no one wants to die."  By analogy regarding poverty, everyone want to succeed but poverty is the other persons problem.  I am here to say that it is collectively our problem to eradicate.  But it all starts with our way of thinking.  We first need to change the rooted negative thoughts about money and then change our attitude from a reactive to a proactive way of thinking.  If you  are not where you want to be change it.  It is up to you to change your life.  Your life is no one else's business.  It's not government's business, your parent's business, your neighbor's business, your banker's business, your spouse's business, your children's business etc.  It all starts with you.  Change your attitude for the better.  Increase your lifestyle so that you can then be in a position to lead others into this promise land of prosperity or heaven.  I am not  religious but I am a spiritual person.  So please understand that I am not trying to offend individuals that follow religion.  However, my interpretation of heaven is from the original Greek text which used the word "Ouranos," meaning expansion.  Therefore, my view of heaven is an expansion of the mind to live a full life.  A life where all individuals understand that they have the power to eradicate poverty and live a life of their choosing.  Remember, Poverty Sucks!!  I leave you with a quote on point by Anthony Horwitz, "Childhood, after all, is the first precious coin that poverty steals from a child."
    Just a thought.
    

This article is not about politics or ethnic minorities of any sort.  Although, I am a first generation immigrant of Cuban decent, and I advocate for a free Cuba, this isn't about that.  If you read any of my previous articles, and there are many, you will conclude that I keep politics and religion out of my writings.  To me, politics and religion are a sort of contact sport.  Those two subjects are polarizing and seem to divide individuals instead of bringing them together.  Think about it for a moment.  You are either a democrat or a republican a Christian or a Jew, or a Muslim or an Atheist  or a whatever.  You get my point.  So back to  the title of my article, a minority or a minority group, by its original definition, refers to a group of individuals whose practices, race, religion, ethnicity, or other characteristics are fewer in numbers than the main groups of those classifications.  Growing up in New York City, aside from it being an international city, I never felt that I was part of  any group let alone a minority group.  That wasn't how I was raised.  However, as I was going through my daily workout routine and mediation today, I had an epiphany.  I am part of a minority group.  And let me explain what I mean before being called  a hypocrite.
 I am in a super minority group of individuals who believe that we can control our lives simply by making a few simple changes.  I believe that our minds in general and the thoughts that we allow into our minds is what makes our lives a reality.  Putting a thought or idea in your mind is your choice.  Staying positive in your thinking is your choice.  Looking at a difficult time in your life as a learning experience is your choice.  Deciding on what's important in your life is your choice.  Deciding to make a commitment, in what ever it is you want to do in your life, is your choice.  Even deciding whether you want to live or die is your choice.  It is that simple.  The time you spend on whatever it is you spend your time on is a great indicator of what's important to you.  In other words, if you say you want to write a book but you spend a substantial amount of time watching television, I would say you are not committed to writing your book.  If you say you want to lose weight and workout out but you spend your time eating unhealthy food and sleeping in on a regular bases, I would say you are not committed to better health.  If you say you want to stop drinking alcohol but you reek of alcohol, you're not committed.  My point is that how you spend your money and how you spend your time says a lot about what is important to you.  You alone have the power to change your life for the better.  You alone are the decider of what is important to you.  You alone are the writer, director, producer and star of your movie titled "Life"!  You alone decide whether it's going to be a huge success or a flop.  You alone have that power.  So therefore, I am a minority.  I am part of a minority group of the 5% of the human population that believes that we can and should live a complete life.  In fact, I believe it is every individual's obligation to do so.  I read once where it stated, "God's gift to us is giving us life and our gift to God is how we choose to live our life."  I encourage individuals to join this special minority group.  Your life will be changed for the better.  I leave you with a quote from Norman Vincent Peal on point, "If happiness is determined by our thoughts it is necessary to drive off the thoughts which make for depression and discouragement."
    Just a thought.

I was meditating today as has been my practice for a long time.  Those who know me, know that I love people and I love life.  As part of this love, I write articles about life and, my thoughts, that I share with the public with no expectation of receiving anything in return.  In my quest for what I view as my purpose in life, I have read many books  I have always, as far as I can remember, enjoyed genre on self improvement, spirituality and self help.  I have been called a motivational enthusiast/speaker, spiritual blogger, life coach etc.  So, while meditating today, I came to a conclusion.  I am not a life coach or a motivational speaker because I do not have any ulterior motives.  By this I mean that if you look at motivational speakers, life coaches or even preachers, they all get compensated for their time.  I have a profession that compensates me very well for the services that I render which is the practice of law.  When you look at motivational speakers etc., they expect to get paid for their time.  Look at how many are current or past professional athletes or celebrities. They use their status to become "motivational speakers." Corporations pay large amounts of money for them to speak to their work force.  I'm not sure what benefits, if any, will be received by an individual to listen to a celebrity, who in some cases may only be a high school graduate, who is an amazing basketball player who has earned millions of dollars playing a game, tell you how you should live your life or how you can be successful in your 9-5 programming job in corporate America.  Or a Tim Robbins, who's net worth is approximately half a billion dollars speaking to you about how successful you too can be.  Or a Joel Olsteen, preaching to you from the pulpit on how you too can succeed while he lives in a mansion and is earning millions of dollars per year.  It is very easy to speak about being positive when you are making huge amounts of money and living a comfortable life.  That is the state of the motivational speaking industry as I see it. I am completely for helping individuals live a full, successful, robust life but, I question the true motivation,  no pun intended, of a speaker who gets paid very well  by using his or her status to have the privilege to speak to a crowd.  To me, it seems disingenuous.  I see it as my purpose or bliss not my occupation or a hobby.  So therefore, I consider myself a "wisdom whisperer."
 As aforementioned, spreading my wisdom is totally free.  Of course, I have had to overcome the attitude that most individuals have and that is that if it is free, it's not worth anything.  Ironically, most things that we get for free at birth,  we take for granted.  Things that are the most important things for life, for example, our heart, brain, organs etc.,  that came free at birth, we really do not pay any attention to.  Some pay more attention and even treat better their house, or watch or car than they treat their free, life sustaining organs. They neglect the "free stuff"  that came at birth and keep us alive because it came for free.  Moreover, a whisperer is a person skilled in the taming or training a specified kind of animal, typically using body language and gentle vocal encouragement rather than physical contact.  As it relates to humans, you probably know that modern humans belong to a species of Homo sapiens which can move on their own and are placed in the animal kingdom.  In addition, humans belong to the animal phylum known as chordates.  My point is that I consider myself a wisdom whisperer because I love to share my thoughts about life with the readers and I come to you free.  So, as aforementioned, when I mediated today it all came together for me.  I am not a motivational speaker or life coach or spiritual blogger or preacher etc.,  because I do not want or expect any compensation in return for my disseminating wisdom.  I truly believe that it is my calling to assist individuals to live a better life, not to better my life financially.  My reward is far more reaching then financial.  It connects me deeper to my source, which to me is pure love.  That to me is my ultimate compensation.  This is how I believe I can make a difference.  This is my calling.  When this came to me today, I was literally floored in tears,  I had this feeling permeating through my body that I never had before.  I truly believe that I was connected to my source which made me lose tract of time and space.  This is why I consider myself a "wisdom whisperer."  I love my life. I love people and I am so grateful that I have figured out my purpose.  I leave you with a quote on point by Seneca.  "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."
     Just a thought.

I recently returned from a trip with my family to my hometown, New York City.  I love big urban metropolis locations.  I remember when I was growing up all the people and beautiful buildings.  To me it is an environment like no other with maybe a few exceptions, like Tokyo.  We visited areas that in the previous times we visited, we would never consider going to.  One of those areas was the northern part of Manhattan located on the New York City side of the George Washington bridge.  My daughters who discovered the movie, "In the Heights," that was filmed on location,  expressed a desire to visit the aforementioned area.  It is an area that is mostly "Latino."  In fact, it feels like you're living in a foreign, Spanish speaking country akin to the Dominican Republic.  The residents were amazing.  To say they were welcoming would be an understatement.  The food was incredible.  The positive energy that was emanating from the businesses and the individuals was electrifying.  There was a sense of community.  In Spanish, it is called, "El Barrio."  It was so welcoming that my daughters who are born and raised in upper class suburbs have expressed an interest in living in, "El Barrio."  In essence, Washington Heights is a lower middle class neighborhood.  So I started thinking about the real difference aside from the obvious, in rich, well to do suburbs versus lower, middle class, working to make a living and survive neighborhoods.  To me the answer was pretty clear.
 We are all related regardless of where we come from. Individuals have more in common than we are led to believe.  We all have the exact time on earth.  Of course some individuals live longer than others but in general we have the same time as it relates to a 24 hour day or, as I allude to in the title of my article 86,400, which is the seconds in a 24 hour day.  How many times have we heard, I don't have time for this or that, as an excuse for not doing something.  Or another excuse that I hear often is, I wish I had more time.   Well, you're not getting more time so why not rearrange your time to make time?  Staying fit is an important component of my life so I make time to work out by rearranging my schedule.  If I have a full schedule at the office or court, I'll get up early to get to the gym.  My point is that we all can make time within the confines of our busy schedule to do what we need to do.  Then it hit me like a glass of cold water to the face.  The vast majority of the residents in Washington Heights are the working class.  You see they work for a living and, in my opinion, the vast majority of the upper class or the rich, do not work for a living.  They think and attend meetings or provide services or a product that enhances people's lives.  The working class, usually work for the rich.  The working class gets paid enough to survive and stay afloat.  The rich are always thinking and setting high standards after high standards.  The majority of the 86,400 seconds in a day, the rich are thinking about moving forward.  While the working class are using their time to work a minimum of 8 hours a day, but usually more to survive.  And, to pour vinegar on the wound, the balance of the time left over after work for the working class is used up sleeping so that they can start all over the next day.  Ever wonder why the working class showers at night while the rich shower in the morning?  The answer is pretty clear.  
 I am not knocking on the rich.  Believe me, I love the finer things in life.  But as I live and continue to grow, I figured out the rules of the game.  The number one rule is that we are what we think all day long.  Einstein  said "There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so." It is all in the mind.  The working class and the rich have the exact same power to live a life of their choosing.  The difference is that one class believes they can do and so they do and the other class believes they can't and so they don't.  Some will believe it when they see it and some will believe it so then they see it.  We have all been given the power by the universe to create and live life to the fullest.  My hope is that once you read this article, you have decided not to waste one second from your 86,400 seconds given to you.  Your time belongs to "you."  Use it creatively.  I leave you with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.  "We must use time creatively and, forever realize that the time is always hope to do great things."
     Just a thought.

I would like to start this article by asking a question.  Is your life worth it?  I don't think you need to wait until you're on your death bed to ask that question.  In fact, I encourage you to answer that question now.  Most individuals are afraid of the unknown.  That is why it is common to be scared to leave your comfort zone or make a change.  And by change I mean a big change that will make a difference in your life.  Not a decision on what protein to eat for dinner tonight.  Every single day your mind gives you ideas through the thought process.  Some of those ideas can change your life in drastic positive ways.  However, most individuals are so caught up in external distractions that they don't even attempt to try.  I am sure you have heard individuals say, "I'll believe it when I see it."  That is the problem.  They are so caught up in only seeing with their eyes that they  are clueless in the metaphysical aspect of humanity.  I believe, no pun intended, if you believe in what ever you want to accomplish, you will see it materialize.  We all have this ability.  But, most individuals either don't care or believe in it.  Think about it for a moment.  If you truly have the power to live how you desire and be as successful and happy as you want to be, then there is no excuse for not living an abundant life.  In other words, you can't blame anyone but yourself.  Oh Man!! what a problem!  You can't blame anyone else for your sad life.  Maybe, that is the reason why most individuals ignore this God given inherent ability of the power of  the mind.  You see, living at the bottom is easy and you will have plenty of company.  However, living at the top, well, that is not in most individual's life plan.  
 Whenever I have focused and made up my mind to do something, regardless of the level of difficulty or perceived difficulty, I have succeeded.  Why is that?  It certainly is not because I am better than you are.  It is not because I have special powers.  It is not because I have been destined.  It is not because I am the chosen one.  I believe it's because I know and believe and expect I can do it and so I do, regardless of the difficulties I may have faced on the road towards my objective.  I have heard some describe this desire to succeed as the "it factor."  You can describe it however you want to.  It really doesn't matter.  To me, it is how I view life.  I set my goals and I make a commitment to accomplish whatever I set my sights on.  I am living proof that it can be done.  In fact, I believe it is your obligation to succeed in life.  That is why you are here.  You are not here to live from hand to mouth or depend on other individuals to support you.  You are here to reach a point of self actualization and to lead the way for others to follow.  That is my creed.  Life is not easy but, so what.  Life can be challenging but, so what.  Fear can be a dream killer but it's on us personally to attack our fears.  I grew up in the NYC government subsidized Fulton housing projects with limited means.  I was the one that decided that I wanted to live in a beautiful place one day.  I wanted to be a New York City police officer and I did it.  This was at a time when the NYPD was mostly Irish and German officers.  But, I did not let the naysayers talk me out of it by telling me that I will never be a "cop" because I was a Latino, from the ghetto who's second language was English.  I wanted to go to college and I did.  I wanted to go to law school and I did.  I wanted a great wife and children and I have received that privilege.  When I got out of law school, I went to work for a law firm and after 4 years I decided to open my own law practice and I did.  I wanted to be a teacher and I did.  I wanted to be a speaker and I did.  I wanted to publish books and I have.  I can go on and on but my point is that if you set your goals and commit to them you are unstoppable.  I have chosen not to live a common life.  So If you ask me is my life worth it?  Unequivocally my answer is an emphatic, YES!!  Have I failed at things? Yes but, that did not stop me.  Have I fallen at times? Yes, but you can still make progress if you're falling by falling forward.  Maybe I got this attitude from my football days as a running back.  When I got hit hard and I knew I was going down,  I was always stretching forward to gain positive yardage.  So answer the question about your life that I posed earlier in this article.  Is your life worth it?  If you are not where you want to be, make the commitments you have to make to change your life for the better. It is your responsibility to make the changes.   I leave you with a quote on point by Gabrielle Giffords.  "Mile by mile, it's a trial; yard by yard, it's hard;  but inch by inch, it's a cinch."
     Just a thought.

An obituary is a notice of a death.  It is usually a writing, typically including a brief biography of the deceased.  So I started thinking about what will my obituary say about me.  To me, although life is an adventure, there should be an underlying  agreement about how to live your life.  Wouldn't it be nice to have a test prior to birth on whether you want to be in this game called life.  I am a huge people watcher and the way I see it is that the majority of individuals have their obituaries written on their faces.  And they can all be summed up easily, "Has departed with a full tank."  You see, most individuals while they are living, run around just doing time.  Inmates in the local jail are not the only ones doing time.  I hate to say it but, most  individuals are just doing their time if you really think about it.  Most individuals seem to be living without any purpose.  They are walking around just doing their "time."
 They get up every morning doing their time until they go to bed at night. They go to a job, they are miserable in but are doing their time until pay day and repeat this abysmal habit in many cases for half their lives.  One irony that will always baffle me is that most people hate their jobs but are worried that they will get fired.  The way I see it, getting fired may be the best thing that will ever happen to them to trigger their creative talent and change their lives for the better.  I am not a psychologist but it seems like common sense to me.  Some individuals are doing time until their children are grown and out of the house.  Some individuals are doing time on the couch until ironically the time is right.  I can go on and on but you get the picture.  The way I look at the privilege of being alive is pretty simple.  Either you are moving forward or backwards.  There is no standing still.  The earth doesn't stand still so we can not stand still.  If you think you are standing still in reality you are going backwards.  So the only way to live your life is to continue every single day to go forward.  Most individuals die with their talents in them.  In other words, they die with a full tank.  The world will never find out how great they could have been.  Just take a look around and you can see what I mean.  Next time you go to your grocery store or a McDonald's or a Walmart, look and see who is bagging your groceries or taking your order at the counter.  I will bet you its an elderly person.  Do you really think that was their life plan?  And, even at their advanced age it doesn't have to be that way but they are just buying time until the inevitable.  
 In life, you are either on the way or in the way.  You are either on the way to your goals and dreams or you are in the way and in essence working on someone else's dream.  As I see it, we are so busy with external distractions that we neglect the self.  Most individuals put themselves last thinking it is the honorable thing to do.  To take care of your family or employer etc... But, that is exactly what society in general wants us to feel.  to always prioritize corporations over the self  because that is what makes them profitable.  Then after 30 or 40 years of service they tell you they are downsizing and they need to let you go so that they can hire the next generation of individuals who are just buying time.  To me this is so clear.  If your are reading this article it's because you are in a place where you understand that there is something more to life and that you have something special to give.  I encourage you to work on yourself. Read, meditate, exercise and it will clear your mind and open up opportunities and ideas that will change your life for the  better.  Be grateful for everything that you have or have accomplished up until now but, never be satisfied.  As a practicing attorney, I know that most civil cases are settled out of court because litigants don't think that they can get what they want.  However, my advise to the reader is not to settle in life.  Live your life to the fullest.  So when you are ready to depart your obituary will state clearly and unequivocally, He or she died with an "Empty tank."  Don't take it with you.  You are here now to let it lose! I leave you with a quote on point by Norman Cousins,  "Death is not the greatest loss in life.  The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."                         Just a thought.
 

Through my life, I have been described as many things but the one that seems to be more common is that, "I beat to the beat of a different drum."  When I was a child, I thought maybe that it meant that I did not listen to authority.  As I got older, I thought that description of me insinuated something weird.  Even recently, when I went to get my driver's license renewed, the government agent at the Department of Motor Vehicles said to me, after I made her smile, "You ain't right." As I live through this adventure called life, I have finally figured out that I do beat to the beat of a different drum.  You see, I have never been a follower.  I have always done my own thing.  Following the herd is easy.  Breaking away and creating your own path at times can be challenging but, rewarding. I have always had a desire to go beyond what most individuals call "normal behavior."  Hence the title of my article, renaissance.  
 Renaissance is anything that comes from the period of 1400 to 1600 in Italy and western Europe.  A very important aspect of the renaissance which always interested me deeply was the rise in humanistic philosophy.  A belief in self human worth and individual dignity.  Accompanied with radical changes in ideas about religion and politics and science.  For those who know me, know that I am not a religious person.  I am not trying to offend religious individuals.  In fact, I was born and raised Catholic but, religion never quenched my thirst for answers especially after death.  I consider myself a spiritual man and a believer in God however, the God that I believe in is a universal energy, universal force that has no ties to any religion. I am not sure how I made it through 12 years of Catholic school.  Looking back, those 12 years reinforced my strong beliefs about my spirituality.   To me, spirituality does not need religion but, religion absolutely needs spirituality.  The second component of the renaissance era, a belief in the self human worth and individual dignity is very intriguing.  
 I believe we are all here for a purpose.  We were given this opportunity to exist at this particular time to make the world a better place then when we inherited it.  We do this by living life to the fullest.  You see our soul, this thing inside us that is formless, odorless and weightless, that keeps us alive when we sleep by making sure that everything is working properly, is something we all have.  It is the creative part of our being.  It is the part that internally tells us that there is more to life than working at a job that we are miserable about but are too afraid to make changes.  It is the part of our internal compass that pops up every so often to give us an itch about doing something or a thought that can change our lives for the better.  Some call it the God within, some call is Jesus some call it the Holy Spirit.  It really doesn't matter what you call it.  What is undisputed is that we all have it.  Some confuse this aspect of humanity with the brain.  I am referring to something beyond the brain.  Something that we all have but most of us pay "no mind to it." Not pun intended.  This may be better described as when individuals have a near death experience and they describe their surreal experience.  To me this part of humanity that I am conscious about in my everyday life is what I believe individuals pick up about me when they say , "You beat to the beat of a different drum." I deeply believe in the human spirit and the desire to create in conjunction to the connection to all living beings.  If you really think about it, we all came from the same source and we are all going back to the same source.  We are all one.  I go a step beyond the golden rule of treating others the way you want to be treated because in essence the "others," in the aforementioned is really yourself.  If you treat others inhumanly, you are really treating yourself  that way. It seems that in today's unenlightened environment, Some from politicians to media to social platforms have lost the importance of human dignity and the power of the individual spirit to triumph.  Maybe it is all about power or money but each and everyone of us has the power within to make a difference.  My advise is to stay strong and believe in yourself.  I tell my children that someone's opinion of them is none of their business.  Other's opinion of you is garbage unless you allow it to define you.  Do not let someone's opinion of you become your reality.  Have faith in yourself and your life will be an amazing experience.  The faith I'm referring to is not what you see with your eyes but rather what you envision in your thoughts when your eyes are shut.  I leave you with a quote by Henry Davis Thoreau.  "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.  Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."
   Just a thought.

An onion is a widely cultivated vegetable.  Onions add texture and flavor to foods, either complementing it as the base of a soup, a rice or noodle dish, or whether they are used as a main ingredient.  Onions can have a spicy perk-me-up taste if eaten raw in a salad, or they may be very soft and sweet when caramelized and have turned a beautiful golden brown. I enjoy onions either raw or cooked but, it wasn't always that way.  When I was younger, onions were not of any interest to me but, as I got older my taste for onions have matured.  Lately, I have given up red meat but I can surely remember those grilled burgers in a summer evening grill out, with among other condiments, a fresh crispy slice of raw onion, and, washing it down with a Presidente.    More recently, I enjoy cooking arroz con pollo, which is a Cuban dish consisting of yellow rice and chicken with one of the ingredients being caramelized onions.  But, enough of  the onion as it relates to food.  My article is how metaphorically speaking, an onion is similar to life.
 You see, life is not necessarily an easy ride through a prairie.  Life is really what you decide life is going to be.  Carl Sandburg stated," Life is like an onion.  You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep."  Isn't that true?  The way I look at it is, that life can be hard at times.  You will never live a stress free, calm life.  That is not realistic.  That is not part of the program of life.  You will always have problems to deal with or as I prefer to refer to them as "issues".  The only time that you will be worry free in life is when you have physically departed this plane  This is why cemeteries are so peaceful.    Life truly is like an onion. The more you live, the more you understand life in general.  The layers of an onion can be akin to the stages of life.  Similar to life, you will hit some rough roads that will surely make you weep.  There will be times in life where you feel defeated or that you have failed.  But, I am here to tell you that just because you feel that you have failed, it does not mean that you are a failure.  The way I look at it is that a failed experience just shows that you are doing what you are supposed to do in life which is, to live.  In living you will have somethings that may be considered failed projects but they really should be looked as learning experiences for the next time.  And the fear of failure seems to be a common denominator.
 We all have fears that in many cases will prevent us from reaching our true potential.  This is part of the unexpressed contract we have with life.  There are countless examples of individuals "going for broke."  In other words, just letting loose.  We see this across all fields from science, athletics, academia, business etc... I guarantee you a basketball players will never score a basket if they don't take the shot.  A baseball player will never hit a homerun if he doesn't swing the bat. Speakers will never get their stories out if they do not speak to a crowd.  A women will never experience the love of a child if she questions her ability to parent.  CEO's will never take the company to the next level if they are afraid of failing etc...  In fact, I would not want a surgeon operating on me if they are afraid of making a mistake.  There are many individuals that are just simply afraid to live.  What else is there if you are so afraid to live that you can't reach your potential?  What is the worst case scenario if you let loose and it didn't work out the way you wanted it? It's not like life is asking you to walk through a volcano.  So you may lose some money or maybe all your money for the time being.  But, you can always earn more money.  What you will never get is more time.  You see, life does not give you a do over.  When your time is up, it's over.   Did you know that Walt Disney despite being one of the most influential people of the 20th century endured many failed projects before creating "the happiest place on earth."  He failed at acting, went bankrupt and failed at several business ventures.  However, he is the epitome of living a life the way it is supposed to be lived.  He just let loose and kept on going.   Fear was not part of his nomenclature.  Most individuals would rather take the easy path in life believing their lives will be easier but, I believe that by taking the easy path your life will ultimately be harder.  I leave you with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
   Just a thought.

Kenzoku is a Japanese term which means family.  It suggests a bond between individuals.  It implies the presence of the deepest connection of friendship.  Many of us go through life without ever really feeling a true connection to others.  Maybe, it's because if we truly open up and allow our soul to connect to another it will expose our vulnerabilities.  Maybe it's just good old fashion fear.  Whatever the reason, one thing for sure, most individuals will never experience a bond with another person.  When I refer to this deep rooted spiritual bond, I am not necessarily referring to family bonds.  Many individuals have family bonds.  Family bonds may or may not be of the Kenzoku type.  And, if I had to guess, I would say most family relationships are not Kenzoku.  I, on the other hand am blessed beyond belief because I have experienced Kenzoku with some members of my family and with  non-family members.  
 I recently had a discussion with my wife about a friend of mine which I have known for approximately 23 years.  We were discussing my friend and she told me that she can not believe how two individuals who are completely different can have such a deep spiritual connection.  I went on to explain to her that on the physical plane we are very different but, that spiritually were are one.  I never mention names in my articles but, this will be an exception.  I met my friend, Joe Mas approximately 23 years ago.  I was about a year or two out of law school and working for a law firm when we met.  He too is an attorney but at that time he had about 15 years of experience.  He is a short man of medium build.  At that time he had graying hair that through the years has turned white.  He is a soft spoken gentle person.  Maybe we connected immediately because he resembled in stature and manner my father who had passed about 10 years prior.  Maybe, he reminded me of an older brother.  Although I do have an older brother the same age as my friend, for some reason we never had a spiritual connection.  I love my older brother but it is more like I should love him because he is my biological brother.  One other factor regarding my friend is that he was born in Cuba, and I am a first generation Cuban.  I am not sure if all of the above descriptions contributed to my relationship to my friend but, what I can say is that he truly is not just my friend but my brother.  We are very different on the outside but spiritually we are connected.  Anything from physical appearance to political opinions we are on the opposite end of the spectrum but, the differences never mattered.  All I can say is that I am very fortunate to have a relationship with such a loving, kind person like him.  I would unequivocally do anything for him.  He is my true brother!
 I also have this deep Kenzoku relationship with my wife and two youngest daughters.  In the aforementioned conversation with her about my friend, I brought up my spiritual connection to her.  I told her not to take this the wrong way but that if she was physically not around, that my love and connection with her would still be alive and well.  Our love is deep from a spiritual perspective.  Some individuals tell their loved ones they love them but, they may not have what I am referring to.  In the normal sense they may have love but, what I am referring to is almost unexplainable with words.  In fact, words cheapen it.  The way I describe it is a heart felt energy that permeates your entire body and activates the soul.  Another way I describe it is that sometimes when I meditate deeply I get unexplained chills radiating through my body and leading to an out of body experience.  That is the type of love I have with my wife and my daughters.  Maybe, it is very special with my family and I because we are enlightened.  But, I do know that because we are enlightened, or spiritual, we are more receptive of the energy around us.  One thing for sure, these relationships are not just afforded to a few.  We all have these same experiences within.  However, most of us will not understand this because they are unaware of it.  We all came from the same place and we are all going back to the same place.  So, why can't we all have similar experiences when it comes to relationships?  The answer is pretty clear.  We can.  It's all within us! I leave you with a quote of my own.  "The most important relationship you will ever have is with your soul."
     Just a thought.

Lately I have been re-connecting to my Cuban heritage.  After all, I am a first generation Cuban born and raised in New York City.  But, it's more than that because my heritage hasn't changed since I was born.  Just my attempt at displaying sarcasm.  Or maybe it's because my two daughters have expressed a burning desire to learn about their Latin heritage.  Maybe it's just because as we get older, and  closer to our mortality, we want to accept who we are.  Who knows what the real reason.  If I ever find out, I will certainly write about it.  So, in this phase of my life or evolution, I have been listening to a popular Cuban song titled Guantanamera.  Which translates into a women from Guantanamo, which is a city on the southeast tip of Cuba where the notorious Guantanamo Bay military base/detention camp in located.  It was written from a point of view of a Cuban revolutionary.  It is the best known Cuban song.  It was made famous by the poetry  of Jose Marti.  It is a loving peaceful song.  I recently went to a funeral where is was sung.  But, it was a horrific rendition because it was sung by a non-Spanish speaking singer.  It would be like me singing a popular Chinese song that should be song in its native language in English.  Especially since I don't speak Chinese.  There have been many different verses and variations but in general, the themes are all the same of peace and love.  The first verse that opens the song is; " I am a truthful man from the land of palm trees.. Before dying I want to share these poems of my sole..."
 So I started thinking of where we are as a country and all the division that many, irresponsibly advance.  The questions that seem to continually come to mind is why can't we use love and respect towards our fellow humans? Why is it that it has to be one way or else?  Why is it that individuals with a different opinion or point of view than someone else's gets canceled? Why is it that in today's climate there seems to be a push to separate people by the color of their skin?  One article will not answer the aforementioned questions but, I hope it gives you food for thought.  I go back to the song and title of this article,  Guantanamera.  I have concluded, at least for me, that it is not difficult to change the ills of the world one person at a time.  Or one thought at a time.  It all starts with the individual.  It is easy to feel demoralized, defeated and give up.  That is what some in power want us to feel.  Shame on us for allowing and buying the division that they are selling.  One thing for sure, we can't change how others think or react but we can certainly change our thoughts and behavior.  It is our responsibility to think and live the way we want to without the input or influence of others.  We may not always know what another person's motive is but we certainly know our motive.  We have powers that were given to us by our creator.  Powers that are inalienable and can never be taken away unless we give them away.  I see today many individuals giving away this immense power and becoming like sheep.  Life is not meant to be lived as a sheep.  If it was, we would not have the free will to live as we please.  Let's start living life under our terms.  It is never too late.  We live in the most prosperous country on the planet.  Sometimes it's difficult to remember that, especially if you listen to the news.  You see, those in power, regardless of who they are, can remain in power by dividing us as a nation and as a people.  America is truly a wonderful country.  Just ask yourself why is it that many millions around the world would rather live in America? Why is it that some would risk dying to try to get into our country through our southern border?  I see a revolution but not in a traditional sense.  The next big revolution is that we the people will become enlightened.  You see, when we become enlightened, we start to really live a meaningful life.  That is when we start to share the poems of our soles with our fellow people, as is stated in Guantanamera.  I leave you with a quote on point.  "The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane." Mahatma Gandi.
     Just a thought.   

I was meditating and thinking about how the world has evolved in my short time here on earth.  For example, I remember prior to cell phones, public pay phones.  What comes to mind for me regarding public pay phones was a case I am knowledgeable about from my law school days, captioned Katz v. United States.  Just to give you a little history legal lesson, Charles Katz the plaintiff in the aforementioned case made his money from illegal  gambling on basketball.  He would use a pay phone in his hometown of Los Angeles, California and place bets to Miami and Boston.  The FBI found out, probably through a snitch who they like to call confidential informants and, they wiretapped his conversations from the public pay phone he was using.  He was subsequently arrested and convicted but appealed his conviction all the way to the United States Supreme Court.  The justices ruled 7-1 in his favor, declaring that the Fourth Amendment protects "people, not just places." Public pay phones were mostly situated in phone booths which were like very tiny closets where there was only room for one person at a time.  They were made of steel and glass and with a door that you can shut for privacy.  The court continue to say that a phone booth should have a "reasonable expectation of privacy."  Shortly thereafter the cell phone industry was born wiping out pay phones.
 Other things have also evolved.  Computers and social media platforms, just to mention a few.  Some can argue that this type of evolution is part of the advancing world and that it has made us smarter and more advanced and therefore, has contributed to making the world a better place.  I don't think we can disagree.  But this evolution has come with a bit of a price.  I believe it has contributed to a lazier society with a demanding expectation of immediate gratification.  There has to be a balance.  And, I don't want you to think that I am a hypocrite.  I'm taking advantage of these advancements as I'm writing this article on my blog.   What I am saying is that each and everyone of us has an obligation to balance our lives with these current and future advances.  Moreover, one common theme that many of these advancement have lead to, in my opinion, are how many individuals have become followers.  If you look at social media platforms, it seems to me that many of the users are consumed with the amount of followers they have.  They seem to be addicted to their Twitter or Instagram accounts checking on how many "likes," they received on whatever it is that they have posted.  But, social media is not the only culprit in what I like to call the follower's hypnosis syndrome.  Look at institutions of faith.  They are in business because they have "followers," who finance their existence.  Someone has to pay to keep the lights on and their facilities heated in the winter and cool in the summer.  Oh, and the so called leader's salary.  Look at politicians, they practice division to create a following.  If you don't believe me just look at the state of our political discourse.  Also in general people seem to me, to be more followers.  If you ask individuals why they did or behaved in a certain way or why they use a certain product the response you will get most of the time is because so and so does it or uses it or...  You get my point.  
 We have seemed to have lost our balance and autonomy.  Individuals seem content to give their autonomy up to whoever or whatever.  What is the purpose of living if you give up your true purpose of self autonomy? Your most precious god given power is to be and live how you desire.  None of the aforementioned industries can survive and have so much power, influence and become multi-billion dollar enterprises if it wasn't for the people or consumers buying into whatever it is they are selling.  And for allowing them in essence to brainwash us to submission or to become addicted to them or their product.  We have to rise up as empowered individuals.  By rising up, I am not saying in a violent way, that is never an option, but in an intellectual and spiritual way.  We need to understand that the only person to follow is ourselves, our hearts, our goals and aspirations.  That is the creativity that is endowed in every one of us. Our power was given to us by the universe, it is in our DNA.  Their power unfortunately, was given to them by us.  I leave you with a quote on point.  "Be a leader not a follower, a helper not a hater, a creator not just a consumer, and make things better not bitter."  Author unknown. 
     Just a thought.

Today I was thinking about why some individuals are more risk takers and the word, ghost, seemed to pop up in my mind.  Then it hit me and the reason became clear. Now let me just back up a bit before I get started and give you some perspective why I believe the title ghost appeared like a ghoul when one least expects it.  My daughters have expressed an interest in their Latin heritage.  I am a fan of Latin music.  Being a first generation Cuban says it all.  So, they have heard me listen to salsa music and have in the past listened when I play music by various Latin  artists. Therefore, I found a documentary on Netflix, titled "Latin Explosion."  It traces the history of Latin music in America.  I thought that would be it for them but, their interest grew stronger about half their heritage.  I then showed them the movie, Selena, which is a biographical drama about, Selena Quintanilla, played by Jenifer Lopez.  Selena, as she was known, was born into a musical, Mexican-American family in Texas.  Her father realized that his young daughter was talented and begins performing with her in small venues.  Young Selena being born in Texas does not speak any Spanish.  Similar to my daughters who are half Latinas but do not speak any Spanish.  Moreover, I thought their new found interest was temporary but boy was I wrong.  Since this recent development, they had their mother buy them Spanish flash cards and, have been listening to all the Spanish songs they can find on Alexa.  I wanted to expand their musical genre, so I had them watch on Netflix, Michael Jackson's documentary titled, "This is It."  Which is film from his personal collection of rehearsal footage for what was a concert tour before he died.  A scene from the documentary was about ghosts and ghouls when he was rehearsing the song, Thriller.  All this to get to my point on why I came up with the title to this article.  
 Ghost is defined as an apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image.  Most of us when we were children were afraid of ghosts.  Metaphorically speaking, most individuals today are still afraid of ghosts.  You see, ghosts do not really exist.  There may be some energy at times that may appear to be confused with ghosts but for the majority of sane individuals in the world, ghosts do not exist.  And the irony is that ghosts are usually portrayed as transparent.  You can see through them!  Here is what I mean when I say most individuals are still afraid of ghosts.  Most individuals fear things that really don't exist.  They fear what tomorrow will bring or not bring but, tomorrow doesn't really exist and it may never arrive.  They also fear their past but the past doesn't really exist either.  The past is what I like to describe as history!  And, even if they fear certain things about the present, after they break it down, I bet you they would be the first to say, "I worried for nothing, it was pretty dumb."  Listen, I understand that we all have feeling, we are not programed robots.  And believe me, I have been there where you fear something that turns out to be no sweat.  Like when I am getting ready for a trial and I have a judge who I don't know much about, who has a reputation for, well lets just say his robe and ego are very important to him.  So, I get it.  But when I really start analyzing the situation, they are  peoples just like you and me  underneath their robes.  Judges are not the savior of civilization.  If, there is something that worries you, understand that it will be resolved.  You may  want to know how do I know that. My answer is pretty simple.  It just will!  It has to.  It has to because, it always does or else, you wouldn't be here right now reading this article.  You see, life is not perfect.  It was never meant to be perfect.  What is perfect is how you respond to life.  And, it is perfect for you because you made it so far.  So keep going.    We have all the power and control to define how we want our lives to go.  Life is whatever and however you define it.  No one will ever define it for you and if they do it's because you have allowed it. Live your life!  There is no one else like you.  Think about that for a moment.  There are approximately 7 1/2 billion people on the planet and you are the only you.  Pretty cool!! I leave you with a poem on point, titled "Only You."
 "A person can only make you feel high, a person can only make you feel low.  But, only you can decide which way you want to go.  A person can hurt you mentally, a person can hurt you physically.  But, only you can place a limit on you abilities.  A person can cause drama, a person can cause a situation.  But, only you can create your own reputation.  A person can make you laugh a person can make you cry.  But, only you can make decisions for your life.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you're living day to day, don't live by what people do, But live by what you know is true."  Jennifer James
      Just a thought.

Society in general seems to be consumed with weight.  Weight measurements are used in many aspects of our lives.  Let me give you a few examples.  The weight of a vehicle is used to determine the amount of a toll to be paid.  The weight of precious metals will determine the price the consumer will pay.  The weight of drugs will determine how drugs are used and the severity of criminal charges against an accused.  Weight is important for shipping purposes.  In a gym setting, weight lifters monitor their progress by the systematic increases in the weight they lift.  One factor to determine how comfortable a shoe may be is the weight of the shoe.  When mailing a parcel at the post office  the first thing they do is weigh it.  If you go to an amusement park you will find weight limits on certain rides.  It is clear that our society is consumed with weight.  However, the weight that I want to discuss in this article is none of the above.  It is your body weight and why losing weight never really works.  
 Weight loss seldom works, in my opinion because we have it all wrong.  To begin with, any advertiser, company or individuals that deal with the topic of losing weight has it all wrong.  They refer to it as "losing weight."  Think about this for a moment.  When you lose something, there is a tendency to find it or replace it.  So if you focus on losing weight, chances are you will find it back where it came from in the first place.  Your body! Look at most, if not all weight loss programs on the market.  They focus on restricting your diet.  Remember when you were a rebellious teenager and were restricted from either a relationship or an activity?  I bet you, that in many cases it didn't work out as your parents planned.  In fact, it probably worsened the situation.  Moreover, look at all the different weight loss programs on T.V., they focus on restricting cravings.  In many cases, what you're buying into is a food delivery program.  You're paying into this billion dollar industry to purchase food that they pretend to carefully plan and cook for you in its appropriate portions.  If you believe this hog wash, stop reading and get yourself a biggie portion fries and soda to accompany your big mac at the drive through at your local McDonalds.  These companies probably have many factories throughout the country where they have low paid factory workers cooking and  preparing your personalized portions, (what a joke) for shipping.  But, all this seems to be working for this industry.  Their bank accounts are getting heavier, no pun intended, or else they would not be so successful.  And, they have a market based on a successful revolving door strategy. The latest statistics that I have seen is that 2 out of every 3 adults in the United States are either over weight or obese.    
 To me, this is a  real epidemic. But, it is not really talked about as it should be.  I am not a doctor or a scientist but, I can read.  It seems that many health problems can be avoided if this epidemic was addressed.  Maybe the commercial diet industry has powerful lobbyists or maybe there are other behind the scene motives.  I sure hope not but one thing I know for sure is that  we can control this problem on an individual level.  We have total control.  We just have to make a few relatively easy adjustments. To begin with, we have to change out attitude towards this topic.  We have to own up to it.  We are the ones that got to be over weight or obese so we are the ones that can reverse it.  It is your body.  You alone decided what to put into it so, you can decide what to stop putting into it.  No more excuses.  No more blaming corporate America, stress, family, or anything else.  In addition, besides changing our behavior, we have to change our attitudes.  If we can put food into our bodies why can't we put good thoughts about food into our minds? 
 Since last August I have been practicing what I preach.  I was never obese. I was always into fitness but, I wanted to become healthier.  I am not going to write about my specifics because this really is not about me, it's about coaching others towards better health.  In this process, I have had many individuals from clients,  colleagues, friends and family ask me if I have lost weight by choice.  In other words implying that maybe there is something wrong with me medically which is why I have lost weight.  My response has been that it was a choice but, that I have not lost anything but instead gained better health.  We have to change our attitudes as a society but, also as individuals about not losing but instead gaining something better.  We all have the power to control ourselves.  However, most industries would rather you either not believe that or relinquish it to them.  It is our life and we chose to live it as we wish.  But, we have an obligation to live a full, healthy, happy life.  And we can and you will if you want to.  I leave you with a quote on point.  " Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork."  Author unknown.
      Just a thought.

A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals, typically 45-65 years old.  Many view midlife crisis as a negative stage in the aging process.  It's probably viewed this way because individuals start to understand their mortality.  I was recently discussing the possibility of purchasing a convertible and my 2 young daughters asked me if I am going through a midlife crisis.  I laughed but, wondered where would a 13 and 12 year old get that from.  Certainly not from me or their mother.  Maybe I need to pay a little more attention to the reality shows that they enjoy watching.  However, I can understand why this stage in a person's life can lead to depression and anxiety.  Why would anyone want to feel they are getting old?  However, from an enlightened perspective, the true essence of who we are is not your body or your age.  It is your soul.  Or call it whatever it is you want to call it.  Some call it energy spirit, the god inside, etc...  It really doesn't matter what you call it.  But one thing for certain.  Your soul or what ever you call it, never changes.  It doesn't age.  Your body, well that's a different story.  That changes on a daily bases.  For confirmation, look at pictures of your self a few years ago and compare it with a current one and, you will see what I am referring to.  Actually, you really don't have to even go back a few years because, you body changes every passing second.  So for the unenlightened,  emphasis is put on the physical component of life. The external.  Therefore, what you see is it.  However, we are more than what we see or feel.  The true self is spiritual in nature.  It is what we don't see.  So this is why I believe that the words midlife crisis, for most individuals are negative words.  
 I look at a midlife crisis as a non-crisis.  In fact, I see it as a very good place to be.  Because, at this stage, the soul is communicating with us that it needs to be fed to fulfill its purpose to be creative.  What for some individuals may be a negative, depressing time, I consider positive.  It's a sign that there is more to life.  That what used to satisfy you is now missing its mark.  A sign that something inside of you wants to come out, to be creative.  The problem is that most individuals think that getting the sports car or switching spouses is going to make them happy but, that is the wrong approach.  You see, exterior sensory quick fix, ego satisfying activities will never fill your soul with the creative desires that it's requesting.  True happiness comes from within.  It's internal not external.  I view  a midlife crisis as an awakening of your soul.  The tearing down of external barriers.  A midlife crisis to me, is an understanding that you are more than what you see.  An understanding that there's more to life as it relates to your personal growth and purpose.  A bridge to the awakening of your soul and a merger with the physical eternal self.  At this point you will see and enjoy life in a different and satisfying way.  You start to understand that you are eternal but that since you are present at this time on earth, that you have an obligation to live your life to the fullest.  An obligation to leave no stones unturned.   Please understand that I am not suggesting to live recklessly or abandon your family. What I am saying is to live a deep, spiritual, purpose driven life with your loved ones.  And this my friends is a true midlife crisis .  Or, maybe it should be re-titled to a midlife awakening.  I leave you with the following quote by Nietzsche.  "The voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls."
      Just a thought.
 

A family is a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit.  But if this is your definition of a family you may just be selling yourself short.  There are some families that have many biologically related individuals, but are they truly a family?  You hear athletes referring to their team members as family, but are they truly a family.  Large groups that gather for religious or any common purpose call themselves family but are they truly a family? I believe you get my point.  I believe the aforementioned, "families," are families.  I believe the true family definition is all about selflessness and love.  It really doesn't matter whether they are biologically related or not.  It seems that individuals are pressured or forced to accept unequivocally that biological relationships trump any other relationships.  If you don't believe me, remember the age old belief that, "blood is thicker than water." For  those historians, this outdated belief is a medieval proverb in English that means that familial bonds will always be stronger than bonds of friendship or love.  The oldest record of this saying can be traced back in the 12th century in Germany.   From an enlightened perspective, boy did they have it all wrong!
 Does that mean that adopted children are less family than biological children? Or that a husband and wife are less family because there is not a biological connection? And thank heavens for that! Of course not.  The one size fits all definition of family doesn't really apply in the world today.  I come from a family of six siblings and I can honestly tell you that I am not close to 4 out of my 5 biological siblings.  We just really did not have much in common growing up.  In fact, I felt many times that I did not belong.  Not until I got much older and experienced family tragedies did I feel a closer connection to them.  However, that did not mean I did not love them.  It just put that old theory that blood is thicker than water in the toilet.  My wife has a sister that she too is not close to.  The flip side is, I have developed a connection to some friends who I call my brothers and sisters because of the love and selfless feelings I have towards them.  For me, long term happiness is more dependent on close  friendships that I have developed over the years, not based on biological bonds.  However, the exception being, my children. 
 Maybe I feel this way because I am enlightened  and spiritual.  But, I see things very different.  I believe individuals are raised to accept that biological relationships are the highest priority that exist.  For me, a spiritual connection to our source , the universe, is the highest, most sacred relationship that exists.  And the irony is that we all have this connection but most individuals ignore it.  Some intentionally, some just because they don't know about it, but it surely exist.  You see we came from somewhere and we're going somewhere once our stay on earth has expired.  You don't have to take my word for it but let me indulge you in some food for thought.  Who do you think keeps you alive when you're sleeping at night?  Who do you think keeps all your organs functioning perfectly, etc...? And, we must all be connected by that same source regardless of our biological relationships, religious beliefs, gender, color of our skin, sexual orientation, ethnicity, political beliefs, socio-economic status, education, zip code we reside in etc... It makes sense doesn't it?  Or do we really believe that since there are approximately 7 1/2 billion people on the planet that each one has a difference place or source that they came from. If you believe that, then stop reading and get yourself a good novel.  I see a world where eventually individuals will understand a deeper connection to all not just to their biological relationships.  Then my brothers and sisters, the world will experience true love for all.  Those who know me know I am not a religious person,  but I do know that humanity should be our race and love should be our religion.  I leave you with a poem on point.  "The day I changed, was the day I quit trying to fit into a world that never really fit me." Author unknown.  I would say that for me personally, the day I became enlightened, was the day I quit trying to fit into a way of thinking that never really fit me.
    Just a thought.

Before I proceed with this article, I would like to disclose that I love school because I love learning.  I have approximately 22 years of formal education.  But, I am pained to say that schools today or the institution of learning is no longer effective.  What led me to this unfortunate conclusion are too many reasons to discuss  in one article but I will focus on a few to make my point.  The world today is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.  An industry that has been seriously impacted is schools.  Schools have been closed and it seems to me that children have been left out of the equation.  The reason as I see it is because teachers have a strong union that in essence, is running our learning institutions.  What I have learned because of this pandemic is that teachers don't really want to teach.  I was ignorantly under the impression that teachers should be viewed as special in our society because they are making a difference by educating our children and disseminating the truth.  But, unfortunately, my innocence has been destroyed.  If you really think about it, this was in front of our eyes for a long time but we as a society have ignored it.  For awhile now, the reason why a person wanted to teach was the outstanding hours, vacations, holidays, summers off, great medical insurance, great wages etc...  I don't remember any mention about educating young minds as a reason.  Do you?  
 My daughters attend a public school district in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.  Before I continue, I will not mention the school district by name because, unlike what is going on in our society today with  cancel culture, my intention is not to embarrass or cancel anyone.  Just like I will not mention individuals by name in any of my articles.  Now, the school district that my daughters attend is supposed to be one of the best in the entire state.  We pay substantial property taxes to validate this point.  Still, what Covid-19 has taught me is that they don't want to teach.  I'm sure, there are some exceptions but, I have not found one. At least not yet.  I come to this conclusion because even after all the teachers were vaccinated from this horrible virus, they wanted 3 days off after vaccination before they went back to the classroom in case they were to get sick from the vaccination.  I know it sounds ridiculous but, you can form your own conclusions. What was very troubling to me was that during this 3 day, "in case they get sick," time off, I was out at a local restaurant with my wife and daughters and two of their teachers were sitting at the bar enjoying a bottle of red wine - on our tax dollars.  Did I mention they were paid completely during the shut down?  You can't make this up.   You might say yes but they can't teach if the unions are dictating when the schools will open.  True but, what ever happened to taking charge of your profession and strength in numbers?  I will bet you that if the teachers would have said they were going back to work regardless of what the unions are saying, they would have been back to work.  Did I mention that Catholic and private schools have been open from the beginning with no Covid-19 related outbreaks.
 The old arguments that you need to do well in school to get into college and you need to have a college degree to get a good job is no longer effective in my opinion.  These arguments go out the window because of the aforementioned about teachers but also because unless you need a license as in the practice of law or medicine etc...,  all you need is communication skills.  In addition, you will not be in student loan debt for 20-30 years.  Most jobs today offer training.  If you have communication skills, you should not have any problems.  Here is just one example.  My daughter needed braces and we sent her to a orthodontist.  The orthodontist, from the very beginning, has done minimal work.  His employees or assistants, are the ones who installed the braces and who do all the adjustments.  The orthodontist just inspects their work and spends approximately 5 minutes with my daughter in conversation during her visit.  So it begs the following questions;  1- would you rather be in school to be an orthodontist for many years and in debt for countless more years? or, 2- would you rather not be in debt and maybe have a training course where you can do what an orthodontist should be doing?
 In todays world where technology is prevalent in any occupation, schools are, I believe failing because they are not adjusting to the changes.  If you think about it, schools today are not any different then the schools your parents or grandparents attended.  They have similar desks, outdated books in their libraries and similar teaching  techniques.  The one exception can be that they finally gave up on the traditional black board for a smart  board.  But, other than that not much has changed.  Wait!! I stand to be corrected.  Teachers wages have increased considerably.  To me, it's a concerning and dire state of our education system.  However, I really believe that every individual has it in them to succeed.  We are all programed to succeed by our creator.  When I refer to creator I am not insinuating religion.  In fact, I am not a religious person.  I am a spiritual person who believes in the universal power that each and everyone of us has embedded in our souls.  The problem is that not only are schools failing the most impressionable in our society but, they are teaching them, when they pretend to teach, negative and corrosive ideas.  We should be teaching our children the power that they possess to do whatever it is they want to do in life.  With the premise being that they should discover their purpose through the lens of leaving the world a better place than when  they arrived.  That should be the focus but it's not.  Life will teach us more than a school will ever teach.    I understand that we live in a society of norms and rules where children must attend school but, I envision a better system where parents teach their children and use schools as a secondary source of education.  The way I see it, the system wants to make the parents believe they are powerless because that will enhance their control.  Moreover, I believe, schools have failed because they don't advance the knowledge that success is internal and not dependent on schools.  I leave you with a quote by John F. Kennedy.  "The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of the truth."
     Just an thought. 

In my opinion, an apology is a litigation destroyer.  In other words, I believe the majority of litigation can be avoided with a sincere apology.   I now am convinced  that in the legal profession if a mistake is made, that attorneys are trained to not admit it because it can only increase the potential that the grieved party will maximize their recovery whether it's a client or the attorney that made a mistake. This is why, as I connect the dots backwards in  my legal career from law school to the present, or I should say from the present to law school, why the word apology is not mentioned  in law school or in settlement discussions.  You see, it's an adversarial profession.  Attorneys get rich off of other people's mistakes.  There is no room for an apology.  Think about it for a moment, if a simple thing as an apology can reduce litigation, who stands to lose the most?  You guessed it.  Attorneys!!  
 Apology is defined as a regretful acknowledgement of an offense or failure.  A sincere apology begets blame upon the apologetic.  Attorney's have inflated ego's to begin with so maybe that is why an apology is not part of the lawyering profession but for one exception.  In the practice of criminal law, prior to the sentencing of the defendant, attorneys encourage the defendant to apologize to their victim and the court but, that's not really an apology, that's a way of attempting to reduce the jail time the judge can impose.  As aforementioned, aside from the area of criminal law, apologies are rare in the legal profession.  It brings to mind the lyrics to the song, "Sorry, blame it on me," by Akon.  He goes on to say, " As life goes on I'm starting to learn more and more about responsibility, I realize everything I do is affecting the people around me..."  So you would believe he truly is accepting blame but as the song continues, you realize he could have been an attorney because be pretends to apologize and accept blame but not really.  He continues in part to say, "...I'm sorry that it took so long to see why they were dead wrong trying to put it on me.  I'm sorry that it took so long to speak, I was on tour with Gwen Stefani.  I'm sorry for the hand that she was dealt, for the embarrassment that she felt, just a little young girl trying to have fun, her daddy should never let her out so young.  I'm sorry for Club Zen getting shut down, I hope they manage better next time around.  How was I to know she was underage in a 21 and older club they say..."  I guess you get my point.  
 Back to an apology, I have numerous examples on how a sincere apology is all the grieved party wanted instead of a law suit.  One that will always stick out in my mind was a a malpractice case against an OBGYN doctor where the baby died in the course of the delivery.  When the doctor was deposed for questioning prior to trial, it was very tense in the room.  At one point, the mother of the deceased baby stated, after the doctor said that he is not in the business of killing babies, "all I wanted was an apology!"  What followed, I rarely see in a deposition.  Everyone was in tears.  Myself included.  She continued to say that she would have never sued, if the doctor would have apologized for her loss.  If only they would teach that in law school.  Oh! Never mind!  You see, they can't because it's an adversarial profession and, lawyers need to payoff their student loans.  More recently, I discovered and attorney who made not just one mistake but several in the course of representing his client.  Instead of apologizing and fixing the mistakes, he dug in and seems to be heading towards a malpractice claim.  I am sure that lawyers are not the only ones with inflated egos.  I feel I have the experience and obligation to speak out because I am one.  I can understand why it is hard for an attorney to apologize; however that does not make it acceptable.  That's because an admission that they made a mistake and an apology can be viewed as negative.  But, in reality I believe it is  a positive and it will build trust in the attorney, client relationship.  
 Nobody is perfect.  You will never get perfect.  Life is not perfect.  Regardless of what we do, you will never get perfect.  You don't need higher education to understand that an apology can go a long way.  And if the person that the apology is directed at does not accept it, so what.  It will be healing for you.  You can control your behavior but, you will never control anyone else's reaction nor do you want to.  I really believe that if you do the right thing after making a mistake, that only good things can happen.  The right thing is to apologize and start the healing,  "Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past." Tryon Edwards.
    Just a thought.

I will bet you that if you ask individuals what is their purpose in life, that most don't know.  It is common to go through life like the wind.  I read once where "life is like the wind.   Sometimes very silent.  Sometimes very wild.   Sometimes moving very slowly or hastily.   Either so dull or so fascinating.   But always unpredictable."  Today, I received a call from a very close friend of mine and colleague.  His adult daughter who was going through some rough times in her life had committed suicide.  I was at a loss for words when he called me and I would be lying if I told you that I felt his pain.  All I know is that a parent should never be in a position to bury a child.  That seems to me contrary to natural law.  All I can say is that I felt a sense of loss in my heart for my dear friend.  My friend, who I have referred to as my brother, is a kind, loving example of what it means to live a life of service.  I met him when I first started my legal career.  And from the beginning we developed a spiritual connection.  When I was trying to find my way in the legal profession, he gave me what I believe is the most important demonstration of love an individual can give another person, which is time.  You see, it is easy to give money or possessions.   Anybody can do that.  Money or material things can easily be replace but time, that will never be given back.   So to my dear friend and, "brother," I love you and I will be there for you regardless!  For your precious daughter, although, she left too soon, she for certain is present in spirit.   
 Whenever, I serve others,  that is when I am personally closer to my source.  I believe that service is why we are here on earth.  Most of us whether we say it publicly or not are on a mission to find out who we really are, where we came from and, where we're going after or stay on earth is over.  To me, the answers to the the aforementioned questions are clearer when I am in a mind set of service.  You see when I serve others, I am not only giving my time to others who may need it but I am receiving much more than what I am giving.  That's because spiritually I am closest to my source when I am serving.  If you put aside my children's birth and my lovely wife, Layla, who married me, (I make it a habit of not identifying individuals by name, but my wife is the exception,)  that contributed to that experience, I am the happiest when I serve others.  I truly believe, we are born to serve.  When I refer to service, I am referring to unconditional service.  Service with no expectations or conditions for a pay back.  Just like the human heart is born to love, I believe we are born to serve.  Nelson Mandela wrote, "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background or religion.  People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, then they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally from the human heart than its opposite."
We are all endowed with spiritual components that came free with birth.  The problem as I see it is that we are all distracted from our true source with external influences.  I implore the reader to to serve others, like a neighbor, and feel the difference.  I love living and I love serving.  I believe that if you serve others, your life will change in all aspects for the better.  I leave you with a quote on point by Albert Einstein,  "Only a life lived in service to others is worth living."
     Just a thought.

The way I see life, it is ironically similar to a marathon.  I say ironically because in this time and age of technology and high speed internet,  where the expectations are immediate,  it would seem more like a 40 yard dash.  But if we take a step back, and think about it, one cannot help but to see the resemblances to a  marathon.  In a marathon, you have thousands of strangers at a starting line, (birth).  All these strangers are from all walks of life just running along with a similar purpose and that is to get to the finish line, (death).  From the start to the end is where the race has meaning, (life).  In the beginning everyone has the same goal to finish the marathon.  They all look fresh, clean and energized.  Similarly, a new born looks fresh, clean and energized at birth.  Their skin is smooth and they smell great, unless they have a soiled diaper.  They have that natural  baby breath that naturally soothes whoever they come into contact with.  They have a natural opera voice when they cry where they can shatter glass in their path when they have a need.  In the life journey we all really start the same way.  We want to go through life expecting to get to the finish line.  In other words, at the end of our life, we should not have left any stone unturned.  
 In the life journey, as aforementioned, some may not think so but, we all start off the same way.  The same starting line.  Thinking otherwise are just excuses.  They are  self imposed excuses to justify a less than fully lived life.  An infant does not know that it cannot succeed.  Just watch children doing whatever it is that they want to do.  They are fearless.  They do not see their gender, weight, skin color, ethnicity, the family that they happen to be born into etc., as obstacles to accomplish whatever it is that they want to accomplish.  Those obstacle are imposed by others.  In my opinion, they are thieves that steal the dreams and aspirations of the children.  Unfortunately, the majority of those thieves are their loved ones, like their parents.  And not because they want their children to fail in life but because they are unaware of the damage that they are causing. They are unenlightened individuals radiating or expressing negative messages to their children and, I believe, that in a way it is unintentional, through ignorance. You see life is not perfect.  It is not supposed to be perfect.  Like a marathon, the runner goes through many phases.  Some of that may be physical pain, thirst or hunger etc., but if you keep at it, a second wind kicks in and before you know it you're back on track on the road to a successful finish. 
 In a marathon, although there are thousands of individuals running, you're pretty much on your own.  It is your decision whether to finish  or use an excuse to quit.  In the life journey, we are one person out of about 7 1/2 billion people on the planet.  However, we are really all alone and our own master regarding how we want to live our life and how we want to finish our journey.  We have the power and,  I would add, the obligation to decide how we want to live our lives, totally independent on what others may think.  We each have a purpose in life.  Part of that purpose is to live a full life of our choosing.  This life journey, will have bumps on the road, but, so what?  What is the alternative?  Your life is yours to decide how far you want to go.  Just like a marathon, it is your race.  I suggest to run your life journey/race to the finish line.  Do not fear life, live it to the fullest.  I leave you with a quote on point by Amby Burfoot.  "Running has taught me, perhaps more than anything else, that there's no reason to fear starting lines or other new beginnings."
     Just a thought.

As I go through a continual learning and growing  process in this theatre of life, I have concluded that humility is a critical ingredient in personal growth that is seldom taught or spoken about.  To me, being humble helps facilitate growth and creativity.  I truly love mentoring and life coaching.  It comes from my heart.  I believe it is my calling or my bliss.  I have been called many things from motivational speaker, to spiritual blogger to many things in between.  It seems that now a days, anyone is a motivational speaker.  This is why I prefer not to be identified as one.  But a huge difference, that I believe, separates me from a majority of speakers is that I don't do it for financial gain and, I am just like you.  By this I mean I am not a celebrity using my star power to benefit financially.  I am not a famous athlete, I am not a television personality, etc... I am just like you.  I have a love for writing, speaking and sharing my thoughts.  In fact, truth be told, I can't even speak properly.  I am a first generation Cuban whose first language was Spanish.  And throw in that I was raised in New York City and inherited a New York accent.  At times, I sound more like Sylvester Stallone in the original Rocky movie where after the championship fight he kept yelling for his wife, "yo Adrian!"  Let me  get back to the topic of humility.
 Humility is defined as the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others or having a lack of pride.  I can see why humility is rarely spoken about because it may seem like a negative trait.  However, this is so far from the truth, at least in my experience.  If you think about it, next time you hear an athlete or celebrity speak about an accomplishment listen closely.  A common denominator is how hard they have worked to accomplish what they have accomplished.  Or a description about how great they were and their refusal to lose.  Rarely mentioned are the individuals that sacrificed or continue to sacrifice so that the "star" can get all the glory.  It reminds me of the lyrics to the song titled, "Wind Beneath My Wings," by Bette Midler where it states, "It must have been cold there in my shadow.  To never have sunlight on your face.  You were content to let me shine, that's your way.  You always walked a step behind..."  It makes a lot of sense doesn't it.  As a culture we praise those types of individuals.  The loudest and brightest stars.  We have been programed to worship them and their accomplishments and their lifestyles.   Individuals pay huge amounts of money to see them perform.  It would be weird to hear Tom Brady after winning the Super Bowl say, "we're not really better than the team we just beat, they're as good as us, we just got lucky."  My point is that a person who lacks humility has no room for growth.  If instead of focusing on exuberance we start teaching that we are not perfect and we can never get perfect, life would take on a totally humble meaning.  Because with humility, there is always room for growth.   Individuals that we label as professionals and the best at what they do still make mistakes. The absence of humility can only result in arrogance.
 Moreover, the way I see it, is that if you are perfect, then you are done learning and growing.  Your time on earth has expired.  Because, once you get to the point where you think you're perfect, what's next?  The good news is that, as aforementioned, even the individuals who think they are perfect in whatever it is that they are doing, they will still make mistakes and there is always room for growth. I am not saying we should not be proud at what we have accomplished but rather understand where you are and when to share it without making others uncomfortable.  I would close by saying we are all humans.  We all have needs and wants.  We all have similar desires to succeed and be accepted.  Humility has always kept me grounded. Use humility to make, not only you happier in life but to make others around you happy.  I read once where humility is like salt.  It gets no praise when it makes food taste better but all the blame when it makes food too salty.  Stay humble and you will be less stressed and ultimately happier and healthier.  I leave you with a quote by Sri Chinmoy.  "True humility means giving joy to others."
     Just a thought.

I am a huge advocate of fitness.  Fitness to me is like taking a shower.  Every day you need a shower for proper hygiene.  If you skip a day, you will start to stink.  Now, I understand sometimes we want to just bum around and not shower which is totally acceptable but, that is the exception.  My entire prospective in life is balance.  The way I see it is that most individuals when  describing fitness, refer to physical fitness. They seem to neglect the importance of mental fitness.  Ask anyone on the street a simple question.  Ask them, "how's your fitness" and I will guarantee you, they will answer referring to their level of physical fitness.  Physical fitness is important.  We were given, or some may believe, we chose the bodies we're in so, it is our obligation to treat it well so that we can enjoy the life experience of which we are here for.  Physically speaking, I workout everyday.  I do this not to impress anyone or set any world records but to contribute towards my obligation and gratitude for being alive.  Some may be in poor health and conclude that, they were born with a propensity for whatever it is that they are going through physically.  If you take this position, then what you are saying is that you have no control over your physical well being.  This is a position that I totally disagree with.  It is your body and your health.  You have the power to decide what to do with it, what foods you eat, what liquids you put into it etc... In conjunction to proper physical fitness and nutritional habits, mental health has to be part of the formula for proper fitness.  But it is rarely discussed.  If you don't believe me, next time you are at the gym, look for the mental fitness room.  You will find, dance classes, aerobic classes, zumba classes, machines and equipment for every muscle and body part in human existence.  But, nowhere  will you find a room or section or equipment dedicated for mental health.  
 What seems to be ignored in health clubs and gyms are that in order to have great physical health, you must have great mental health.  By having great mental health, we enjoy life and everything that life has to offer.  We can feed the desire to be creative and grow.  To me it's pretty obvious that individuals that are positive and generally happy, are fit physically and mentally.  I am not saying that being positive and happy all the time  is a cure all for everything.  What I am saying is that being positive can help us cope in a normal way, without external stimulants, to bumps on the road or when things seem to be going south.  A death in the family or a break up in a relationship or a termination in employment etc..., can lead to prolonged depression and isolation.  But, if an individual is mentally healthy, the road to recovery is short and the whole experience has a learning effect.  People that are positive, seem to enjoy life to the fullest.  They will not allow the ego to interfere in their life journey.  You see ego in my opinion is living selfishly.  It is all about what's in it for "me."  It creates a cycle of judging others in a negative way.  It becomes a dichotomy between you and the rest of the world.  It becomes a life of judging others based on superficial things such as their clothes, the car they drive, the house they live in, their education, titles, gender, sex, religion etc...  I can go on but I am sure you get the picture.  And, please don't get me wrong.  I like the finer things in life but I work hard to be able to enjoy and make choices about how I want to live and contribute to my life experience but, not at the expense of others.  Or not to show or say that I am better than anyone else.  The truth is that we are all equipped with the ability to live  a life of our choosing with the power of our mind.  And, there is enough for everyone.  Life is not a competition.  Life is more akin to a marathon where you go through ups and downs on the journey but, if you stay mentally focused, the prize is right in front of you for the taking, and not to take at the expense of someone else.  Life will provide exactly whatever it is that you desire through the power of the mind and the law of attraction.  Therefore, keep it positive.  What do you have to lose?  The answer is pretty clear to me.  I leave you with a poem on point by Roy T. Bennett.  "Attitude is a choice.  Happiness is a choice.  Optimism is a choice.  Kindness is a choice.  Giving is a choice.  Respect is a choice.  Whatever choice you make makes you.  Choose wisely."
      Just a thought.

As I go through life, I have learned that the majority of individuals are just going through the motion in the theatre of life with no real purpose.  In other words, if you ask someone why they do whatever it is they do, you may get one of two responses. Either they will say they don't know or they'll say,  because everyone else does it.  It is almost as if they are living in a twilight zone.  They are not really living in the present.  They are reliving the past or worrying about the future.  If you think about it, it is a dysfunctional way of living your life because the past is history.  Regardless of how much you revisit your past, whether it's favorable or not, regardless of how much effort or wishful thinking we put into it, it can not be changed.  And, to worry about the future whether it is a positive expectation or an upcoming stressful situation is completely useless.  The future is not real because it just isn't.  In fact, it may never get here.  There are no guarantees you will wake up tomorrow.  I understand we all may plan a vacation or have certain future expectations but, we need to keep it all in perspective.  If you think I am being unreasonable just keep in mind that the life insurance business is a multi billion dollar industry.  Moreover, what has always kept me grounded is an intense sense of awareness.  
 I do not profess to have special powers.  But, I do feel that I have a deep sense of awareness that has always, from the time I can remember, guided me through life and into the present.  I have always seen my life from a perspective of being in the moment.  I know this may sound weird to some but, maybe this has something to do with my spirituality.  This is not about any specific religion or cult.  In fact, those who know me, know that I am not a religious person.  As I evaluate my life from a here and now perspective, I seem to be more connected to whatever it is that I am doing.  For example, as an attorney if I am counseling a client in my office or arguing a case in court, I detach from my present moment for a split second and this exercise keeps me engaged in the present.  It's akin to an athlete or a stage performer stepping out of their role for a second to take a deep breath and refocus.  Which in return, keeps me focused on accomplishing what ever it is I want to accomplish.  It sounds ironic but, detaching from the moment for just a few seconds allows me to control my mind and stay focused and deeper in the present moment.  That is what athletes call, "being in the zone."  This all boils down to awareness.  If individuals understand the power of awareness and living in the moment, I believe that it would help in relationships, health, fitness, wealth, etc.  Every aspect of an individual's life can be better by just increasing their level of awareness.  It will change your entire life in a positive way.   If individuals would take a moment to evaluate where they are in their lives and focus on the changes that they want to make, it would increase their sense of awareness.   It really is that simple.  It is no different then when I go to the gym and I see a person who is just getting started trying to figure out how to use certain equipment but they can't figure it out so they get discouraged and quit.  But, just before they quit if someone were to show them how to properly use the equipment, you can see a sense of relief and the flood gates seem to open up and make them bolder and confident by pushing them to use other equipment that they may not have attempted to use in the past.  This is why whenever I am in the gym and see someone who appears to be confused, I will always offer to help them.  
 Awareness is part of our spiritual makeup.  We all have this inert ability and desire to want to grow and create but we don't all use it because of our lack of understanding of awareness.  To me, awareness is an important aspect of living a complete and joyful life.  This is not taught in school.  Or if it was maybe I missed it when they were teaching it.  Just being sarcastic! I also don't remember my parents teaching me about awareness.  But, I am sure they were clueless about this topic because if they were aware, no pun intended, they would have taught me about it.   We have all heard the adage, "being at the right place at the right time."  I would take that a step further and say that to take advantage of the aforementioned, you need to be "aware" that your are at the right place at the right time.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "To-day."
 To-morrow, what does it matter?  To-day that is here! To lend or to spend for my purpose.  All without hindrance or fear, to-day only matters.  To-morrow's a dream and a fear!  To-morrow, I never shall own it.  To-day that is mine!  What if I take it and make it to something divine!  So shall I never fear sorrow, dear time if you go soon or stay.  So shall I fear no to-morrow and gratefully live each to-day! Annete Wynne.
     Just a thought.
 

Before I start my article on opinions, I want to acknowledge the unexpected death of my younger brother on January 5th, 2021.  Death is never a pleasurable experience to begin with.  His death came as an extreme shock to me and the rest of the family.  Although, I truly believe that death is just a transition into a person's next phase of life, it is still painful to lose a loved one in the physical plane.  The way I see it, the body will deteriorate and eventually die but the sole or spirit, the true essence of who we really are will live on infinitely.  My younger brother, died much too young.  He slipped at work and suffered severe brain hemorrhaging and 12 hours later he died.  In addition to the grieving that individuals go through with the death of a loved one, I had a difficult time dealing with the fact that for the majority of my life I had a younger brother.  Someone I could mess with and tease, in a loving and endearing way.  But this article is not about me.  It is about how other's opinions can interfere in the quality of our life and how it relates to my younger brother.  Those who know me, know that I am not a religious person.  However, I am a spiritual person.  You see, religion needs spirituality but spirituality does not need religion.  My brother, was an amazing person who lived freely.  Through the years, we have had many deep conversations regarding living freely as it related to opinions that others may have of us.
 An opinion is a view or judgement formed about something or someone, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.  In essence it is just what someone may think about you.  My brother lived by one simple rule.  I would like to think that I had a significant influence in the way he lived his life because he knew that part of my philosophy in life was not to care about other's opinions about me.  I live with the fundamental principal that someone's opinion of me is none of my business.  Living a life of true freedom is not putting too much stock in other individuals opinions about you.  To truly turn the page and love and respect yourself, you need to understand this concept. As the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, " It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care about their opinion more than our own.  If a god appeared to us-or a wise human being, even-and prohibited us from concealing our thoughts or imagining anything without immediately shouting it out, we wouldn't make it through a single day.  That's how much we value other people's opinions-instead of our own."  What's ironic is that human nature tends to show us that our number one priority is survival.  It's natural to look out for ourselves first.  But, most individuals, with matters of opinions tend to look to others or, place more emphasis on other's opinions of themselves.  If we are told by others that we can not do a certain thing then we start believing we can't.  It is a self fulfilling prophesy.  
 "Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks." Simone Elkeles.  My brother was a person who really did not care about the opinions others had of him.  He lived life on his own terms.  He worked to support his children.  He loved his children unconditionally.  And he lived as a completely free man, independent of other's opinions about him.  He will truly be missed.  He was an inspiration to many.  He personified, what being and living free is all about.  I leave you with a poem on point; "The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others.  And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd you are no longer the sheep, you become a lion.  A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom."  Author unknown.  After reading this article, take a few minutes to evaluate yourself.  Enjoy life and how precious it is.  And start living independent of other people's opinions.  You will then discover the true meaning of life.
     Just a thought.

Today I had to go visit a client who is detained in a jail 2 hours away from where I have my office.  Prior to going to see him, I had a conversation with my wife about happiness and satisfaction in life or, just plain old fashion, contentment.  So, as I was driving to my destination, I started thinking deeper about our conversation and the topic of contentment.  Contentment is defined as a state of happiness and satisfaction.  Therefore, I started asking myself, why is it that at times I feel that I am not content with my life?  Although, from the outside looking in, it appears to the average observer, that I have it all.  After all, I have perfect health,  a fabulous wife, children, profession, house, cars, etc... And the deeper I got into my thinking of contentment, I concluded that if I were to ask individuals whether or not they were content with their lives, the super majority , if not all, would say that they are not. To supplement my quest, as soon as I returned home, I asked my wife who happens to have several degrees, if I were to ask individuals the aforementioned question about whether or not they were content in life, what does she think their answer would be and, she agreed with my hypothesis.  If you really think about it, I must be on to something because the pursuit of happiness, is one of the unalienable rights expressed in our constitution.  
 I don't believe that happiness, as the Brazilian poet Vinicius de Maraes put it, is "like a feather flying in the air.  It flies light, but not for very long."  Because I truly believe that happiness comes from within, but it is worth exploring.  So that is exactly what I did.  Who we are today, is a microcosm of what we were taught as little ones.  I am not a sociologist or a psychologist,  just an enlightened person with life experience.  Although, I sometimes feel I can be a psychologist from dealing with my clients as an attorney and attempting to counsel them on their chooses and behaviors.  However, as I see it, schools play an important role in why most individuals are not content with aspects of their lives.  You see, as youngsters, in elementary school, we were taught by unenlightened teachers that you need to go to school because it is a legal requirement and it will eventually help us get a better job.  I don't remember any mention about going to school because you, (the student should enjoy learning).  Our parents pretty much reiterated the same message.  Please don't be upset with your parents because they too were taught the same way.  In other words, we learned to go to school at such a young age not because we want to go but because of external conditions.  In high school, it was the same message with the exception that we were encouraged to play sports.  Again, we were not taught to truly enjoy school and learn as much as we can but rather that you must go  to school because it was the law and it will help you get a better job.  Part of my criticism at this stage in a person's development is that emphasis was placed on external conditions and physical fitness but, the power of the mind was neglected.  I don't ever remember going to a mind class or the power of the mind studies.  But, I do remember gym class and other boring classes.  You would think that as we evolve, that today things would be different but, I hate to say they seem to be worse.  Just look at what is going on with school closures all over the country using the current Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse.  And throw in who really is controlling the curriculums such as the teacher's unions and you can see what I'm referring to.  Then, when the student goes off to college the same messages apply.  Students seem to want to go to one university over another not necessarily because they really want to learn but because it will help them get a better job.  And then, when we decide on a career,  the message is the same.   Our choices may not really be what we truly want to do but rather driven by the amount of money we can make.  So it's no surprise that in adulthood so many are not content with their lives.  
 I am not saying that children should not be going to school.  I'm just bringing to light the possibility that society has it all wrong when it comes to guiding children who eventually grow up to become the dissatisfied majority.  Children should be encouraged to love to learn and to do and be whatever they love to do or be. This will lead to satisfaction and success as adults.  The way I see it, success comes from within.  Some erroneously think that money and titles will lead to success but they have it all wrong.  Being successful and happy comes from within and in turn,  it will be reflected on the choices you make.  This alone will lead to success.  I know countless professionals that are dissatisfied with their chosen careers and life in general.  We all know individuals whether in public or private that appear to have it all but are miserable.  I believe more attention has to be placed within for happiness.  I believe, that we can all make the changes that we need to make to be where we want to be, through the power of our mind.  So once you read this article, blaming teachers or how you were raised should be forever buried and forgotten because you and only you can create your happiness through the power of your thinking.   It is never to late!  Once you discover this power, your life will take on an entire new meaning.  Everything you do from this point on will have a purpose.  Contentment will then be the rule instead of the exception.  I leave you with a quote on point by Dale Carnegie.  "It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.  It is what you think about it."
    Just a thought.

I recently received a text from my brother reminding me to light a candle for my mother on her birthday who had passed away 5 years prior.  I reminded him that this was a religious habit  and that I was not  a religious person, although, I am spiritual.  I went on to tell him that our mother's energy/soul is infinite and eternal and that she does not need a candle.  Listen, I love candles but not for the purpose my brother mentioned.  I am not attempting to offend anyone who participates in organized religion.  To me, I believe having faith in a religion can be good for some.  However, religion was not for me.  I was born and raised a Catholic so I can say that I have been there and done that but, it is just not for me.  To me religion was  and is more of a burden with all the rules and expectation of compliance.   I have never been a follower or a person who complies just because.  So, I started thinking of one aspect of religion, in particular, the trinity that Christians in general and, Catholics specifically believe in.  It is a belief that god exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  I am not here to give the reader a religious briefing.  Especially at this time of the year where Christmas is a few weeks away.  I am also, not a biblical scholar.  Although, I believe the bible, of which I read from time to time is an amazing historical and inspiring literary creation.  The trinity that I believe in, I will define as the mind, soul and body.  I authored and publishes a book titled "The Law Of 4," which emphasize the importance of a balance life in what I describe the 4 pillars of life,  that being, health, wealth, love and gratitude.  Hence, the title.
 In my definition of the trinity, consisting of the mind, soul and body, the same balancing of the aforementioned principles apply.  Our mind, soul and body are all one.  In other words, our trinity is related to all its parts equally.  And the one commodity that enhances the trinity, whether you believe it or not is money.  And, please let me explain.  I can best describe it, that the universal power, or god, or energy or soul, or call it whatever you desire, is in us to experience life.  Therefore, it needs our bodies to be able to experience all aspects of life.  In order to do this, you need to be in a position to provide this immense desire within to grow and experience life to its fullest.  In order to do this you need to have money to do the things you want to do.  I am not saying that you need to consume yourself only with making money and neglect everything else in your life.  But, what I am saying is that you need to balance your life so that you can provide the experiences that you desire to fulfill your inner seed of growth and creation.  We are all here to grow and create.  If you do not believe this, ask yourself a few simple questions.  What happens when you stop growing in life?  What happens when a plant stops growing?  What happens when you lose the desire to stop growing which is synonymous with living?  Therefore, the mind and body, which to me is part of the trinity, also need money to be in peek working order.  By having money, you gain peace of mind.  You can also stimulate the mind by traveling, reading, or experiencing the arts or literature.  These stimulants need money to participate in most if not all the aforementioned activities. Your body, the physical structure that houses your mind and soul, need to be maintained through nutrition, exercise and medical attention.  It takes money to maintain the body.  It is no secret that individuals that have enough money, have better, nutritional habits, have better access to exercise and medical care.  I am not saying we should all be rich.  However, we should all strive to make enough money to be able to keep our personal trinity nourished and in balance.  The amount of money we need is personal to each one of us.  My suggestion is, not to sell yourself short.  And one quick note before I conclude.  The god within all of us is pure love.  I am closest to my source when I am able to give. Whether it's giving to my wife, children or strangers.  To me, giving from the heart is pure love.  It is what makes me the happiest.  However, in order to give you need to have whatever it is you wish to give.  The crux of giving is having enough money to be in a position to give.  Now, you can say well, I can give my time which does not need money. But, if you really think about it, time is money.  So there you have it, the Jay Perez trinity.  Mind, Soul and Body.  Your main purpose in life is to balance your trinity equally and provide for its existence and experiences.  I leave you with a quote on point by Erich Fromm, "Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much."
   Just a thought.

Hearsay is an out of court statement used in court to prove the truth of the matter asserted.  I am not going to bore you with a legal, professor like, discussion about hearsay.  But, hearsay is someone's opinion or statement delivered without the actual speaker of the statement being present.  This is why in general hearsay is not allowed in court.  But, there are many exceptions to the hearsay rule. Being an attorney for approximately 25 years I am knowledgeable on the hearsay rule and all the exceptions.  However, I started my article giving the reader a brief synopsis about hearsay, not to make the reader a legal expert but, to explain to you how I see hearsay and the comparisons in everyday interactions.  Especially, in today's world with technology being such an integral part of our everyday life.  Most individuals place a large amount of energy on what others think about them.  This is almost expected in society because we all want to be accepted.  Directly or indirectly being accepted is important to the super majority of individuals.  
 Most individuals want to be accepted by their peers, their children, their spouses, their colleagues, their neighbors, their families etc...   I'm sure I missed a group here or there but you get the point.  I bet that most individuals think about this acceptance phenomenon on a daily bases.  Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, this desire for acceptance is very strong.  It is akin to the aforementioned hearsay introduction but in reverse.  You see in court there are rules, with some exceptions, preventing others from forming an opinion of you or making a statement about you without you being able to confront the person to question whether it is true or not.  In life, most individuals pay extreme attention to someone's opinion or statement about us.  In fact, inherently, most individuals, as I see it, believe in the opinions of others about themselves, to a point that they will change their behavior or their thoughts to fall in conformity with that opinion, whether is is true or not.  I understand we live in a world with others.  And, there are customs and values that are well established and accepted as norms.  However, next time you are thinking about why acceptance is so important or why things are the way they are, ask yourself a question.  That is, can the majority of people be wrong about, you can fill in the blank?  My articles are not intended to make you a radical.  But instead, I enjoy sharing my ideas to give you something to think about.  To expand your thinking.  I leave you with a quote on point by Henry David Thoreau, "Think for yourself, or others will think for you without thinking of you."
     Just a thought.  

One of my favorite movies is a comedy called the Game Plan.  Just to be clear, not because it is an artistic master peace or a classic but, because it emphasizes qualities in human behavior that I find appealing.  It features a guy who is big and strong but deep down inside he is a pussy cat.  It emphasizes a daddy-daughter relationship.  It is a positive, loving movie.   It stars Joe Kingman, played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a star, bachelor,  professional football player that seems to have it all.  He is wealthy and carefree and his team is on the way to capturing a championship.  He is also the most important player on the team being the quarterback. Suddenly he is tackled, no pun intended, by some surprising and unexpecting news.  He finds out he has an 8 year old daughter from a previous relationship.  Once the shock  wears off, he tries but fails miserably at parenting.  It is something that he absolutely has no clue about.  Things from transporting his daughter in a super fast sports car with no back seats to leaving his daughter at 3:00am at a grand opening of his night club.  His newly found daughter is somewhat conniving because she eventually gets him and, the entire football team wrapped around her finger after a near-death experience.  That is the time that he finds out that his daughter's mom is deceased.  He then wants his daughter to live with him permanently but, the girl's aunt who has been raising her disagrees.  The aunt then takes his daughter home and leaves him playing the championship game with a heavy heart.  Joe then gets injured and his daughter shows up to get him back in the game for the second half and lead his team to a championship victory.  So, I spent the entire first paragraph describing a movie but, I started thinking about the title, game plan and how useful a game plan or life plan would be.  
 If you think about it, there are all kinds of plans floating around.  At the inception of a business, there is a business plan.  In any professional sport, there is a game plan.  You see who your opponent is and execute a game plan according to their strength and weaknesses, to give your team a better chance of winning.  If a coach did not formulate a game plan, chances are he will not last.  Before a developer builds,  they have to have a plan.  Before surgeons operate, they have to have a plan.  Before you decide where to eat or what to have for dinner, you have to have a plan.  Heck, before you get into your car to drive somewhere, you have to have a plan.  I can go on but I'm sure you  get the point.  The only plan that I will bet you,  most individuals ignore or don't think about is a life plan.  I have many years of formal education.  I can unequivocally inform you that I was never told or informed by any teachers about a life plan.  Or maybe I just fell asleep when they explained it! Humor!! So it begs the question, why is that not discussed?  The answer to me is pretty clear.  The way I see it, most individuals concentrate on the things that are physical in nature.  In other words, things that they can relate to with their senses.  The things that if they do, they can expect certain or immediate results.  You see, in order to have a life plan, you have to expand on what you have been taught and go into an area where it makes the average person uncomfortable.  Most individuals fail to have a life plan because they live there lives according to customs and traditions. In other words, they just go along with life.  A life plan is irrelevant because they may feel that they have no control over their lives.  They fail to see that the only thing in life that they have control over is how they want to live.  Through the power that we are all given, we can absolutely change our lives.  But, we are not taught about this immense power by anyone up to and including our parents.  And please listen.  I don't want you to be upset with your parents because, they too were not taught about it.  I can say this with certainty because if they were taught about this incredible power, they would have passed on this knowledge to you.  I believe that the next phase of human evolution will be an expansion of  our minds to understand this amazing power that we all possess but, the majority have not fully used.  In closing, it's never too late to create and execute your personal game/life plan.  I leave you with a quote on point.  
  "The mind is a powerful force, it can enslave us or empower us.  It can plunge us into the depths of misery or take us to the heights of ecstasy.  Learn to use the power wisely." 
 -Author unknown.
      Just a thought.

I have been called a spiritual blogger.  I guess I can see why I've been called as such because of my writings. I would call myself more appropriately, a lover of life, or perhaps a blogger of life.  I have always looked at life differently than most individuals.  For example, while most individuals may just pass a stranger on the street, with or without acknowledging them, I tend to feel their energy.  I usually smile or may say hello but in addition, I can truly sense their motives and feelings without really interacting with them.  It is an intuition that the majority of the time I am on point with.  I'm not saying this to impress the reader with any special powers.  But more to impress upon you who I am.  In addition, I am also not trying to sell you anything or ask you to join any group.  In fact, my writings are free for all that wish to read them or use them in any way.  Moreover, I have been this way, as it relate to my enhanced spirituality, since I was a little kid.  I never knew what it was.  In fact, I always thought that it  is just how everyone was.  However, as I got older and acquired life experience,  this ability, for a lack of better word, was obvious. You see, when I look at a perfect stranger, I do not necessarily  look at the physical attributes but, the spiritual energy component part  of the person.  In other words, I seem to connect to the energy of the person as opposed to the physical component.  For me, there are many triggers that move me into  a place of pure energy.   And, it's not like it's automatic.  A scent or a thing can move me at a certain time but, just because it moved me in the past, it doesn't necessarily mean it will move me again in the future which brings me to the title of my article, candle.
 Candles, more often then not, seem to set the stage for me, in a spiritual sense.  Candles enhance whatever it is that I am doing.  I can be preparing to meditate or enjoying the music that may playing at the moment.  Why wouldn't candles have this influence?   It makes sense that they would, doesn't it?  Candles have been used since the beginning of time.  For many cultures, the flame on the candle has been used to enhance  a person's intention.  Candles have been used for lighting.  Candles have been used in religions.  Candles are used for birthdays.  Candles are used in memory of individuals that have passed.  Candles have been used at weddings.  In fact, candles are such an integral part of humanity that there is a worldwide candle lighting day every year on the second Sunday of December.  In my house, we have candles in every room that are lit often.  Spiritually, candles move me and remind me to live in the present.  A candle's burning wick, reminds me how precious life is.  The bright burning wick of a candle is similar, in a spiritual way, to the potential that we all have in our lives.  Unfortunately, individuals are so busy with life that a simple act of lighting a candle is uneventful.  I am not saying that if and when you light a candle you should drop to your knees in tears of awe.  But, maybe just take a few seconds the next time you light a candle to enjoy the experience.  I encourage the reader to light a candle after reading this article.  But, don't just go through the motions.  Truly enjoy the act of lighting the candle.  Do it with your family and children if you need to.  And, if you live alone, you can still enjoy the experience.    It would not surprise me if it felt like it was your first time.  This would be a great time to do this since the holiday season is approaching.  I leave you with a quote from William Shakespeare, "How far that little candle throws its beams!  So shines a good deed in a weary world."
     Just a thought.  

A lease is a contract.  I hope the reader is not thinking that this article is going to be legal in nature.  I can assure you that it isn't.  But, hang in there for a moment and you will understand where I'm going.  A lease is a legal document in which the terms of an agreement are set out for a person to use someone else's property for a specific period of time. There are numerous types of leases.  Leases can cover all sorts of property from cars, real estate, appliances and everything else you can possibly think of.  In fact, most individuals are under the illusion that if you out right own your home or car etc..., that it is theirs, free and clear.  But, in reality this is not so.  Let's take your house for a moment.  You may have paid off the mortgage on your house but in reality, the government is the true owner.  If right about now you think I am delusional, I can assure you I am of sound mind.  And, here is what I mean.  Stop paying your property taxes and you will quickly understand erroneously that you thought you owned your home.  Your vehicle is no different.  Failure to pay a few parking citations will quickly educate you on who truly owns the vehicle.  But in reality, but for a few exceptions life is a lease.  
 The physical body that we are in is a lease, is it not? From a spiritual perspective, we really do not own our bodies.  Our soul, the essence of who we are is housed in the body that we are currently in.  I can guarantee you that the physical body will eventually disintegrate.  But, who we are as a spiritual being will last for infinity.  You can call your soul whatever you desire but, as surely as our bodies are leased, every single individual has a soul.  It is what keeps us all alive.  We would not exist but for our souls.   And upon fulfilling our journey on the physical plane, we will all go back to where we came from which is pure love and energy.  Your soul or your spiritual being is not leased.  That is who we truly are.  In relationship to our soul, we are given the absolute power to think how we like.  This power, which we are all endowed with from our source, is part of our spiritual being.  This too is who we are.  We are all creators by the very essence that we have this power.  If you think about it, everything around us, started the manifestation process by a thought through the power of thinking.  As I see it, our spiritual being which consist of our soul and the power to think, are truly owned by each and everyone of us individually. Everything else is an illusion.  We've all heard when someone passes that, you can't take your money with you or your Rolex, or your clothes, or your fancy cars or gorgeous house, although you may really not own it as aforementioned, etc... But, what you do take with you, which is who you truly are is your soul.  Your soul, which is pure love, will remain for eternity.  So just keep in mind that through all the highs and lows of life in the physical plane, through all the excitement, in a spiritual sense, none of that matters because we are all perfect souls.  I hope that my articles will inspire  lost souls.  I leave you with a quote from Albert Einstein, "I have no special talent.  I am only passionately curious."
   Just a thought.

I was thinking, as I always do about life.  And, it dawned on me how life is a collection of exams. As soon as an infant is out of the womb, he is examined by doctors and nurses.  In fact, we can back up to the gestation phase when the baby grows and develops in the mother's womb when the baby goes through a series of exams.  As aforementioned, once the baby is born, it is given a series of exams to determine its health.  A common exam is the Apgar score exam.  This is to determine the baby's appearance, pulse, grimace activity, and respiration, hence the name, "Apgar."  It is usually given at one minute after birth and again a 5 minutes after birth.  Once the baby gets older, it is examined many times by a pediatrician. At the preschool level, the child is constantly examined for cognitive skills.  At the elementary school phase the child is constantly  tested for its learning skills.  In fact, if the child does not make sufficient progress, it will risk the possibility of repeating a grade.  But, I am sure there is a mechanism for a re-test before drastic decisions have to be made.  At the high school level, the same rules apply.  Students are constantly tested before they can advance.  This is all in addition to all sorts of physical and medical exams that are required by the schools.  If the student is of age to play school sponsored sports, guess what? Yes, you nailed it!  The student gets evaluated (tested) by their coaches to determine if they are worthy enough to make the team.  
 In college, the same rules apply.  There is a college admission test in order to be allowed to pay for the privilege to attend the college of your choice.  In order to advance and graduate, students are constantly examined.  Graduate school, law school, medical school etc..., the same rules of exams/testing apply.  In post school, adult phase of a person's life, more exams to advance to the next level or phase of life.  In the employment, professional phase of a person's life, more exams.  Whether it's a promotion or an acquisition, individuals are constantly examined prior to moving on.  In a person's personal life, there are another series of exams that must be passed in order to advance.  This of course are all in addition to all the medical exams that are necessary in all phases of life.  In the senior or golden years of a person's life the same exam rules apply.  And to top it off before a person passes in life, they have to be examined by a medical person and pronounced dead before they can rest in peace.  Just a bit of sarcasm with a touch of humor.  
 I believe, that most individuals live a mere existence because unlike the aforementioned exams, that we all go through in life, individuals do not get to re-take their final exam.  At the end of a person's existence on earth, there is no redo.  It is what it is.  So knowing this, why not live a constructive, loving, happy life?  In a spiritual sense, life is a series of exams,  and, you have to pass them in order to move on.  If you don't address why you have failed in a certain aspect of your life, examine your life.  If you don't, you will continue to make the same mistakes until you figure it out.  This is why, for example, a spouse leaves an abusive, alcoholic only to end up with a similar relationship.  If you don't change yourself and accept responsibility for attracting that relationship, you will continue to attract the same.  A physical life  when compared to infinite existence is ephemeral.  So why waste it?  Make the best out of it.  You are here for a reason.  Finding out your reason or purpose in life, at least to me is very simple.  We are all loving creators by nature.  Therefore, use your natural endowed gifts to make your world, and in essence, the world in general, a better place.  I leave you with the following quote on point.  "Many people fail because they try to follow others, not realizing that everyone has a different exam."  Author unknow.
      Just a thought.

Since we are approaching the end of the year, I decided to write an article on a topic most individuals know.  Resolution, like in a New Year's resolution.  It seems to me, that a super majority of New Year's resolutions, although, made with the proper intentions, fail.  And why is that, you may ask?  Well, in my opinion, they are unsuccessful because in a deep subconscious level, the individual may not really want to change.  A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something.  And, there lies the problem, in the firm decision.  You see, in order to do or not to do something, you have to change a habit.  If you think about it, our entire lives are all about habits.  If you don't believe me, pay attention how you do things.  Next time you get dressed notice how you get dressed the same way without thinking about it.  It can be as detailed as which leg you lift first to slip on your underwear or your trousers or which foot you slip on a shoe first, or which arm you slip a shirt on first, or in the shower, what do you soap up first or do you shampoo your hair first ( I don't have hair, !!), or do you wash your body first?  Once you get up, do you start your coffee pot first or brush your teeth first?  These are just a few examples of  hundreds of habits that individuals go through on a daily basis.  Once you get out in public, we are bombarded with many more habits.  Who came up with the idea that at a restaurant your appetizers are the first course followed by soup, then salad, then the main course, then dessert and coffee? I enjoy fine dining, but why can't I enjoy dessert first then, the main course then, a salad without judgment?  One day I will do that and the response by the wait staff I am sure will be a subject of an article.  
 The way I see it, when you set a goal that you must accomplish as a New Year's resolution in the future, you are telling yourself that it really is not a worth while goal.  If it truly is a serious goal, then why are you waiting for the end of the year and the beginning of the following year to accomplish it?  Why not start now?  My father was a chain smoker and I remember as a youngster, that every New Year's eve his New Year's resolution was to stop smoking.  I remember he used to give me his pack of cigarettes and ask me to throw them in the trash for him and dump the trash down the incinerator.  For those who are privileged enough not to know about a trash incinerator, let me indulge you in subsidized living lingo.  I grew up in a housing project in New York City.  The building consisted of 6 floors.  On each floor there was 3 apartments.  Each floor had, what I can describe as a large laundry shoot looking door.  The tenants would take out their trash whenever they wanted and dump it down the shoot called the trash incinerator.  Since we lived on the first floor we can hear the upper floors when they dumped there trash because it all led to the basement just below us where once  every few days a housing employee would burn the trash.  We knew the trash was burning because the door to our trash shoot would get warm and if you opened the trash shoot door while the trash was burning, you can see the flames.  And in addition, the stench was overwhelming.  I don't think air pollution was a big topic in those days but certainly not for subsidized housing dwellers.  Let me get back on point, so my father had me dispose of his cigarettes in the aforementioned incinerator.  Only to ask me a few hours later to run across the street for him, to the local bodega and get him a pack of his favorite cigs, unfiltered Winstons.  That was at a time when minors could purchase cigarettes.  My point is that he had such a smoking habit, that he really did not want to change.  Eventually smoking caused his death.  I say this not to be judgmental because he obviously had a chemical dependency to cigarettes but, I truly believe that habits can be changed if an individual wants to change.  
 To change a habit, we must create a substitute habit to replace it.  Maybe in my father's aforementioned example, chewing gum may have been a replacement habit.  Or, maybe reading a book could have been a viable replacement.  It really all depends on the individual.  On a personal level, I had a love or an addiction to sugar.  About  4 month ago I told myself that I no longer wanted to eat sweets.  To replace my sweet urges I substituted sugar with a zero sugar chocolate protein bar every so often.  I am currently approaching my 5th month of sugar free diet.  I am at a point where I no longer want to eat sugar.  I can enjoy watching my wife and children eat sweets with no repercussions whatsoever.  I attribute my success to wanting to change my sweet tooth habit and initially substituting it with a a zero sugar protein bar.  So, do not wait until the end of the year to change an undesirable habit or to create a good habit.  Start now!  If you don't want to start now then maybe it's not a habit worth changing or acquiring.  I leave you with a quote on point by Benjamin Franklin, " Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones."
      Just a thought.

Today was a seasonably cold autumn day.  It was really felt because for the past few days it was in the mid 70's.  So, it got me thinking how life is similar to the weather.  Lets start with winter.  Winters are cold and dreary.  It is common in this time of year to get snow or freezing rain.  There isn't much of anything growing in the winter.  In fact, plants go through a period of dormancy where they stop growing along with the falling temperatures and reduced day length.  I guess about the only thing that seems to not have a problem growing in the winter is people's weight and waist line.  Just being humorous!  But, if you really think about it, in life you will metaphorically have a winter.  It is unavoidable.  It is part of learning and growing. I am referring to adversity in a person's life.  When trouble hits, such as, sickness, financial turmoil, getting fired from a job, the children aren't listening, maybe your favorite team is having a losing year, maybe the person you voted for lost the election, maybe your neighbors are not friendly etc..., and nothing seems to be going your way.  To me this is similar to a winter.  however, what is guaranteed after a winter is spring, is it not?  In the spring time, it starts to get warm but it's not too hot.  The weather seems perfect!  The days are longer and the sky is brighter and plants start to grow again.  People in general are friendlier.  There are many more outdoor activities going on.  Individuals are wearing lighter and brighter clothing to reflect the changing weather.  There is a spring (no pun intended), in an individual's walk. Things are looking great.  And, like in life, after you get over a problem, (winter), things will start to look better, (spring).  It has to, that's how life works in every aspect.  Think about it, you loose your job and you find a better one.  A plague appears and a vaccine is developed.  Your favorite sports team can't win a game so they clean house and start all over and they become a championship team.  Your partner breaks up with you and you find a better compatible relationship.  You gain weight but then not only do you lose the weight you gained but in the process you acquire better eating and workout habits.  I can go on but you get the picture.  It will not permanently remain winter.  However, after spring, comes summer without a doubt.  
 In the summer plants hit their peak.  And, most individuals like plants do the same.  Everything seems to be on cruise control.  The weather is warm which can lead to complacency.  This can be the result of  either taking things for granted or because they are burnt out from the warm weather.   Growth starts to slow down almost to a stalemate.  By now some just want the temperature to cool off because they simply have had enough.  They want or  feel like they need a change.  In fact, they too stop growing at this stage.  They figure out, right or wrong, that they have done enough to take them through the rest of the year.  They let their guard down.  This is a dangerous stage for growth because they metaphorically have given up unknowingly.   They erroneously think they need an eternal condition like a change in weather to make them feel alive.  They stop  growing possibly because they are too busy making last minute summer plans.  They forget that they are making summer plans because of the growing and blossoming they accomplished in the spring.  Then comes fall.  In the fall individuals fail to adequately prepare for the winter.  They stop growing internally and spiritually.  At this stage in life they are the farthest away from their source so therefore, are working from a conscious only perspective.  This is the stage where, for example, the company that they work for is acquired by another company and they get blind sided because they have failed to plan in anticipation that they can lose their job.    In other words, they fall in the trap most individuals fall into  when they say, "I'll see it then, I'll believe it," instead of saying I believe it so therefore, I'll see it,' when it comes to everyday life adventures.   In the fall they are ill prepared to deal with a cold winter.  This is the stage where individuals are creating a recipe for serious problems when adversary (winter), knocks.  I would bet that drug use, alcohol and violence are an end result.  At this stage in a person's life, It would seem inevitable to me, to lead to serious problems because there is no other purpose other that the superficial, exterior existence of the individual.  The real being of who we really are, which is a spiritual being is ignored.  Happiness for this individual is fake.  It is all external stimulus.  In other words, once the high of the alcohol or drug wears off, they still have to deal with the self.  And until that part of the individual is understood and addressed then, there will always be a need for external gratification and, no real solutions.
 Moreover, I don't want to leave the reader with a doom and gloom picture about life.  Life, like the seasons, is a circular endeavor.  The seasons come and go.  Some winters are harsher than others.  But for sure, spring will come.  As aforementioned, the seasons are similar to life.  Spring will always follow winters and, fall will always follow summer.  The seasons will always continue.  Life will always do what life does.  We can not control life as, we can't control the seasons but, we can prepare for both so when they both do what they are supposed to do, we can be prepared.  Life is a beautiful gift given to us by the powers to be.  But, we have to appreciated it, anticipate and prepare for the winters so that springs will surely arrive.  I leave you with a quote on point by Jared Brock; "There is a season for everything under the sun-even when we can't see the sun."
    Just a thought.

A mind is the most powerful component ever created by the powers to be.  I describe it as the powers to be because of a lack of universal agreement when describing the "creator."  Many religions will associate the creator with the leader of their particular faith.  This writing is not about leaning towards a particular creator or faith but rather, a general power that has no religious affiliation.  A general, all loving god or energy that is in everything that is alive on the planet.  You see, I believe that it really doesn't matter what you call it as long as you understand that it exists.  I rather refer to this all present energy as just that, as opposed to a personality, as many religions would rather you believe.  But whether you call is Jesus, Allah, Buddha or whatever you prefer, one thing we can all agree on is that it is an omnipotent, all encompassing power, which is part of our mind. The mind is the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel;  the faculty of consciousness and thought.  It would appear to me that you can not be human without a mind.  But yet,  most individuals take it for granted.  There is a component of all humans closely associated with the power of the mind.  That component is autosuggestion.  Autosuggestion is very powerful and influential on the mind.  I describe it for simplicity as a pilot on an airplane.  The pilot programs the plane, goes through all the safety checks to make sure all the instruments are working and takes off  expecting to arrive at the anticipated destination without any complications.  The pilot commands the plane and the plane responds.  The mind is similar with autosuggestion.  In this scenario, you (pilot), are using autosuggestion, to program the mind (plane), on your destination or, whatever it is you want to accomplish or manifest.  
 Autosuggestion is the easiest way to program your mind into accomplishing your goal.  If you really think about it, every person on earth has used autosuggestion in one way or another.  An example that you may have experienced is, if you ever told yourself that you needed to get up in the morning at a certain time and you did without the assistance of an external devise or person.    But, the problem as I see it, is that since we take our mind for granted, we then neglect to use the power of autosuggestion in a positive way.  When you say, "you can't," you are using this incredible power in a negative way.  And then, you wonder why you can't! Or when you say, "I'm beat," and, feel tired and beaten.  I have accomplished things in my life simply by saying that I will accomplish them and then taking action towards my inevitable accomplishment.  This is something we all have the power to do.  It is not reserved for a few chosen ones.  So, my question to you is, why not use this power in a positive way?  Lets all take a 14 day challenge.  Before checking out to sleep tonight, make a list of all the things you want to accomplish tomorrow.  When you get up in the morning, start your day saying you will have a very productive day.  I will bet you that not only will you accomplish everything on your list, but, you will be much happier.  I leave you with a quote by Shakespeare.  " To be or not to be that is the question.  Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them."
     Just a thought.

We here in the United States just finished a highly contested election where the results, according to what political party you identify with, showed how divided we are as a nation.  What is missing is that the United States, is but a small piece of the world.  The world is the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples and natural features.  I believe  that when you set aside the obvious differences as in skin color, gender, height, weight, eye color, language etc..., we have more in common than we are led to believe.  However, if you listen to all the noise on television or social media, you would think that we are much more divided and  different then we are similar.  According to the unenlightened, finding common ground can seem like an insurmountable, if not impossible task.  Or maybe  some want us to think this way because that is what sells, whatever it is they are selling us.  Or, can it be that powerful entities like government want us divided because it translates into unchecked power?  As I see it, all but a few individuals are unaware of this and therefore, missing the true meaning of life.  They are trained in the art of negativity instead of in an understanding that they alone are the ultimate power broker in their lives.  One thing that I love more than a man made constitution is life.  In order to live life to the fullest, we need to love all people.  Even though we may live in different countries or have different cultures or speak a different language, we are all part of the world experience.  We are not taught this important concept.  Institutions that have tremendous power over people, like schools and religious entities claim, in a superficial way, to teach the importance of loving all, but in reality maybe they are part of the power structure and in the business of keeping the status quo.  I am not trying to convince you to think a certain way.  I am not trying to indoctrinate you into any cult etc..., I am just a person who loves life and enjoys contributing my thoughts to the readers.  Because, if I can help one individual through my writing in a time of need, I would be serving in a positive way.  But, this is a decision that everyone will need to make eventually.  Do you want to live in a positive world and contribute in a meaningful way or would you prefer the status quo, sea of negativity and live a stressful existence?  
 Negativity is everywhere.  Plain and simple!  It is a tendency to be low energy, downbeat, disagreeable, and skeptical.  It is a pessimistic attitude that always expects the worse.  Negative outcomes are bad outcomes. Except for the positive person that will look at a negative outcome as a positive experience because, it will only make them stronger and better.  The problem with being negative is that through the law of attraction, you will attract exactly what you dread.  We have all been around negative people that just drain all our energy.  At the end of the experience you are not only mentally exhausted but, physically drained as well.  A great real time example is our political discourse.  Regardless of the side you're on, republican or democrat, it is all negative.  I believe if you want to be truly a free, loving, all powerful individual you have to let it all go.  Both political parties claim they are the party of freedom.  The problem is that they don't understand that true freedom is not defined by the ruling class but by the individuals themselves.  They are under the erroneous belief that freedoms are given to us by the government.  True freedom is letting go of negativity and understanding that you have the power within to live a free life regardless of all the noise around us.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, I Dream A World."
 " I dream a world where no other man will scorn, where love will bless the earth and peace its paths adorn.  I dream a world where all will know sweet freedom's way, where greed no longer saps the soul nor avarice blights our day.  A world I dream where black and white, whatever race you be, will share the bounties of the earth and, where man is free.  Where wretchedness will hang its head and joy, like a pearl, attends the needs of all mankind.  Of such I dream my world!"  -Langston Hughes
  It is never too late to start doing your part.  Instead of depending on government or legislation to make the world a better place, lets make the world a better place with a great new attitude.  It cost nothing but the results have unlimited potential.  
     Just a thought.  

Humanity is defined as the human race; human beings collectively.  It includes everyone on Earth.  All humans without exceptions.  The word comes from the Latin humanitas for, "human nature, kindness."  But, I believe there is a flaw if we just concentrate on the physical aspect of humans.  Humans are much more complicated than just beings.  There is a meta-physical component that is omitted from the study of humans.  Individuals are not taught about the aforementioned component.  It is probably this way because, most individuals are not aware of anything that is not part of the physical plane.  This is why most movements around the world seem to either fail or have a minimal impact.  I will attempt to simplify it.  With everything that is going on around the globe, from the current pandemic, (COVID-19), social unrest, income inequality, racial tensions etc..., I started to deeply meditate and think about the state of humanity.  In my quest for answers, I have found an explanation.   I do not have or possess any special powers.  I believe that we all have the answers within.  It is as easy as wanting to find the answers internally as opposed to going outward.  After, I found the answer, regarding the state of humanity, I had a conversation with my wife and I told her about my understanding and how I felt relieved.  It was an inspiring moment for me.  I remember telling her, "I found what I was looking for!"  
 I have concluded that the world as it is today is a beautiful place.  It is a perfect place.  You may ask about now, what is the author smoking; is he blind? Doesn't he see what is going on around the world, including the United States?  The answer to these questions is, I am not on any mind altering drugs.  I have perfect corrected vision.  Yes, I am aware of what is going on around the world and the United States.  However, it all comes down to how each and everyone sees it.  You see, you will never change the world.  I hate to break it to you but, I truly believe you can never change the world.  You can't! That is not how humanity is supposed to work.  We do not have the power to change the world.  Here is a question to consider.  If we possess this power then, why is it that not  even god or whatever your religious deity is, does not change all the misfortunes in the world?  The answer is pretty clear to me.  The world is a beautiful place and, our source or creator is not supposed to interfere with human evolution.  It is each and everyone of us sole's responsibility to create a world as we please without any interference.  If we want to change the world, we have to change ourselves.  This, we have the power to do.  This is our responsibility.  You see the world is really, "your world."  If you want to change the world, you have to change YOUR world.  This is the world that we have the power to control.    This is part of our purpose in life.  We have to evolve and understand this infinite power within each and everyone of us.  To change "your" world, you have to have this understanding.  You have to be aware of this power.  As I see it, most individuals forfeit this almighty power to exterior forces.  Your world will never change to a peaceful and just world unless you take the necessary steps to understand this and make personal changes.   Humans need to become conscious  of this power.  When I refer to consciousness, I am not referring to the consciousness that we are all aware of, as in when we are physically awake.  I am referring to a deep consciousness.  A consciousness that connects us  to our spirituality, our source.   Humanity to me, is a work in progress.  It is a never ending endeavor.  The question we all need to ask is, in what world do we want to live in?  To find your answer, it behooves you to evaluate how you treat or react to others?  Most individuals spent more time thinking about what they are going to have for dinner than how they treat others.  Most individuals may be physically conscious but, in a deep spiritual way, they are asleep at the wheel.  I hope that this article will motivate the reader to take control of their world through a deep spiritual consciousness and, an understanding that in order to change the world,  they must change their world.  That is how we can all make a difference for the better.  I leave you with the following poem on point titled, "I Wanted To Change The World."  
  "When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.  I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.  When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town.  I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.  Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family.  My family and I could have made an impact on our town.  Their impact could have changed the nation and I indeed could have changed the world.  Author unknown, Monk 1100 A.D.
    Just a thought. 

Most individuals, to put in bluntly, just go with the flow because that's what everyone does.  I'm sure you have heard the phrase, "jumping on the bandwagon." The bandwagon phenomena refers to the tendency people have to adopt a certain behavior, style or attitude, just because everyone else is doing it.  The more  people do a certain thing the more likely the masses will "jump on the bandwagon."  I have always been considered a person who beats to the beat of a different drum because I can honestly say that I have never subscribed to a group think mentality.  I believe that this kind of thinking can lead to mental growth stunting.  For example, if you are told that the quickest way to get from one city to another is by flying, then that becomes the norm.  And, if someone comes along and disputes this, most individuals think that he may be crazy because there isn't another way to get from city to city quicker than flying.  But can it be that most individuals can be wrong?  And wouldn't this kind of group thinking discourage the next generation of inventors to come up with a better and quicker way to get from city to city?  
 I get it, we are all social creatures by nature.  We all want to conform to be accepted into society.  But, the danger is that we can all fall prey to wrong belief's just because the majority believes a certain way.  A meaningful example, is that in the 1950's the majority of smokers believed that smoking was harmless.  In fact, many ads and celebrities promoted smoking as a cool thing to do.  And how did that work out?  We can learn so much from children regarding this bandwagon phenomena or this group think mentality if we care to watch.  Children from a small age are fearless.  They have been known to drive cars, jump in the deep end of a pool and even climb ledges successfully.  Why is this? I believe because they have not polluted their minds with group think mentality.  I'm not saying parents should allow their kinds to wonder away in perilous activity.  But, what I am saying is that there should be a balance in allowing a child the room to explore and learn on their own.  Just because a parent is scared of the ocean for whatever reason doesn't mean that their children should follow in the same direction.  Understanding this group think phenomena is important because it can free us to utilize our endowed, naturally creative elements, to freely think.  If we can catch ourselves when we're falling into a trap with this phenomena, I believe, will be a huge step toward living a happy and productive life.  I leave you with a quote from the movie, The Big Short, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.  It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."
     Just a thought.

A common definition of power is the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.  I prefer to concentrate on the latter portion of the definition, "or the course of events."  Most individuals confuse power with titles, money or status etc...  In reality none of that can really change the course of events as in, your life.  I believe that in order to understand that we have the ultimate power within ourselves to change the course of events in our lives, we have to accept  a very important truth.  That life is constantly changing.  Change is one thing that we all unequivocally have in common.  Change is similar to death and breathing. Regardless of what we do in an attempt to interfere with with it, we can not avoid it.  The more we resist it the tougher our lives become because we feel we are powerless.  I hate to break it to you but this is a no brainer.  The majority of marketers understand that there is a huge market in the concept that we need outside influences in order to live a healthy and prosperous life.  But, this is not true.  We are by the nature of our existence all powerful.  We are empowered by our source.  Once we accept that change is part of our evolution, we start to depend less on exterior stimulation and focus on our interior elements.  Once this truth is understood we become powerful.  
 We then start understanding that everything in our lives was, is and will be our choice.  That understanding is very powerful.  We have the power to choose how we want to live.  We have the power to think how we want to think.  This is a presidential election year and I am amused at all the political garbage that is consuming all of us, (if we let it because remember we have the power to shut it off), 24/7.  Hopefully, after reading this article, you will look at political advertisements differently. This is not to blame one political party over another because both major parties are equal opportunity offenders.  However, they attempt to divide and segregate us in an attempt to allow us to surrender our power to a ruling class.  And, that class is, who ever happens to be in power at the time.  The irony is that they all say that they love and respect America but their actions don't seem to be in line with their words. We are all one country, undivided, ruled by us, the people but, most of us have surrendered our power.  We have the power of choice to activate and work in conjunction with our changing lives.  
 How many times have we heard someone say, that some thing or some person made them mad?  How can a thing or a person make you mad?  You have to surrender your power to that thing or that person in order for it to make you mad or upset.  So, don't surrender your power!  You have the sole power to change those negative events or people in your life but, you must first believe in this truth.  Listen, I get it, we are not robots.  It can be difficult to live a completely stress free life.  But, as long as you understand that you are all powerful and in control of your life, you can decide how much time to consume on a stressful or negative situation before you decide to move on.  If you hear someone yell out, hey asshole! and, you look back, what does that say about you?  I believe, that an understanding of your internal power is related to your conscious level.  The higher your conscious level , the closer you are to you source.  The closer you are to your source,  the more powerful you are.  At this higher level of consciousness, fear and doubt are non-factors.  At this higher level of consciousness, an individual is living in tune with its source which is, pure energy.  To put it simply, it's similar to changing the radio station in your car and the frequency from one station to the other is not quiet aligned so you get some music but it comes in fuzzy.  The frequency comes in and out.  This example is similar to our internal power.  The closer we are to our source through a higher level of consciousness the clearer our power is in every aspects of our lives.  Once you reach this level of awareness you will understand that you can have and live a life of your choosing.  I hope that this article can lead you towards a happy, loving abundant life of your choosing!  I leave you with the following poem titled, "Power".  "It may not be a measure of physical strength or size, instead it is an inner strength that shows within your eyes.  So much determination, so much want and drive, a spirit of enjoyment that shows we are alive.  You might not always see it, but it's there down deep inside, it just might take some coaching to bring forth that strength and pride.  Each of us can be powerful we have to know it true, to let free our power to do what we must do."  Author unknow.
     Just a thought.

An assumption is a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.  There are strong assumptions and weak ones.  The stronger assumption is one that assumes a lot.  It it farther away from reality whereas a weak assumption closely represents reality.  A weaker assumption is more in tune with the majority of individuals because it takes less effort and explanation.  In my previous article   titled, "Jay's Song," I had a very strong assumption that my first born daughter was going to be born on Valentine's Day.  I was ridiculed openly by some because in order for that to happen there were many things or conditions that had to occur.  I constantly had to explain my assumption.  A weak assumption on the other hand needs no explaining.  It can be something like getting in your vehicle in the morning with the assumption that the vehicle will start.  One common assumption, and there are many that individuals make, consciously or subconsciously is that we will wake up in the morning.  We don't think about the possibility of not waking up in the morning.  We just take it for granted that we will wake up.  Most individuals live taking life for granted.  We don't really think about how precious life is.  We just assume life will be there, being and doing what life does.  As I live, I have learned to take metaphorical breaths at different times of my daily life to just look around and be grateful.  Sometimes I'll do this when I'm at the grocery store.  Sometimes when I'm at the gym.  Sometimes when I'm performing my duties in court and playing my part as an attorney.  Sometimes I'll do this when I'm walking my dog.  Sometimes I'll do this when I'm driving etc...The way I see it, assumptions can be productive or a waste of time and energy.  Used in a positive way it can elevate your energy level and stimulate the powers to be to get you closer to manifesting your desires.  Used in a negative way it can be a way to not accept responsibility for your life and to miss your entire life plan.  I also believe there is a relationship between assumptions and age.  I believe the younger a person, they tend to be more inclined to use the power of assumption in a negative way whereas an older person may use assumption in a positive way.  
 My son who is a junior in college is a living example of what I mean.  About a week prior to this writing, on a Saturday night he was at a party with his college friends when a traumatic, life changing incident occurred.  Before I describe the incident I feel compelled to describe my son.  He is an A student.  He works two jobs to earn his own money.  He travels and loves life.  He has amazing friends.  He has really never been in trouble.  He has always made smart and wise decisions.  He personifies, in a positive way the adage, that "you are the type of friends you attract." I am very proud of him and needless to say that I love him and the rest of my children dearly.  So as aforementioned, my son was with his dear friend when he was violently murdered within a few feet of my son.    My son told me of all the aspirations and dreams they were planning on doing together once they graduated.  One thing that stood out to me was that my son told me how precious life is and how things can be taken away so easily and quickly. Even though, I am grateful that my son is alive, the pain in my heart for his best friend and his family  is at times overwhelming.  It makes what I described earlier about taking time to look around and just be grateful more important.  I hope that after reading this article that you will take the time to look around and be grateful for everything you have from family, to your health to the fact that you read this article etc... Don't assume your life will be the same tomorrow as it is today.  Give your loved ones a hug and a kiss after you are done reading this article.  And, if they are far away, call them and tell them how much you love them and how grateful you are to have them in your life.  I leave you with the following quote, "Don't take life for granted.  No matter how much they love you, people get tired eventually.  We are all given chances, but you never know when the last chance may be."  Author unknown.
    Just a thought.

A song is a short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.  Songs, move me and penetrate the fabric of my feelings to where it raises my energy level to another dimension.  This is not necessarily unique to me as I believe songs can move individuals in many ways.  So therefore, I decided to write my own song, hence the title of my article.  However, I must first worn you that I am not a musically inclined person by choice so, the song that I am writing is my attempt to capture  the same level of increased energy as aforementioned.  I have concluded that my children are what inspires me and that they raise my energy level and move me closer to my spiritual component of who I am.  So this is not a song in the traditional sense but, very much so in a spiritual way.  If  and when my children read this article, they will have an idea of my spiritual connection to them, especially when I have left this phase of my evolution.  I am hoping that, as it is true with a song and, the connection to a time or place, that my song or better described as, my article,  will someday be a source of inspiration to someone who reads it.  Moreover, those who know me, know that there is nothing traditional about me or my life.  My writings are not meant to sell a point of view or to convince the reader to move in a certain direction.  I believe that is contrary to my deeply held spiritual beliefs about not interfering with individual freedoms and their natural evolution.  So here we go!
 Jay's song is dedicated to all 6 of my children.  As most parents know, their love of their children is unconditional.  As I see it, this love is absolute.  There is not much more to say about this point.  As far as my children, I will start in the order of birth.  My first born children are identical twin girls.  As of this writing they are 25 years old.  The very first one to exit the mother's womb I nicknamed "Buddha Belly."  For anyone who is familiar with Buddha, he is portrayed with a fat belly.  That is because it represented abundance and is included among the seven lucky gods of Japan as a harbinger of abundance and good health.  This perfectly describes my daughter.  Since she was born thicker than her twin sister, I created a fictional story that I would tell her that I witnessed her in her mom's belly by means of an ultrasound, as she would elbow her sister in order to eat the food that was floating around in the embryonic sac.  My other twin I nicknames, "Jelly Belly," because she was smaller and longer.  Regardless of their nicknames, they both are pure bundles of love.  Although, we have been estranged for many years, I can confirm that pure, unconditional love is never compromised.  I can honestly tell you that I feel their love in my heart and I can only imagine that it's mutual.  I remember in the 1990 romance/fantasy movie, Ghost, when Sam Wheat, played by Patrick Swayze, was murdered and he returns as a ghost to protect his girlfriend, Molly Jensen played by Demi Moore.  In a scene where he is about to finally say good-bye to her, he tells her as he is describing his love for her, "It's amazing Molly.  The love inside you, you take it with you.  See ya."  That is the type of love I am referring to when it comes to my children.  True, pure unconditional love will always remain in your soul regardless of whether  you are physically together.  It is inseverable.  
 My next 2 children are my sons who as of this writing are 22 and 20 years old.  Although, I was not able to have an unfettered father/son relationship with them when they were very little, the aforementioned love is the same.  My older son has an incredible loving heart with an extremely protective and paternalistic  heart towards his family and friends.  He is full of energy and adventure.  He inspires others by living  a full life without self imposed fears or doubts.  There is a sense of relief in knowing that he will succeed in whatever he focuses on in life.  He uses the first born male against his siblings in an endearing way.  My 20 year old son is a spiritually connected loving being.  He is well balanced.  Whoever is fortunate to be in his presence, can feel his loving, sincere energy.  He is energy driven.  There is no doubt in my mind that he too will succeed in any life endeavors of his choosing.  
 My next two children are girls who as of this writing are 12 and 11 years old.  When my 12 year old was born, I remember a sense of euphoria.  It was my wife's first born child.  I say this because there is a back story.  As a first born child for a women, research shows that there is a 15-16 percent chance the child will be born late, compared with a 9-10 percent chance for other babies.  I always wanted a valentine girl.  My wife and I were sure we were having a girl but that was just half of the equation for me.  I remember telling my wife's OB-GYN that my daughter was going to be born on valentine's day.  He obviously thought I was nuts because in order for that to happen, my daughter would have to be born approximately 6 weeks prior to her due date.  In addition, it was my wife's first child as aforementioned.  Well, my daughter was born on Valentine's day end of story!  She also happens to be very spiritual and intuitive.  Just like her papa!!  My 11 year old,  is the most outward, loving, cuddly human being I have ever met.  She requires cuddles and necessitates close contact with her mother and myself.  This is probably because she was a colic baby so she slept on her mother's belly for one full year after she came out of the womb.  So she went from sleeping inside the belly to sleeping on top of her mothers belly.  How cool is that? Especially since it wasn't my belly she was sleeping on.  Humor but true!! The irony is that if you take a good look at her and get to know her, she is the type of girl that will kick your ass if you mess with her.  I feel confident that I will not need to chaperone her through out her future dating encounters.  
 I understand why parents in the past may have put conditions on their love toward their children.  It was a way to maintain control, foster conformity and maybe instill certain values and belief's held by parents and society at large. I am not judging or saying that I am the know it all on parenting.  That is not the purpose of this article.  I believe each parent is their own expert on how to parent.  And remember that in the beginning of this writing I said I am not a traditional person so, my parenting style is just that, my parenting style.  I also believe that a common belief amongst parents are that the children owe their parents something.  That something can be to care for the parents in old age.  To me that is a selfish way of living.  And a profound expectation put on children.  I hate to say this but children do not owe their parents anything.  However, the opposite is true.  Parents owe their children everything.  Parents must financially support their children.  Parents must care for the well being of their children.  Parents must coach and guide their children.  Parents have an obligation to provide an environment to assist the child to become a contributing member of society, etc...  Children are not property of the parents.  They came through us but not necessarily from us or for us.  I think once we understand this, parenting becomes easier.  It is a privilege and an honor to be a parent not a requirement.  When I say I love my children, it almost cheapens it because words will never capture what I feel towards them.  All I can say is that I am extremely grateful and fortunate to be called dad.  So there you have it.  This is my song.  Jay's song!!
    Just a thought.

As I see it, a major source of problems arise when individuals are caught with their thumbs in their mouth, figuratively speaking.  In life, you are either anticipating or reacting.  But, one thing for sure, you can not be both at the same time.  You can't be on offense and defense at the same time.  You can't be smiling and angry at the same time.  You can't be  financially secure and living in poverty at the same time.  It sounds pretty basic but some appear to be testing common sense.  I am a huge people watcher.  I continue to learn so much just by watching others.  This is an invaluable portion of my learning constantly  about human behavior.  It has also shaped my philosophy about how I see life.  You see, life is not supposed to be lived in a haze of confusion.  If you take the time to study people and life situations, it leaves you wondering.  Anticipating an unexpected situation is crucial in how well you will do in life.  Most of us get caught, as aforementioned, clueless.  If you want to get a clear picture of this phenomena watch little children play a baseball game.  One of the infielders, fields a ground ball and, although he may have fielded the ball cleanly, more often than not he is standing with the ball in his glove with a big smile while the base runners are running around the bases and scoring.  He was not taught to anticipate the ball being hit to him and where to throw the ball.  Adults are not immune just because the are grown up.  In fact, there is no excuse for adults to lack anticipation but unfortunately some do.  I have many examples but I'll just mention one that is much too common.  Driving under the influence.  I have represented many individuals that just plain and simple did not anticipate what can happen when they go out and decide to drink to a point of becoming impaired.  If they just would have anticipated  what can happen, they would have saved thousands of dollars,  amongst other things. 
 Many individuals on the other hand  are in reaction mode.  They react to the situation in the moment.  I see this even in my current profession as an attorney.  There can be two opposing attorneys arguing a motion in court and the judge may ask one of the attorneys a question and the attorney looks like he's in agony.  Why is that?  Lack of anticipation!  I have been told that I am quick on my feet in court.  But, that's not because I am smarter than the other attorney.  It is because I have an enhanced sense of anticipating what judges will ask.  I didn't learn that in law school.  They don't teach you that in law school.  And, I don't have a special gift from god because we all have it.  But, not everyone uses it.  This happens in all aspects of life.  The choice to anticipate or react.  It shocks me when parents get approached by their pre-teen children and asked about life and in particular sex and the parents react like the aforementioned attorney because for some reason they never anticipated that their children will grow up one day and ask life questions.  
 I believe those who anticipate are the successful doers in life.  Look at any segment of society for proof.  The successful athletes are the ones that anticipate their opponents move. The successful financial adviser is the one that can anticipate the ups and downs in the market.  The successful investor is the one that can anticipate turmoil in the market.  The successful surgeon is the one that can anticipate, more often than not, complications that arise in surgery.  I can go on and on but in general, the anticipator as opposed to the reactor is the more successful.  Even a person who is driving a vehicle can use a little anticipation to get to where they are going.  I leave you with a poem by Michael Faudet titled, "Anticipation;"  "Anticipation is the breath we take, a silent pause with lips awake, a lingering kiss two lovers make, to be with you I can not wait, each passing day I contemplate.  Anticipation is the breath we take."  
      Just a thought. 

Since it's football season, I decided to write an article on a football related topic.  However, in a deeper spiritual sense, it is what life is all about.  There is a football movie titled, "The Blind Side."  It is a true story based on the life of a professional football player named, Michael Oher, who was a homeless, black teenager who drifted in and out of the public school system for years.  He was subsequently adopted by an affluent white couple.  It was an inspiring movie which I recommend everyone to watch.  The irony of the movie was that it transformed not only the life of Michael Oher but the lives of all the family members that adopted him.  In football, blind side is the side of the offensive line that the quarterback is facing away from while he is in the pocket.  For a right handed quarterback, that would be the left side on the offensive line.  The opposite is true for the left handed quarterback.  Since a quarterback is, by all accounts, the most important component of a successful football team, teams will often put their best offensive lineman on the blind side to lessen the risk of pressure and injury to their quarterback.  In reality, isn't that what life is all about?  We all get blind sided every so often.
 An unexpected death or illness or just when things are not going as planned can be considered being blind sided.  This is what makes life an adventure.  I would not want it any other way.  If you think about it, what's the alternative?  The answer is pretty clear to me.  I mean, if you weren't around, you wouldn't be blind sided.  If you think of it that way, most sane individuals would prefer to be blind sided.  We have all heard individuals say that they wish life would be easier.  Instead of an easier life, how about wishing for more wisdom to deal with whatever is put in your path?  David Frost said, " Two roads diverged in the woods and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."  You see bumps in life, or as I sometimes refer to as hiccups, are signs that you are getting closer to your goals.  Once you understand this truth, nothing will ever worry you.  I sometimes laugh, when I get blind sided because, I know it will all work out.  It has to!  Think about it, how many problems have you personally had in life that blind sided you up to now? And, guess what?  You are still here.  So it all worked out didn't it?  It probably made you a better and stronger person.  In fact, I believe if you have an easy life, it can turn you into an uncreative procrastinator or avoider.  Why wouldn't it?  You wouldn't have any incentive to challenge yourself and  grow.  Growing, which involves some kind of risk taking will be non existent in your everyday life activities if you choose the easy route.
 We are here for a purpose.  I remember awhile ago having a conversation with my wife about life's purpose and I was sobbing when I asked her, is this what life is, working, paying taxes and dying?  I love living.  For me living is exploring and a never ending project.  It's crazy, but I do not want to be comfortable in life.  I want to always be moving ahead and exploring.  Comfortable to me is what most individuals live for.  Call me whatever you want to call me but I rather live an uncomfortable life.  Being uncomfortable keeps the fire in my belly constantly burning. We will all reach a point in our physical existence when it it time to leave the planet.  That will be the only time when I expect to be comfortable.  Not necessarily physically comfortable but instead comfortable knowing that I have fulfilled my inherent desire to live an amazing, full and complete life.  A life where I completely nourished my inner desires and therefore,  fulfilled my mission.  I understand that this can be a daunting standard for many individuals but for me it is the only standard. I remember my father telling me that even when you get knocked down you can always lean forward to continue to make progress.  We see this all the time in football.  When a player is about to get tackled, he stretches out and reaches forward for the extra yard.  So when you're falling down, as we all will at some point in our lives, don't feel pity but instead stretch out and, fall forward for the extra yard in this game called life.  Just like in football, we will get hit.  Accept it, get up and move on.   I leave you with the following quote, "In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take." 
-Author unknown 
      Just a thought.

As a Hispanic male of olive complexion, or some would describe me as having brown or tan skin, I decided to write an article on "the talk," that I hear people of color should have with their children, but in particular with their young boys.  From my research, "the talk," seems to be a rite of passage for many African-American children where parents inform their children on how to handle racial discrimination from the police.  Before I delve into this topic, I want to make a few disclaimers.  My writings are my opinions.  I am not attempting to play down the concerns and fears that minority groups have.  I am not attempting to change anyone's mind or opinion.  I enjoy writing about life topics to spark creative thinking.  If my writings can help individuals in anyway, that would be all worth while.  As a lover of life and people, I will always hope that my articles can be beneficial.  Moreover, when I speak about parenting issues, I come from a perspective of a parent who has 6 children.  But nevertheless, I am not saying that I am the parental expert.  My parenting style is just that, my style.  It is what works for my family and I.  I believe that all parents are experts with what works for their family. So, now that I've expressed a few caveats let's look into "the talk."
 I believe that "the talk," is deeper than we are led to believe.  I also think that "the talk," may be causing unintended damage to a child.  By having this talk with your child, I believe you are creating a sense of fear and helplessness just because of the color of their skin.  It appears to me that what this talk can do is create in a very young mind a belief that they have no control over their lives.  What if the talk was about how special and beautiful they are?  What if the talk was about their unlimited potential in their lives?  What if the talk was about how they can control their own life and be whatever they wanted to be? What if the talk was about respecting others regardless whether it is a police officer, teacher, librarian, other adults, colleagues, playmates etc..  I truly understand that encounters with police for a black person are different than with whites.  I have first hand knowledge because I was a police officer prior to my current profession as an attorney.  Even in my current profession, I have represented numerous minorities who have had a negative experience with the police.  I believe it will take some time but we can fix this.  If the talk would be  one of respect, even if the police are being disrespectful, I bet you the majority of the encounters would be positive.  The problem as I see it is a catch 22.  Minority children are taught from early on to distrust the police and the police are suspicious of encounters with minorities because of the aforementioned.  No one seems to be listening to each other.  
 We can only control our behavior.  We will never be able to control someone else's behavior.  So why not start with controlling how we react to others?  I know that most, if not all parents mean well by having this talk with their children.  But, maybe we need to reconsider the content of the talk.  Maybe the talk should be a positive talk as opposed to a fear based negative talk.  Maybe we should talk to our children about success and potential as opposed to fearing the police.  What is wrong with teaching your children never to fight with the police or, run from the police.  That is what I advised my boys when they were young.  I have even told them that even if they are doing something that is wrong, never run or fight the police.  That is why we have courts.  To settle disputes!  Please believe me when I say I have first hand experience with this topic.  One of my sons has had numerous encounters with the police because of bad choices that he  has made.  Luckily, he has never run or fought the police and, ultimately things were resolved in court.  And, he's alive!  I had a stressful encounter once, when I lived in an affluent neighborhood with the police.  It was a fall evening and I was out for a jog wearing a hooded sweat-shirt.  I was stopped in my tracks on the sidewalk by a police cruiser that literally drove onto the sidewalk in front of my path to stop me.  The officer got out and asked me for identification.  I did not have any because I was out jogging.  Plus, who carries a wallet while jogging in their neighborhood?  I explained that to the officer and informed him where I lived which was a few blocks away from where I was stopped.  I asked him, why I was stopped and he told me to shut up.  Knowing that this was an odd encounter that can get out of hand, I asked him to please have his supervisor respond and simultaneously another cruiser showed up with a sergeant.  I then asked the sergeant why was I  stopped and he bluntly stated, "shut the fuck up!"  I then let the cat out of the bag and told them I was an attorney and I wanted to know what was going on and to my surprise their whole attitude changed.  I was told that someone that matched my description was breaking into cars.  I was released immediately.  Being the ex-cop that I was and current attorney, I went to the police station the next day to review the public record about calls the previous evening about car break-ins where I was stopped and I did not find any calls resembling what I was told.  My point with the aforementioned is that things could have ended up drastically different for me if I would have decided to fight the police or run.  But instead I complied with their demands although, I knew I had done nothing wrong.  I was also left with a pondering question about what would have happened to me if I wasn't an attorney because I believe that when I mentioned that fact, things changed immediately for the better.  
 Moreover, I sincerely do not believe that a police officer puts on his uniform and goes to work with the intention of killing a black person or any person.  In fact, I think every police officer goes to work understanding the perils of the job and the possibility that they can be killed.  But, they still go on patrol to serve and protect.  Are there bad cops? Sure there are.  Just like there are bad lawyers and bad doctors.  We as a society need to root them out and make them accountable for their actions.  But to paint all police with a broad brush insinuating they are all racist, is not just wrong but I believe it is contributing to the violence that is so common today.  When you have a star athlete  like Lebron James make a public statement after a police shooting saying,  as he is referring to the police officer involved,  "... or maybe he just left the house saying that, today is going to be the end for one of these black people." He also said in a recent post game interview, when referring to police that "black people feel hunted by law enforcement."  To me these are despicable and irresponsible statements from a basketball icon with a huge fan base which do not help the black community.  In closing, I believe that parents should have a talk with their children that is geared towards love, respect and accountability.  
     Just a thought.

We all have an inherit power to live a life of our choosing.  One thing that I am certain for sure is that regardless of our physical attributes, we all came from the same place and we're all going back to the same place.  I believe our spiritual origins are from the universal.  This is a foreign concept because we can't apply logic to prove or disprove it.  Logic is reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.  Logic is universally filtered through our senses.  As a lawyer when the issue of evidence is discussed, every case has either direct evidence, which supports the truth of an assertion directly-i.e., without need for any additional evidence or inference.  This type of evidence can be DNA samples left at the scene, fingerprints, or blood.  Another type of evidence that is common in the law setting is circumstantial evidence.  This type of evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion.  An example of this type of evidence can be, seeing a disheveled person walking at 2:00 am on a deserted country road and a mile away was a vehicle that crashed into a tree.  Although no one saw the person driving the vehicle, a logical inference can be made to connect that person to the crash.  Now that I have given you a lesson in evidence, let me get to my point.
 Most individuals rather have hard core proof of something in order to believe it.  We need to verify whatever it is we want to believe through our senses.  We apply logic and if it is not logical because we can't prove it through our senses, we tend to not believe it.  This is how we have all learned concepts in school.  We need logic through science and confirmation through our senses.  Moreover, I believe that this way of learning is somewhat oppressive because there is a whole other dimension we are ignoring.   At least for individuals that are enlightened.  You see, as an enlightened person, there are things that logic can not explain. But, that doesn't mean it's not true or impossible.  In the enlightened or spiritual realm, your faith is an integral factor.  The way I see life, there has to be more than what we see with our eyes.  There is a universal component to all of us.  This is what I mean when I say we all came from the same place.  I believe the more we evolve, the closer we get to our universal or spiritual component of who we really are.  I surely do not believe we are our bodies, titles, race, gender, ethnicity etc..  I believe we are all spiritual beings.  If you really think about it, we all have the same needs and wants.  To go a bit deeper into our spirituality, ask yourself, what keeps you alive and your various organs functioning when you are asleep?  This spirituality or universal mind or call it whatever you want is in all of us.  No one can avoid it.  It came with us free at birth.  We all have the capability to access this universal mind for anything we desire.  I'm sure you have heard or read stories of individuals with horrible diseases or on their death bed with advance ailments recover miraculously.  Most individuals will call that a miracle.  To me there is no such thing as a miracle.  To me it is how life should be once you understand the power of the universe.  In a book titled, "Love, Medicine and Miracles,"  Dr. Bernie S. Siegel wrote, "There are no incurable diseases, only incurable people."  His point was that we have yet to tap into the power of the universe for self healing.  Once we learn about this unlimited universal power within,  we will understand that, "Getting well is easy.  It's getting sick that takes years of dedicated hard work."  -Dr. Richard Schulze
     Just a thought.

Enthusiasm is an intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.  It comes from the Greek word, "enthous," which means the god within, inspired.  The happiest and most interesting people are those who have found the secret of maintaining their enthusiasm or the god within.  To me enthusiasm is energy and a passion for life.  Children are a great example of enthusiasm.  Parents are their children's teachers but I also believe that parents can learn so much from children.  If we look at children, they are naturally happy about life.  They are enthusiastic about pretty much everything they do.  Why is that?  I think that is so because everything they do is a learning experience.  Learning is a challenge for them.  It is something new.  But then as they get older or as adults, they lose some of that desire to learn new things.  Then when we get to a stage in out life when we are at the peak of where we want to be, say when a person desires to be an attorney and finishes his schooling and obtains his license, the enthusiasm begins to dwindle.  This is so for any profession.  I just so happen to mention the profession of lawyering because I am one.  But, as I go through life, enthusiasm or the zest for living and growing is not restricted to professionals.  It really applies to life in general.  I have known of or worked with many in my life who have a lethargic disposition and a monotone way of communicating.  They are individuals who are dull and unexciting.  But, come the end of the work day or Friday at 5:00 pm and this lifeless person turns into John Travolta on the dance floor in the movie "Saturday Night Fever."  It leaves you pondering the question how can this be so?  
 I believe, that since life is all about growth.  In order to grow you have to keep learning and that is where the problem lies.  You see, most adults, once they have achieved the level of education and knowledge to get to where they are, they stop learning.  I believe that once you stop learning, you stop growing.  Once you stop growing, you stop creating.  Once you stop creating, you stop living whether you know it or not.  Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."  He said this at his trial for impiety and corrupting youth, for which he was subsequently sentence to death but, his statement is so true about life.  If one does not examine their life, it becomes a life not worth living, at least for me.  I have this rule about my life that I have followed my entire adult life.  That is that every 4 years I examine where I am in life.  I examine everything about myself.  My job, my house, the car I drive, the fitness I'm in etc...  I do this because I do not want to get stale.  Family members and friends have asked me,  "why is it that I am not happy with what I have?"  My response is very simple and natural for me.  That is that I am very grateful for everything I have but that I am not satisfied.  I will continue to learn, grow and move forward until the day I take my final breath on earth.  For me that is the only way to live - to live an enthusiastic, passionate life.  We should all be enthusiastic and passionate about life.  We should all be enthusiastic about everything that happens from the time we come out of the womb to the time we get placed in the tomb.  To me this is the purpose of life.  Anything less is not worth living, as Socrates alluded to.  And, anyone can dip into the god within to live a more inspiring life full of zest and energy.  I can tell you from experience that choosing to live a vibrant life will change your life in a positive way.  It will attract people and things that will enhance your life.  It is the true meaning, at least for me, a person that is not religious, of being re-born!  "Enthusiasm can help you find the new doors, but it takes passion to open them.  If you have a strong purpose in life, you don't have to be pushed.  Your passion will drive you there." -  Roy T. Bennett
      Just a thought

As I go through life I have concluded that life  really is about the decisions we make.  If you want to change your life, it really is as simple as wanting to make the decision to do so.  We all make decisions all the time, so this should not be a surprise.  We make decisions regarding who we want to be in a relationship with, where we want to work, how much formal education after high school we want, if so, what college or university we want to attend,  what priority we put on fitness and diet, whether we want children, pets, where and how we want to live, what kind of car we want to drive, how much drugs or alcohol we want to consume, whether we want to live an opulent life or not etc...  Moreover,  if you are really honest with yourself, you will conclude that it all comes back to "decisions."  The way I see it, your life, is an inside job.  You determine what life you want to live.   I have 5 siblings, and I can tell you without any doubt in my mind that it all comes back to decisions.  I am not saying I am better than they are.  I believe we are all created equal in the image of the almighty or as I refer to as, the universal powers to be.  The universal powers to be, did not create some to be destined to succeed and others to be doomed to fail.  That would be contrary to the laws of nature.  If you are to believe that we are all created in god's image, as most religions have you believe then, we have to all be created equal in his image. Period the end! 
 The formula to an opulent life, as I see it, is totally contrary to what we have all been led to believe.  We have all been taught that we must all have extended education after high school to live a "better life."  I remember hearing that from my father often.  Don't get me wrong, I love school and learning.  In fact, I went on to law school and am a practicing attorney in my other job.  I say that as humor because I love to write about life and coaching individuals to living a positive rewarding life but, just, look around at how many under employed or unemployed formally educated people there are.  Look around at how many people are trading their most precious commodity which is their time for a wage that just keeps them above water.  Not to mention that they probably hate their boss and their job.  Let that sink in for a moment.  Trading precious time, of which you will never get back for work!  Because life is fluid and constantly changing, outdated ideas will negatively affect your potential for positive creative change in your life.  The good news is that you can decide right now to change your life for something better.  It all goes back to you wanting to decide to change your life.  Most individuals are held back in life because they are either comfortable with their life or they are addicted to everyday habits.  Habits that are probably someone else's habits.  Habits that they pick up from their parents, teacher or other significant persons in their lives.  Why that's so difficult to change is that most of the important persons in their lives are people who genuinely love them.  So it gets confusing and imbedded in their minds early on because they confuse these habits with love and caring.  Then as we get older, fear sticks its ugly head into our lives and there you have it.  Fear is like cement in your mind that unless you are aware of it, it will turn your thoughts into rigormortis and unescapable death.  If you're not growing, you're dying.  It is akin to sticking your mind in a nursing home just waiting for the inevitable.  By the way, who came up with the idea of institutionalizing seniors in a nursing home?  To me that is one of the most troubling aspects of our culture.  Seniors should be encouraged to speed up not slow down.  As I see it, that is a major contributor to brain atrophy.  Just like any other muscle, if you don't use it, you lose it.  However, this would be a discussion for a future article.  I leave you with the following quote; "The straight line, a respectable optical illusion which ruins many a man."  Victor Hugo
       Just a thought.

Adversity is an adverse or unfortunate condition marked by misfortune, calamity or distress.  I believe that adversity is part of the human experience.  It is unavoidable.  It is a necessity component in the evolution of our life experience.  Without it, it stunts the growth of character.  In the absence of adversity, creativity and conviction will suffer a premature death.  Most individuals would rather avoid adversity but, I believe we should welcome it with open arms.  If you really think about it, when a person is met with an unfortunate condition, it creates a challenge which most likely they will over come.  In doing so, they wittingly or unwittingly, contributed to the strengthening of their character.  Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher, famously said; "That which does not kill us make us stronger."  The problem, as I see it, is that most individuals after an adverse situation, get into a negative place that can be difficult to retreat from.  I am not excusing an individual's negativity but if you take a moment to look around at what is being pumped into our minds from media, corporate America, advertisers, social media, family and friends,  it is no wonder why there are so many with anxiety disorders. All we have to do for proof is look in our own backyard to see what's going on.
 Turn on the news or read any articles on current events and you would think that America is coming to an end.  Between social injustice, the current pandemic, forest fires in the western portion of our country and hurricanes in the southeast, it would seem to some that life is not worth living.   But, this is a defeatist attitude.  If you research the history of civilization, adversity is part of civilization and it has made us collectively and personally better.  In the 50's it was the polio epidemic.  No one born after 1955 can imagine the terror that gripped whole communities before a vaccine was perfected.  If you think racial injustice is a problem today, it was rampant in the 50's.  Even in progressive California, Blacks, Latinos and Asians all had their areas and were expected to stay in their neighborhoods.  It made us all collectively and personally stronger.  In the 60's, was the Vietnam war, civil rights protest, assassination of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King and the Cuban Missile Crisis.  It made us all collectively and personally stronger.  In the 70's, there was the Munich Massacre, Watergate, Invasion of Cambodia, gas crisis that resulted in long lines at the gas pumps and created the even/odd license plate rule, and  Americans were held hostage in the US Embassy in Tehran.  It made us all collectively and personally stronger.  In the 80's, there was  the AIDS epidemic, and the cold war.  It made us all collectively and personally stronger.  In the 90's, there was the Gulf war.  It made us all collectively and personally stronger.   In the 2000's, there was the 9-11 attacks.  It made us all collectively and personally stronger.   In the 2010's, there was the opioid epidemic, student loan crisis,  and the decline in life expectancy.  It made us all collectively and personally stronger.    Through all these adversities, America and we the people, were made not only stronger but better.  
 The way I see it, not any amount of worrying or focusing on the negative throughout our past or into the future will change anything.  Not to sound callous but it was, what it was.  Things are supposed to happen for a reason.  Adversity happens so that we can all get better.  We should all welcome it.  I look at things that happened or are happening in our country or things that happen to me in a personal level as things that "just happen."  In other words, it is what it is.  Embrace it and in the words of Nietzsche, "That which does not kill us make us stronger."  By you worrying or living angry will not change anything for the better.  In fact, it will make your life a horrible experience.   "In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."  Albert Cawus
    Just a thought.  

I recently returned from an extended Labor Day weekend in Santa Monica, California with my wife and two daughters.  My California experience far exceeded my expectations.  I am a New York City born and bred individual, so naturally I am biased in favor of the city that never sleeps.  It has everything imaginable; theatre, restaurants of all cultures and pricing, diversity, entertainment, museums, shopping for all budgets etc...  New York City has always been my measuring stick when comparing it to other places.  So it pains me to say that in my opinion, New York City is second to Santa Monica.  Santa Monica is a city within Los Angeles County, which is very large.  Technically, Santa Monica is incorporated separately and has its own municipal government separate from the City of Los Angeles.  However, Santa Monica is woven into the fabric of LA, city and county and could be thought of as a suburb.  Why I give Santa Monica the upper hand is because the weather is absolutely perfect and, it is on the Pacific ocean.  The beach with the Santa Monica mountains in the background make the scene picturesque and stunning.  Now, Santa Monica has some unappealing conditions.  It has a large homeless population and some of the streets leading to the beach are filled with litter but over all this is a small price to pay for the overwhelming advantages it offers.  It makes you wonder how a State that has the largest taxes in The United States can have the aforementioned problems.  Also before I forget, marijuana for recreational purposes is legal so wherever you go, you will be exposed to a skunky stench that can be overwhelming for the none-marijuana consumer like myself.  
 In addition, I have never seen more high end luxury cars concentrated in a suburb as in Santa Monica.  I'm referring to Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Rolls-Royce's etc...  Many of the vehicles I saw are priced in the millions.  There were more high end vehicles on the road than ordinary ones.  So I started thinking, what kind of business must all this wealth come from?  So the obvious industries came to mind,  professional athletes, successful actors, cannabis dispensary owners etc... But looking inward for answers as I always do, I started thinking that we are all business people but most of us don't know it.  And, for the ones that figure it out, it will bring you what the aforementioned businesses can not bring you which is freedom and peace.  The way I see it there are two businesses that we are all involved in without exception.  Our business or someone else's business.  You see, individuals get stressed, depressed or angry, the over whelming majority of time when they get into someone else's business.  When you do that, you are judging someone else and trying to change them.  Well, I'm here to tell you, you will never change someone else.  If you think you can do that you will live a miserable life.  If your success or happiness depends on someone other than yourself, you will fail.  You will  never live to your potential by depending on someone other than yourself for your happiness.  Living in someone else's business is none of your business.  Plain and simple!  I hate to sound cold and rude but even if that "someone" is a child, family member or a loved one, it doesn't matter.  Their business or choices that you disapprove of, is none of your business.  That is their life path that they chose.  
 Moreover, your business is totally under your control.  You are the chief executive officer of your business.  You and only you decide how to run your life or what I refer to as your business.  The difference between the homeless or the person who was driving the rare G-Class convertible SUV Mercedes priced at $1.800.000.00 in Santa Monica, are just choices that he or she made in life and it all starts with how you think.  I understand that the truth is at times difficult to accept.  It is always easier to blame others or conditions for your bad choices.  If you blame your race, ethnicity, religion, sex, parents, environment, circumstance or any other factor other than yourself, you will be in a self imposed prison where the gates are wide open but you can't seem to understand that all you have to do to free yourself is to walk out.  In my work as an immigration attorney, I have many examples of immigrants that came to the United States with absolutely nothing and have created a wonderful life for themselves through perseverance and thinking not only that they can succeed but expecting to.  I encourage the reader to think about the business that they are in.  While doing so, ask yourself a simple question;  "whose business am I in?".  If the answer is not "your business," then, you're in someone else's business and that my friend is the wrong business to be in.  "You have little control over the world around you, but full control over the world within you."  Matshona Dhliwayo
       Just a thought.

I was recently researching my next car and I started to think about how a car is a perfect metaphor to describe life.   For those fortunate enough to purchase a new car, life is akin to a car.  A new car has a shine and scent to it. It has a perfect body, no scratches and smooth shiny paint.  The elements have not had an affect on the exterior.  The exterior has a reflection like a mirror.  The interior has that new car scent. The seats are wrinkle free.  No scars or stains from occupant use.   The dash board, handles and knobs are sparkling.  No food or sneeze discharge stains.  The whole car just has a glow.  The engine, well, that's the brains of the car.  Depending on the make, model and budget, you can have the most powerful engine on the market or the most economical average engine.   
 The way I look at it, this adventure we call life is similar to a car.  As soon as the baby comes out of the womb, it is spotless.  It is perfect! There is a shine with a newborn.  The baby scent is like no other.  It is an intoxicating, warm scent.  As physician, Johannes Frasnelli, an anatomy professor of the University of Quebec stated, " So, of course, there must be mechanisms which allow for a very strong bond between parents, especially mothers, and the baby.  We think that the odor of babies is involved in one of these mechanisms."  He goes on to say that, "In fact, many people, mainly parents, will say that the baby odor is one of the most pleasant, best odors they have ever smelled."  I would not describe it as an odor.  I rather describe it as a scent because to me odor has an unpleasant connotation to it.   Moreover,  a newborn has perfect smooth skin.  Not one wrinkle unless, you are born old and grow young like in the movie Benjamin Buttons.  Humor!!  A newborn's body is perfect.  Everything is running just how nature intended it to be.  The mind, the engine of the body is perfect.  It has the potential to be as powerful and, quiet frankly,  the ability to be beyond the strongest computer or most powerful engine created.  If you don't believe me, just answer one question.  Who do you think created the most powerful engine ever created?  The answer is obvious to me.  The human mind!   
 The way I see it, although a car and metaphorically speaking humans are similar, there are two big exceptions.  Individuals have the ability through their inherit power of their mind to tap into their endowed infinite power.  A person can be 4'5'' as a full grown adult, weighing 80lbs and have unlimited power through their mind.  Stature has no correlation to mind power.  That aforementioned, small person can have the mind of a Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), who was the person who made  sense of astronomy.  He realized, following in the footsteps of Copernicus, that the sun is not the dead center of the universe and that the planets go round in ellipses.  Individuals, unlike cars, through the power of their thoughts can do, go or live however they choose.  You see, cars have to be driven or now a days, at least programed by individuals.  Individuals have the ability to live and program their lives as they please.  A car can not program itself.  At least not as of this writing.  There are cars that can drive themselves but they are still dependent on humans to program them.  Humans on the other hand through the power of their mind can easily change the course of their lives.  Buddha states, "We are what we think.  All that we are arises with our thoughts.  With our thoughts, we make the world."  Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, "We become what we think about all day long."  Moreover, individuals can map the direction they want to take in life.  That is part of our evolution.  This is a piece of our life adventure that no one can interfere with.  We have to set goals to be able to reach them.  If you get into a car with no idea where you want to go, you are just wasting your time.  You are just wondering around life lost.  On the other hand if you have a purpose, goal, or destination in mind, you will almost certainly reach it. So I encourage the reader to program your life GPS (goals), and I will see you at corner of Success and Happiness.
    Just a thought.

A miracle for the average person is a surprising and welcomed event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws.  And, is therefore considered to be the work of a divine entity.  I don't believe in miracles.  I believe in the power of universal or natural law.  This universal law is what some call god.  Not a god of any religion but, an omnipotent and omnipresent force.  A pure love force.  It is impartial and every single person has access to this inalienable life force.  It is pure energy.  You can access this law at will but, the majority of individuals are clueless.  This ignorance  is simply because it was not taught.  If you are fortunate enough to understand this law, you will know that anything is possible in life.  I recently was distracted when I crossed the street in a bustling area after a dinner outing with my family and I missed a step as I was about to step onto the sidewalk.  I played organized football when I was younger and prior to being planted head first onto the pavement, it reminded me of my football playing days.   I looked like a linebacker running towards a running back with my shoulder and upper body parallel to the ground in a low crouched, 12 inches from the ground position, accelerating full speed ahead ready to tackle my opponent.  However, in this scenario, there were two older ladies in front of me looking at me with disgust like I am a weirdo and instead of hearing cheering fans, I hear my wife, 2 daughters, and mother-in-law yelling, Jay!! Like I meant to tackle two old ladies in the middle of an intersection.   After I rolled onto my butt, I notices that I lost about 2 inches of flesh from the tip of my left toe, (I was wearing sandals), and, an inch of flesh from my right knee, (I was wearing shorts).  As I sat on the pavement pondering my next move, my wife asked me how I was doing and I told her, that I broke my index finger on my right hand.  Now, there was a bench near by, that I managed to crawl to and all my family members were working on patching up my wounds.  It certainly helped that my mother-in-law is a retired nurse but I was adamant  that I broke my finger.  I remember I planted my right hand on the pavement to absorb the impact and my finger in question snapped back and I heard the break.  Immediately it started to swell and I could not clinch that finger with the rest of my hand into a fist.  The next morning my finger and knuckle were significantly swollen.  The pain was substantial and for those who know me, know that I am not a fan of pain.  My wife and daughters ended up getting me a splint which helped alleviate some of the pain of which I was very grateful for.  I then started practicing what I write and believe about to my core.  My faith and belief in the power of the mind and how everything that you can conceive in your mind you can materialize.  Moreover, I meditated and connected to the all potent universal powers for self healing and my broken finger was completely healed in 2 days.  Some may call this experience a miracle but as aforementioned I don't believe in miracles.  The way I see it, miracles are for the unenlightened.  
 I understand that most individuals who read this article may think this is all hog wash.  I get it.  Many years ago prior to my enlightenment I would think the same way.  In fact, if this incident would have happened to me 30 years prior, I would have ended up in some hospital preparing for surgery.  Please understand, I am not saying that if you suffer an injury  you should not have it examined by a doctor or medical professional. However, what I am saying is that we all have the power to heal ourselves whether it is a physical or mental ailment, if we believe in the power of the universe.  This power that I speak about and often write about is nothing more than energy.  We are not taught about this so therefore, most of us are foreign to this potent power which is available at will.  We are usually taught as adolescents that we need to look externally for healing or happiness.  But in reality we have to look no further than within ourselves for all our needs in life.  We are taught that our senses or what Stewart Wilde refers to as the collective consciousness is all that there really is. But this concept is flawed.  We are taught to look at reality through logic.  That is where I believe the problem lies because the universal laws of nature are beyond logic.  I believe that to evolve into the next phase of life, you have to reach what Abraham Maslow described as  metamotivation when he spoke about self-actualized individuals striving beyond the scope of their basic needs to reach their full potential.  I truly believe from my core that if you connect to your source or this energy that I allude to, you will realize  your unlimited potential and your life will change and be a reflection of this omnipotent power.  Your thoughts will shape your energy which in turn will shape your external life.  If you can imagine it in your mind, with true belief and conviction, universal law will deliver.  "There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point...  The truly adult view, by contrast, is that our life is as meaningful, as full and as wonderful as we choose to make it."   Richard Dawkins
     Just a thought.

A toxin is a poison frequently produced by some higher plants, certain animals, and pathogenic bacteria that is highly toxic for other living organisms.  We are very concerned, as we should be, to exposure to toxins.  It is undisputed that toxins can have a negative effect on an individual up to and including death.  However, individuals in general, are not as concerned about toxic people, as they are about toxins that too, can have a debilitating effect on your  physical and mental health.  Research has shown us that negativity is not only harmful but contagious.  It can effect the quality of our lives in profound ways but, negativity is so ingrained in our environment that it is either ignored or acceptable by the majority.  I enjoy being a student of people.  Where ever I go and whatever I do, it shocks my conscious how individuals seem to want to live an angry filled life.  Here are just a few examples to stress my point.  For the baseball aficionados, if you ever watch a professional  baseball game, this, wanting to live an angry filled life, is a great example.  More often then not, if an umpire misses a call, or makes a bad call, you have what, Bill Cosby, called in one of his stand up comedy routine,  a conniption.  When he describes  how his wife reacted when she found out that he gave the children chocolate cake for breakfast.  To say she lost it would be an understatement!  So back to my baseball example of living an angry filled life.   When an umpire makes a bad call as aforementioned, the manager of the baseball team, usually a male in his late 50's or early 60's comes running out of the dugout like he was shot out of a cannon.  He is salivating, and either tobacco or gum mixed with saliva is dripping from the corner of his mouth down his sun baked wrinkles onto his neck and making a final permanent stop on his uniform shirt.  The veins on his neck look like they are hemorrhaging.  He looks like a bull ready to tear up the matador and shove the red sheet up the matador's ass.   Only to discover that the matador pulls back the red sheet and stabs the bull with a sword.  This is a grown man, dressed in a kid's baseball uniform, making several millions dollars a year, getting all worked up over what?  An alleged mistake that an umpire made.  And unlike the calm matador, the baseball manager shortened his life by exploding into a conniption.  Another example is the media.  Individuals, for reasons unbeknownst to me, love to see or hear negative news.  In my opinion, it appears to stimulate their adrenal glands and bring some excitement, although negative,  to a boring life.  This is so prevalent today in our polarized political environment.  If you really think about it, whether you consider yourself  a democrat or a republican, what it really means is that you will be upset approximately half the time.  So knowing this, why get upset?
 The aforementioned are self administered toxins that individuals voluntarily expose themselves to.  However, exposure to toxic people is just as brutal.  Some of the biggest impediments to success come from exposure to toxic people.  It can be from co-workers, neighbors, store clerks etc..., and family members.  They can all have negative effects on your physical and mental health.  You  can be a happy positive person but, prolonged exposure to negative people will suck your energy like a Mike Lindell cotton towel on his infomercial soaking up the water on a kitchen counter.  The real issue as I see it is not the negative encounters, because you really have no control over that but understanding the negative impact these people can have on you, and limiting your exposure to them.  In a co-worker situation, where they are talking about negative topics, maybe use the Irish exit maneuver and tell them that you need to get back to your work.  I'm not suggesting being unsympathetic but, you need to monitor your time in that environment and be truthful.  I suggest telling them that you need to get back to work.  If it's a family member, I hate to say this, but you should consider limiting your time with them as well, if they are negative.  I believe, at least for me, that it is easier to limit your time with a negative family member because they are family as opposed to a co-worker or supervisor because you may really need the job so, you can't be as blunt for fear of being terminated.  
 The real antidote for the road to physical and mental health is surrounding yourself with energetic and positive people.  People that will elevate you as opposed to demean and depress you.  But beware, once you elect a positive lifestyle, you may come across to the negative population as uncaring, arrogant and callous.  This is a small price to pay for living a long, loving, healthy and positive life.  Also remember that if you choose the positive option that, contrary to a negative person's opinion of you, you have chosen a love filled life and an appreciation of life because, that will be the sum total of what you will radiate and give to individuals you come in contact with.  Keep in mind that someone's opinion of you is none of your business.  I leave you with a quote from Booker T. Washington.  "Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company."
     Just a thought.

In many of my articles, I write about my spirituality.  So, not surprising, I was asked by a friend what does spirituality mean?  The technical definition of spirituality is the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.  To me, it is a true understanding that what you see, as it relates to a physical being is not what you really are.  It is an internal belief that there is a real and significant component in each and everyone of us that is unknown.  There is something that is unknown and ambiguous  in every individual that guides us through life.  Once I accepted this to be true, it transformed me with a sense of calmness.  Things that most individuals get worked up over are not threatening to me.  Spirituality has evolved me into a person in life where I am not afraid of the unknown.  In fact, it has emboldened me to live my life to the fullest.  As, Albert Einstein, said, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is mysterious."  Not, that I live a careless or reckless life but, to the contrary.  I live a full and purpose filled life.  Further, it's not that I don't enjoy the finer things in life.  I truly enjoy and am grateful for material and physical acquisitions because they contribute to my life experiences but, in the scope of living, they please my conscious, senses driven desires.  
 Moreover, spirituality to me is absolute freedom.  It matters not the color of my skin, gender, height, weight, etc...  It is knowing that I don't have to be perfect.  In fact, it is an acceptance that we are all flawed.  I have learned in essence,  being flawed is a good thing because it makes the journey of life more interesting than the destination.  It is akin to planning  your dream vacation and doing everything preparing and planning for it.  Things like saving money, loosing weight, buying clothes, etc..  The preparing or the journey at times is more exciting than the actual vacation itself. Spirituality puts my entire life, from the mundane to the extraordinary in perspective.  Spirituality has also opened my heart to kindness.  Although, I consider myself unconventional in my way of thinking, I enjoy teaching others about other ways of living but in a non-offensive way.  I understand that we live in a shared world with many world views and that my view is just that, my views.  I express them to give the reader other possibilities to view the world but, never from a perspective that my way is better than yours.  I recently had a discussion with my wife where she told me that she feels from my writings that if I am not always moving forward that I am ungrateful.  I can see why she would think that because, I believe passionately that I am here at this time to always continue to grow and move forward.  However, I also feel with equal passion how fortunate I am in my life for everything that I have.  I believe we can be both at the same time, be grateful for what we have and wanting more.  Thomas Edison once said, " Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I'll show you a failure."  Spirituality has shown me that I don't have to feel guilty to always wanting to experience more.  To me human nature is a continual growth upward and outward.  I leave you with a quote on point.  "Human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but...life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves."
        Gabriel Garcia Marquez
      Just a thought.

Those who know me know that I am not a religious person.  I was indoctrinated into the Catholic  religion when I was a youngster because that was my parent's religion.  As I got older and had many  questions about who I am and what am I doing here, questions that could not be answered by my parents or their religion, I quickly decided that religion was not for me.  I learned at a very young age that I had the answers to all my questions within.  So, I have not been part of any organized religion for the majority of my adult life.  However, I do believe in god and I am a spiritual person.  My view of god is a general omnipotent, loving, god force.  An all inclusive universal force that is within each and everyone of us.  No one is excluded.  Not an external god that most, if not all religions believe in.  This is my belief and therefore, my intention is not to offend anyone regarding their religious belief's or  to indoctrinate anyone into my belief's.  The way I see it, religion needs spirituality; however, the flip side is not true.  Spirituality does not need religion.  These are my opinions and I encourage all readers to do their own research.  So, I was thinking about the topic of faith from the prism that whether you are a religious person, a spiritual person, or a person who just doesn't believe in anything, we all have faith in common.  Usually when the topic of faith is discussed, it is in the context of  a strong belief in god or in the doctrines of religions, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.  However, faith can also be a complete trust or confidence in someone or something.  This article is geared mostly at the ladder view of faith.
 If you think about it, we all have faith.  Every single one of us has faith.  When you drive your car from point A to point B, you have faith that you will get there safely.  You don't question it.  You just know.  You don't have any specific knowledge.  You just know it to be true.  That's faith.  When you go to sleep at night, you have faith that you will wake up in the morning.  You have no proof of that, you just believe it to be true.  That's faith.  When you go to work, you believe that you will get paid for your work.  You have no scientific proof of this, you just believe it to be true.  That's faith.  When you work out, eat healthy and live a balanced life, you believe that you will live a healthy prolonged life.  You do not have proof of this but, you just believe it to be true.  That's faith.  When you program your GPS in your vehicle, you believe it will take you to your destination.  You have no direct evidence of this but, you just believe it to be true.  That's faith.  When you fly in a plane, which should be the way most individuals fly, sarcastic humor, you believe that the pilot is competent, the plane is safe and you will get to your destination.  In fact, you believe it so much that you will bet your life on it.  That's faith.  I hope you get my point.  We all have faith.  The laws of nature operate based on faith.  Your mind is very suggestive.  I have never in my life had a flu shot and I have never been ill.  Yes sometimes I may feel slightly under the weather but, nothing that was not cured in a few hours or a day or two.  This isn't because I have super natural powers but, rather because I have learned to use the power of the mind to my advantage.  Since I have always been involved in physical activity from organized sports, in my colligate days, to present work out regimens, I have had an occasional injury but, I can honestly tell you that when I have applied faith in the healing power of my mind, it has never failed me.  Faith is a crucial component to activate the unlimited  power of the mind.  We all have it but, most individuals don't believe it.  I encourage the reader to try using this inherit power.  What do you have to lose?  I leave you with a quote on point.  "Future medicine will be the medicine of frequencies."  
       Albert Einstein
     Just a thought.

Philosophy is a way of thinking about the world, the universe and society.  It works by asking very basic questions about the nature of human thought.  The nature of the universe and the connections between them.  I have been called a philosopher many times by individuals that read my articles.  Whether I am a philosopher or not is not important to me.  I truly love to write articles about life.  Titles have never impressed me.  I have found my purpose in life.  That purpose is to assist individuals in their life journey.  So in line with thinking and asking questions about the self, and the world and how it all relates, I ask the reader the following question; "What is your philosophy in life?"  My philosophy is how I have decided to view the world.  I believe,  philosophy changes as time passes.  It makes sense doesn't it?  The way I viewed the world when I was a youngster is very different than the way I see it now.  Life and experience helped shape my current views.  Simple thing like taste, political opinions, hobbies, world views etc..., change with time.  In fact, your body changes on a daily bases so why wouldn't your philosophy?  And that is a good thing is it not?  You do not want to be stuck in the past while life is advancing rapidly.  I believe, life is a changing project.  Our purpose is to grow.  Growing is essential for the human condition to evolve to the next plane in the life experience.  
 Whether you think about it or not, everyone has a philosophy.  Just the fact that you have the power of thought, and, to think about how you want to live your life in itself, is what I refer to as  your individual life philosophy.  My philosophy was shaped by my most challenging moments in my life.  Just to mention a few, I remember my best friend falling out of his 8th floor apartment window when we were both 12 years old.  He was doing his parents a loving thing by washing  their windows.   He was sitting on the ledge of the window while using a sponge to clean the outside when he lost the grip on the sponge and spontaneously  reached for the sponge and fell to his death.   The impact was so brutal that it bent a chain link fence that he landed on from the 8th floor approximately 2 feet.  It practically split his body in half.  At that ripe old age of 12 years old, one of the worst experiences in my life, taught me how precious and short life can be.  For my best friend, it turned out to be much too short but, for me, it shaped my philosophy about life.  I learned how precious life is; a lesson that has guided me all these many years later.  I have always made the right decisions when I was put in dangerous situations as a police officer.   My philosophy about life was molded by the worst experience in my life as a 12 year old.   In another impactful situation that has shaped my life philosophy in a positive way was that when I was about 17 years old, I was working as a server in a restaurant in New York City where the tips were very good.  Myself and a few of my co-workers decided to play kick hockey on the street in front of the restaurant prior to the shift starting and the owner did not like that so he terminated us after the shift ended.  From that day forward, I used that negative experience to put myself in a position to be self employed so that I would never get fired again.  Gratefully, I have been self employed for the last 20 years and counting.  That experience impacted my life philosophy about employment.  
 We all have our stories, our philosophies.  I prefer to look at life no matter what may be in my path and use it to my advantage.  By feeling sorry for yourself and wanting sympathy from others, will get you on the road to nowhere.  I encourage the reader to use life's challenges to shape your philosophy in a positive way. There is nothing on the physical plane that you can not overcome.  I implore you to evaluate your life and think about your life philosophy. 
 Someone once asked me, "why do you always insist on taking the hard road?"  I replied, "why do you assume I see two roads?" - Author unknown
      Just a thought.
          

I was reading where the Marines have a saying, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."  So, I started thinking about that saying and I believe it to be true for the majority of individuals.  Most individuals want to do great things but they are empty vessels when in comes to action.  They say they want to do this or that but, it's only words with no substance.  I believe the problem is that they lack discipline.  Discipline seems to have a negative or punishment connotation about it but, regarding this article, it is a positive character trait.  Not an inherited trait but rather a learned behavior.  Discipline can be developed by everyone.  It is not reserved for a few.  Although, only a few truly understand the importance of being disciplined.  Some are more inclined towards discipline because of a strict upbringing or military background but that doesn't mean that we can't all be disciplined.  If you think otherwise, you're just using an excuse to justify your lack of success.  Most, if not all,  of the successful individuals that you know or read about possess discipline.  We look at individuals that have made it to the top of their profession and,  we admire and are grateful for their contributions to us personally or, to society in general.  Regardless of  whether it's in acting, dance, medicine, sports, law, engineering, etc... These successful individuals are highly disciplined.  They put into their profession unlimited amount of hours to be where they are.  I remember when I was in law school, the amount of hours I put into my studies so I could graduate law school.  And, subsequently to have the privilege, honor and trust of an individual to confide in me their deepest secrets. While my friends were out enjoying their weekends, I was burning the midnight oil reading and studying to get to where I wanted to be.  I was disciplined.  Look at your life up until this very point.  Anything positive that you have accomplished has been because you were disciplined.  You must have wanted it bad enough.  
 Lets say you decide you want to run a marathon and  set the alarm for 4:30 am to start your training.  And, it's cold outside and dark and your pillow is fluffed up exactly to where you want it and, once the alarm sounds, you resist the temptation to stay in bed and get up to start your training, that is discipline.  That is what separates you from the person who says they want to run a marathon but is lacking the discipline to follow it up with action.  To me, self discipline is the holy grail.  If you master it, you will accomplish whatever you want in life.  Discipline starts in the mind.  Once you set your mind to do something half the battle is won.  You then must resist all temptations that will try to stop you.  You must keep your eyes focused on the prize.   Whatever you need to do, you must do to keep focused on the prize.  To me, discipline is a form of self control.  We all have, not just the ability, but the obligation to control ourselves.  If you don't believe me look at how many individuals are incarcerated because they lack self control.  "Self-discipline is a form of freedom.  Freedom from laziness and lethargy, freedom from expectations and demands of others, freedom from weakness, fear and doubt.  Self discipline allows a (fill in the blank), to feel his individuality, his inner strength, his talent.  He is master of, rather than slave to, his thoughts and emotions."  H.A. Dorfman  
 We all have the ability to succeed in life.  You just need to want it bad enough.  In order to live the life of your dreams you need to change your ways, if you are not where you expect to be at this point in your life.  It truly boggles my mind when individuals do the same things, day in and day out but expect things to get better.  If you want things to get better you have to get better at whatever it is you want to accomplish.  You need to change the way you think about yourself and life in general.  Changing the way you think is not a difficult task.  In my opinion, since changing the way you think is so easy, most individuals don't believe it to be effective and thereby are defeating their dreams without even trying.  I hope that this article will help unlock your unlimited potential.  I leave you with a quote on point.  "With self-discipline most anything is possible."  Theodore Roosevelt.
     Just a thought.

My wife is an avid runner.  We both put a priority on our health and do everything we can to stay fit.  Although,  in my opinion, physical fitness is not as important as mental fitness, it nevertheless is an important component to living a balanced lifestyle.  So, I started thinking about the spiritual component of running.  In doing so I remembered the movie Forrest Gump.  In the movie, Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, recounts his life story to strangers who sit next to him on a bench.  He describes when he was bullied often because of his physical disability and marginal intelligence.   In a scene, while fleeing from bullies his leg braces fall off  revealing that he was a fast runner.  From that point on, he discovers talents he never thought he had.  He then goes on to accomplish whatever he desires to accomplish in life.   The movie is fictional but, it has, at least to me, significant life messages.  Many may look at the scene where he's running from bullies as negative but I see it differently.  I see it as a man who is running towards something.  You see, running away from something doesn't necessarily mean you're literally running away.  It can mean you are running towards bigger and better things in life.  In Forrest Gump's experience, by initially running, he discovered a whole new self.  The leg braces fell off and, freed him of his perceived physical handicap.  By running, he ran toward life not away from life.  You see many individuals, I believe think erroneously that running equates to running away from something or, avoidance. When in fact, you could be running towards life.
  Remember the tragic incident on September 11, 2001, when terrorist attacked the World Trade Center buildings in lower Manhattan with two commercial planes they hijacked?  Subsequently, killing over 2600 in the World trade Center buildings alone.  Several hundred first responders died "Running" into the building while many were "running" out.  I mention this horrific chapter in American history to stress that running, figuratively speaking, does not always mean running away.  In a spiritual sense, others may be assuming the risk of running from their monotonous 9-5 life, to live the life of their dreams.  But, as in the aforementioned movie, once you start running you may discover things about yourself that will change your life for the better.  But again, there is a risk in leaving that repetitious, monotonous, lifestyle that many equate with comfort.  I don't mean to offend anyone, but to me, that type of life would be of no value to me.  It would be no better than living in a cage.  At times you have to risk it all in order to succeed in life.  There is a price to pay.  The higher the price the bigger the rewards.  I am not saying my way of thinking is for everyone.  But, my way of thinking is right for me.  You have to find what is right for you.  Some may want to live a more traditional life with routines, and that is understandable.  Just make sure that it is truly how you chose to live and that you are not influenced by other sources that may not see it the way you do.  We all have free will and the choice to live how we want to.  We are all powered by our internal seeds that drive us to achieve whatever it is we want to achieve.  It is our responsibility to use as much of that power to live the life of our choosing.  It is always better to run for or towards something.  The difference between a lion, (the king of the jungle) and the gazelle is that the lion is running to accomplish something, while the gazelle is running to escape.  So keep running forward and chase your dream.  I leave you with a quote on point.   "If you chase anything in life, chase the things that get you excited about living."  Author unknown.
   Just a thought.

I have learned that for me the easiest way to connect to my source is through meditation.  On many occasions, through meditation, I have had  out of body experiences.  Out of body experiences are usually associated with individuals that have had the misfortune of being in a near death situation after a traumatic accident or event.  They then end up coming back to life and share their experiences.  I am grateful that I have never been in such a traumatic situation.  However, my out of body experiences as aforementioned, have come while meditating.   I have discussed these experiences with my wife and her only response is, "make sure you come back."  I can only explain these experiences as a sensation of being separated from my physical body and being able to see my body from a different location in the room.  And, feeling a nothingness about me and totally weightless.  Then, after awhile when I'm ready, I start feeling my body again and I'm back to the conscious component of the physical plane.  So after one of these deep meditation states, I remember that time was irrelevant.  In fact, when I came back to the conscious state I was surprized at how much time went by.  So I started thing about a clock - hence the title to this article.
 The clock I'm referring to is a metaphorical clock.  A traditional clock is round and it has a clockwise rotation of 24 hours.  Therefore, life as I see it, can be broken down to this metaphorical clock into 4 quarters.  Each quarter will consist of 25  year increments.  From zero to twenty five years of age, the first quarter, that is when individuals are the farthest away from their spiritual self.  At this stage youth and inexperience go hand in hand.  The individual is guided by their conscious self or their  five senses.  At this stage it's all about the self.  The next stage, the following 25 years is the same as the first 25 years but, the individual starts looking beyond the personal self.  They still have a strong guidance by the conscious self or the senses but, at this stage the individual starts asking questions about spirituality and the soul as it relates to life on earth.  Between this stage and the next stage, the succeeding 25 years, this is where enlightenment may occur.  At this stage the individual starts to ask  questions that we all have.  The life questions that we must answer.   Why are we here? And, who are we?  At this stage, there will be an awakening and a sense of relief because the aforementioned life questions will be answered.  The individual, at this sage has life experience and starts moving closer to returning back to their source.  The place that they came from and where they are eventually going back to.    In the final stage of this metaphorical life clock is the last 25 years.  This is between the ages of 75-100.  At this stage there is a deep spiritual connection and understanding of life.  At this stage individuals start connecting the dots backwards and are at peace knowing that they lived a full and purposeful life.  At this stage death is knocking at the door but instead of not answer and fearing it, the individual accepts the terms of the life contract, opens the door wide and smiles.  The individual understands that they are more than just a physical body.  The  real part of their existence is spiritual.  They understand they are an infinite being in a temporary body but, their essence never dies.  But instead are, reuniting with their source.  Moreover, at this final stage,  individual are grateful for having the privledge to have lived at this time and place.
 I hope that this article will open up the reader's mind to view life and its purpose as more than just through the consciousness of the physical plane.  I truly love writing about life.  We are all on a life voyage.  We all have the same questions about our purpose in life.  Some would rather ignore them and just live life as they see it.  To me, life is not just meant to be lived but to be explored, create and grow.  We all have the power to live as we please through our inherit power of our mind to think and choose our life.  Your clock is running.  The time is yours to live a beautiful life.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "The Clock of Life."
 "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop at late or early hour.  To lose one's wealth is sad indeed, to lose one's health is more, to lose one's soul is such a loss that no man can restore.  The present only is our own, to live, love, toil with a will, place no faith in tomorrow, for the clock may then be still."
         Robert H. Smith
     Just a thought.  

I was in court today for a pre-trial on behalf of a client.  The standard court practice today is much different than it was pre-covid.  In the past, courts, at least where I practice, were more akin to the scene in the movie Jingle All the Way, where workaholic Howard Langston played by Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to make things up to his son.  He promises to get his son the hottest toy of the season which was a turbo man doll, even though, it is Christmas eve and the toy is practically sold out.  Howard then has to drive all around town to find this doll, and he has to compete with everyone else including a mailman named Myron Larabee, played by, Sinbad, who is in quest to find the same treasured doll.    In a memorable scene, it was advertised that a local K-mart store had the highly sought doll so, there were hundreds of people waiting for the store to open at 9:00 am.  When the doors opened it was a mad dash to the aisle to grab the last turbo man doll. It was a human stampede!! This is putting it mildly.  Enough with my movie synopsis.  So back to the present, the local court where I practice was similar to the aforementioned movie scene where at 9:00 am the bailiff unlocks the front door and on an average day there would be 80-100 making a dash to get in the court to  address their grievances.  Some cases are criminal cases and some are civil cases.  The irony is that there really is nothing civil about civil cases.  In fact, here is a good rule of thumb;  in criminal cases you have  bad people, behaving like angels because they want the judge to be easy on them at sentencing.  I use the description 'bad," to make a point, because I truly believe that in life everyone is good but, sometimes individuals make bad choices.  In civil cases you have good people misbehaving because a term of imprisonment is not applicable.  I was waiting for my client to get fingerprinted, as he was being charged with a printable offense and I started to think about "prints". 
 From a spiritual perspective, what kind of print do you want to leave on this planet when your time is up?  Our prints are part of our legacy.  In a criminal setting individuals are printed and put into a data base because that is how law enforcement and courts can obtain valuable information about what type of person they are dealing with.  In hospitals, when a child is born, the nurse take a palm or foot print for the parents.  I'm not so sure the usefulness of that activity but, I guess it's a cuteness factor.  Requirements for certain employment may require prints for background checks.  Insurance and bonding companies may require prints prior to issuing policies.  From a spiritual perspective, we will eventually all leave our marking or prints on earth, after we depart the physical plane.  It is unavoidable.  The question is, what type of print are you going to leave?  Do we want to leave a weak, insignificant easy to wash away print?  As when you walk on the beach close to where the ocean breaks against the sand and, your foot prints get washed away almost as soon as you plant them or do you want to leave a solid print where you are remembered for making a difference?  You see most individuals, I believe don't see the picture of their whole life.  I believe this is so because they weren't raised to believe in their potential.  Most individuals are raised to believe that what you see about yourself is it.  There is no understanding of the true self which is all powerful spiritually.  Our soul is much more important than our physical bodies but it is the least understood.  Our souls are who we truly are but if you ask individuals about their souls, I would bet, that they either think you are nuts or they would not be able to describe it.  Hopefully, when you are done reading this article, it will give you a different perspective on life.  You are a special person.  Allow your soul to guide you to do amazing things in your life.  We all have this god given ability.  Use it and make your print!  I leave you with a quote on point.
   "That is your legacy on this earth when you leave this earth: How many hearts you touched."
       Author unknown
      Just a thought.
 

Are we really free?  I'm not referring to the freedoms that we all have in America that are inscribed in our constitution where it spells out America's rights in relation to their government.  Where it guarantees civil rights and liberties to individuals-like freedom of speech, press, and religion.  Where it sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States.  These aforementioned freedoms should be a no brainer.  Although, based on what has been recently going on in our country with all the violent riots and the polarization of our political system, some may question whether we truly have the aforementioned freedoms.  But, this isn't the type of freedoms this article is about.  Before I start today's article I want to make a few disclosures.  I understand that we all live as part of a society.  This writing and all my previous writings are to give the reader food for thought.  I enjoy stimulating the thought process and thinking outside the box.  I am not a rebel or in any way do I oppose our government. I love America!  I believe America is the greatest country on earth.  I am not saying America is perfect but, one of the attributes that makes it the greatest country on earth is that we continue to strive to make it better in all aspects of life.  So back to my original question, are we really free?
 I was in court not too long ago in downtown Columbus representing a client.  It was a Saturday arraignment for a client that was arrested on a previous Thursday.  Usually on a Saturday, the area around the court is pretty quiet compared to a weekday.  So, I walked to the corner to cross the street to get to where my car was parked and the light was red.  There were a total of seven individuals including myself waiting for the light to turn green.  I know this corner very well and I know that it will take 3-5 minutes for the light to turn green.  It didn't appear that the people in government, in charge of the traffic lights, made any adjustments on the timers to differentiate between weekdays, when it is very busy and the weekends where you can play a volleyball match at this particular intersection because there's almost no traffic.  So, I looked both ways to make sure the coast was clear and I decided to cross the street while the light was red.  I should also mention that myself and the other pedestrians were all wearing face masks because it's a government requirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently affecting out country.  So, I started thinking, and asking myself the question I started this article with - are we really free?
 The answer to my question unfortunately  is that we are not free.  It may seem that we are but, we aren't.  Every aspect of our lives are regulated, from the clothing we wear to the food we eat to the price we pay for goods and services.  It is all regulated and dictated by government or private corporations or society.  Although, if you really break it down, it all goes back to government.  The price you pay for the admission to a movie is dictated by government is it not?  Government regulates the type of movies certain ages can see, do they not?  Government dictates how a movie is rated, do they not?  Government takes a piece of the admission price the public pays, do they not?  Government approves and regulates the food we eat, do they not?    Why can I not cross the street when the light is red, when there is absolutely no traffic?  Why can I not assume the risk of not wearing a mask in public if I want to?  Even "alleged," inalienable, god given rights, that are said to be those rights that could not be surrendered by citizens to the sovereign, that are natural rights,  are not really absolute because government can suspend them in the name of a public interest, can they not?  I guarantee you that a church can not have services at 3 in the morning if they wanted to without government permission.  These are just a few examples to give the reader something to think about.  As I said before, we live in a society of laws, and we must follow the laws; however,  excessive restrictions and government over reach are contrary to the laws of nature.  We are all spiritual beings.  This is undisputed.  There is a deeper component than just our physical presence.  Our bodies are akin to a rental car.  We are in them temporarily to navigate through life.  The purpose of our existence is to be free to grow and create.  Now, government regulations are not excuses to give up.  We can all still grow and create.  Death will eventually free us from all the aforementioned restraints but we have an obligation while we are here at this time to continue to grow and create.  Therefore, use your god given powers to do your part to make this world a better place.  I leave you with a quote by Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a stoic philosopher.
 "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive-to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."
    Just a thought. 

The character that I am referring to in this article is not a character in a movie but instead the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.  I believe that if you are real honest with yourself, that most individuals have something in their character that they would like to change.  Contrary to old school thinking, character can be changed.  Individuals typically mold their character from their parents, friends, teachers and life experiences.  Does that mean once a thief always a thief?  Can it mean that once a law violator you will always be a law violator?  Can it mean that once you decided early on that you have no interest of ever  being a parent that you will never have children?  Can it mean that if you had a bad experience with being forced to eat broccoli as a child that you will never eat broccoli again?  Can it mean that if you were ever a victim in the past that your character will be flawed to a degree that you will attract victimhood.  The simple answer is, No!  If the way you conduct yourself causes you hardships and limits your opportunities in life, you better believe that not only is changing your character possible but, an obligation.  I remember once having a conversation with a colleague about character and he was adamant that character cannot be changed.  I believe that individuals who believe that, are not open to any change in their lives.  I believe if you change the way you think, you change your habits.  If you change your habits you change your character.  If you change your character you change your life.  
 My entire adult life has been about changing and growing spiritually.  From my experiences in life, changing the parts of my character that I was not proud of was not difficult.  I think of the old Nike slogan when I want to make a positive change in my life, "Just do it!"  There are countless examples of individuals like Michael Milken who was a financier that plead guilty for violating U.S. securities laws and spent time in prison and paid a $600 million dollar fine and totally changed his life around after his release.  Today he has a net worth of approximately 3.7 billion dollars and  has founded the Milken Institute and is involved in several medical research philanthropies to combat cancer.  I believe we all have a moral compass that is part of a much bigger component.  I like to call it our internal GPS.  We are all part of god.  God is pure perfection.  Since we are all a part of god because we were all created in his image, we are pure perfection.  God or, our essence, is our guiding mechanism.  It came with us since before birth, and it is free!!  However, it can only guide us if we do not resist.  It is built into us as a default mode.  The only way to receive this free guidance is if we use it.  That is where the problem lies with so many.  They just don't believe it and therefore do not use it.  The irony is that once you open up the line of communication to your source, life becomes easy.  Life will take on a new meaning. The way to open this door to a new life is through your thinking.  If you think good, positive thoughts, you are on the right path. From my personal experience, all you have to do is commit to making good, positive decisions daily.  The more you make good, positive decisions, it creates an expectation to continue to do so, and this is how you change your character.  So start creating the perfect person that you are meant to be.  I leave you with a quote by Albert Einstein.
  "Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."
     Just a thought.

Life is nature.  You do not need any specialized training to understand this.  Look at the grass as an example. As the temperature drops so too does the soil temperature, leading to the slowing grass growth.  When we get into the heart of the winter with the harsher conditions the grass is dormant, hibernating like the hedgehogs until the weather warms up.  Look at the giant redwood or the giant sequoias that can be seen in Northern California.  These tree can grow approximately 250-375 feet tall.  It begs the question, how can water get from the ground to the very top of the trees?  The only answer is nature.  Nature will not allow these beautiful trees to fend for themselves and constantly struggle for existence.  There is a natural internal gravitational pull that can draw water from the bottom of the tree all the way to the highest point.  If this was not the case, the top portions of these trees would rot and die.  Look at animals in nature how they survive predators and the elements.  Some are given shells, some are given poisons to release, some are given shelter.  Others still are given protective layers and others can hibernate.  It is all the laws of nature.  Life is nature.
 Similar to humans.  Human life is all nature.  In order for nature to takes its course and do what nature is supposed to do which is, a lifeline to living a life of abundance, there has to be a need.  Doesn't that make sense?  If there is no need then there is no requirement for nature to supply whatever it is you need.  If an animal in nature doesn't need a shell for protection, nature would not have provided it, etc... If you do not have a need or desire for manifesting whatever it is you want to manifest, then the law of nature would have no obligation to supply you with that, "thing," that you want or need.  You see, we are all creators by nature.  We are not just born and then stay still.  Unlike animals or plants, humans do not hibernate.  We are born to continue to grow.  Once you stop growing or producing, you have no more standing in nature.  You will be useful only to fertilize the grounds for the next generation of creators.  Nature has a place for the "done growing individuals," and that is called death.  Once you understand the laws of nature, you have figured out the laws of success.  We all have it in us to succeed.  Everyone of us are endowed with the seeds of success.  The most powerful way to nourish this internal seed is through your thinking.  I cannot keep saying this often enough.  Whatever you put into your mind you will attract.  If you apply a flaming desire to accomplish whatever it is you want to accomplish, the law of nature has an obligation to deliver.  It's that simple.  Therefore, keep it positive and loving and, I am sure that soon I will see you at the top of one of those redwood trees!  Humor!!  I leave you with a quote on nature by Albert Einstein.
 "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."
      Just a thought.

Ancestry is one's family or ethnic descent.  Approximately 12 years ago I experience a life altering experience.  What I experienced, I would never wish upon anyone.  And, I say that with all  my soul.  It was the type of experience that can lead many to unfathomable consequences.  I believe, that what helped me get through this chapter in my life was that I am enlightened.  Not enlightened in a religious way, because I am not religious, but in a spiritual way.  Let me start off with a little background and curiosity that from the age of reason, about 7 years old, has plagued me.  My mother, father and 3 older siblings immigrated from Cuba in the mid 50's to escape the Castro/Batista revolution.  Myself and two other siblings were fortunate to be born and raised in New York City.  So, in total there were 6 siblings.  Growing up with my siblings, I always felt something was not right.  To start, from a physical perspective I did not "fit in."  I was a lot taller than the rest of my sibling and I had an olive complexion and dark eyes whereas, my parents and siblings were very light skinned and short.  My father, had beautiful light blue eyes.   My siblings as aforementioned, were much shorter compared to me and as we grew older, the distinction was more obvious.  One of my older sisters also inherited my father's blue eyes, so I always had a suspicion that something was not right.  It wasn't that I felt unloved because by all accounts I was my father's "favorite," it was just deeper than that.  It didn't help that I did not have a close relationship with my mother while growing up.  I'm not sure if it was because I was, at least from an appearance perspective very different looking than the rest of my siblings.   Maybe my suspicions and inquisitive nature was an issue with her or perhaps it could have been some sort of guilt from her perspective.  However, I did have a deep loving relationship with my father.  So, about 12 years ago, I was having a conversation with my older brother and out of the blue, I asked him, if he knew who my biological father was?  Looking back, I don't know why at that particular moment I asked him that, I can only conclude that since I believe in the law of attraction, and, since I have had a suspicion about who my biological father might be for a very long time, that the law of attraction was answering my question.  
 To my surprise, my brother's answer was, "I thought you knew."  He followed it up with saying that he really didn't know and continued to tell me unfavorable stories of my mother's infidelities in Cuba when he was a little boy.  I am not sure if I can ever put into words my feelings.  My life changed in an instance.  The physical and emotional pain was unbearable.  I felt isolated and lost.  I felt a void down the center of my soul.  The beautiful memories I had about my father picking me up after school when I was little and taking me for a butter sprinkled cookie at our favorite bakery  called "Cake Masters," seemed all fake.  How can the man who raised me, who I had a great relationship with, not be my biological father?  How can the man who as a kid I always wanted to go to work with and wanted to always be with, not be my biological father?  How can the man who I remember holding my hand to protect me from the concrete and steel jungle, while I was innocently hopping around the city, not be my biological father?  I had many questions and some serious issues  to deal with.  The psychological pain at times was simply unbearable.  After some deep self reflection, I decided to let go and forgive my mother.  Not that she needed my forgiveness but, it was a process that I needed to do for my sanity.  Looking back, I was really forgiving myself.  Once I got to that point, all the anger, confusion and, pain went away and I was able to actually establish a relationship with my mother towards the end of her life.  I stopped judging her and looking instead for all the good in her.  That was a game changer.  I decided to look at myself and how grateful I was that she was my mother because without her, I would not be here writing this article and passing on my experiences to you the reader.  
 While I was in my endeavor to find who my biological father was, I jointed ancestry.com and it created for me more questions than answers.  I was getting contact information on all sorts of individuals from areas around the world that I never knew existed.  So I decided to abandon my quest to determine who my biological father was.  I decided that the only father I ever had and the only father I'll ever love was the man who raised me.  The man who was small by stature but enormous in character.  The man who taught me how to be a man.  The man I called "Pipo," which is a loving term of endearment that Cubans use to refer to their fathers.  Life continues along doing what life does.  It is incumbent upon us, individually, to live a prosperous loving, complete life.  Bumps on the road of life are just bumps.  They make us all stronger.  We have the power and ability and obligation to live a fabulous life.  You hear some individuals say that suffering on earth is admirable because we will all get rewarded in the afterlife.  Don't buy that.  That is absolutely false.  Life on earth is supposed to be beautiful.  But, you have the power to mold it like a sculpture.  So what are you waiting for?  I leave you with a quote on point.
 "If there is any immortality to be had among us human beings, it is certainly only in the love that we leave behind.  Fathers like mine don't ever die."
      Leo Buscaglia
    Just a thought.

Expensive, ostentatious clothing and jewelry, or the wearing of them.  Being a student of life, got me thinking about bling and life.  I love writing inspirational ideas to coach individuals in opening up their minds toward a fabulous life.  This is my calling and my love.  When I decide on an article it usually just comes to me.  Bling invokes a vision of glider, energy and life.  That is the true meaning of life.  We have all been around people where their energy radiates and, at least while in their presence it moves us to a different plane.  I have been told often that people want to be around me and be like me; that I am magnetic.  Quiet frankly, I rather they not be like me but, instead be themselves.  But, if I can help them reach their potential it would  be inspiring to me.  When a loved one gives me a compliment, I take it with a grain of salt because they love me so, their interpretation may be over blown.  I'm am not saying that they are lying but they are biased in my favor.  They may be evaluating half the picture.  Now, when strangers with no reason, give you a compliment, that is a different story.  Although, I strongly believe that someone's opinion of me is not important as compared to my own opinion of myself, we do live as part of a society.  So in reality someone else's opinion may not matter but, how we react to it is crucial, and we can absolutely control  our reactions.  I remember running for judge several years ago and there were three guest speakers on a stage including myself. The audience consisted of approximately 500 potential voters.  I was second in line to speak.  The only thing I remember about the first speaker was that he practically put me to sleep.  He sounded like he was giving a somber speech at a funeral.  I followed with my speech and the 3rd speaker, a nationally know senator followed with his speech.  He started off his speech by saying that he wasn't sure if he could top my speech.  In fact, he was so impressed that a few weeks later, I received a campaign contribution in the form of a personal check.  I had never run for any political office and, I did not personally  know the senator who complimented me and made the contribution.  
 The flip side as briefly aforementioned are the individuals who suck the energy out of the room like a vacuum cleaner sucking up the dust off the rug.  I remember many years ago an incident where I was at my son's baseball game and a person showed up unexpectedly.  I always stayed away from this person because to say that she is a negative person is actually being kind to her.  One of the best things that you can ever do for your happiness and longevity is dispose or limit any contact with negative people.  So on this occasion, this person just appeared as if she was beamed down from some cold, dark, distant planet, potentially, Uranus.  Humor!!   I was sitting next to a dear friend and he saw that I turned pale and expressionless.  This is a true but, extreme example of being in close proximity with negative energy.  Emotionally and physically there can be drastic implications.  So, how does this all tie into my bling article?  Since bling has loud, boisterous, shiny ostentatious connotation, wouldn't it be better if you chose a bling life rather than a dull static stale life?  Do you want to live a life that is a beacon of light and energy than a life that is barely alive or just existing?  Akin to a AA battery charged, pocket flashlight, with a limit on the amount of energy it can produce?  To me the choice is clear. I have chosen to live a life that is loud, bright, full of energy and "bling."  And, when I say bling, I don't' mean literally wearing diamonds on capped front yellow gold teeth.  We all have an opportunity to live our lives full of energy and life.  That should be the ultimate pursuit in life.  To live totally in abundance and happiness.  Walk through life full of energy and brightness and if others do not like it, they can wear dark shades.  I leave you with a quote on point by, Ron Baratono.
 "Look at the bright side of life and the bright side will look at you.  The reflections we send out always return."
      Just a thought.

Spirituality is the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I do enjoy the material and physical things that life has to offer.  In fact, I believe that it is our duty, each and everyone one of us to enjoy the things that life has to offer to include the material and physical components because that is how you enrich your soul.  You see, I believe that your soul without the body is ironically, a lost soul.  Your body was chosen to guide your soul through this life for a reason.  By analogy, it would be like a parent having a child and then abandoning the child to go through life on the physical plane without any guidance.  That would not be right and most of us who are parents agree that parents have an obligation to guide their children through life.  The way I see the whole picture is that our physical body is part of the material and physical offering of life.  However, it has a limited place in the universe because eventually the body will meet its end.  Whereas the soul is omnipotent, omnipresent all powerful infinite part of who we are.  It is the most essential part of who we are.  It is what connects all of us to each other through god.  It is the only real part of who we are. 
 Moreover, spirituality has been a significant part of my enlightenment.  As I go through life, I feel a sense of reverence to something beyond me.  I feel a deep connection to something much bigger than myself.  I believe we all get touched by this sooner or later in our lives.  I am eternally grateful that in my experience, it happened sooner because I can touch others and inspire them to a fabulous life.  I am not saying that I have special abilities over the rest of the population.  In fact, I believe we all have the exact same abilities because we all came from the exact same place.  God did not create anyone to be better, smarter or more powerful than anyone else.  We are all created equal in the image of god.  Now, through our free will, some have decided not to take advantage of their birth rights.  Not to use their powers.  To me, that is ultimately the most selfish and disappointing act a person can commit.  It would be akin to providing everything you can for your child and your child not taking advantage of it but instead deciding that he would rather struggle.  It makes no sense!  I believe that we are all going to eventually evolve into a high consciousness.  This is the next phase of human existence.  This will  be a phase were we all have learned that we are all a part of the universal power or god and that we can live the life of our desires.  At this level there will be no fears, doubts or any other negative thoughts or ideas that have extinguished many dreams.  We will all eventually get there for sure at death but, there is no requirement to wait until then.  You can start now to connect to your universal powers to start living the life of your dreams.  I connect every single day to my infinite source through meditation.   So start meditating today and I guarantee you, you'll be on the way to a fabulous life.  I leave you with a quote on point by Rian Adams.
 "Young spirituality resists the ways of the world without realizing that it quarrels with its own soul." 
     Just a thought.

Economics is the study of  the production, consumption, and the transfer of wealth.  In the word economics, you see the words "con," and "mi," (sic).  Can it truly be a con job?  Before I start today's article on economics I must first start with a caveat emptor.  And, for those who don't know this Latin phrase, it means, "Let the buyer beware."  That is that I am not an economist.  I do not have any specialized training in economics.  I am not employed in the business of economics.  In fact, I don't even have a degree or hold any certificates or any kind of training in economics.  But, what I do have is "common sense!"  Currently in the United States, there is a push to dismantle or reform our system of economics.  America's system of economics goes back to John Locke, who worked within the idea of individual rights, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness.  The idea of free markets, capitalism and limited government was the product of the enlightenment of the 18th century.  Fast forward to today where there seems to be a push to abandon our underlying principles rooted in a free market system.  Although, I am a firm believer in dynamic energy to continue to grow and change to meet demands, as opposed to static energy which is standing still and therefore, doomed to fail, I believe that those who want change have it all wrong.  
 I believe that institutions were not and are not created for the average person.  The three most powerful institutions;  government, religion and, corporations were not created for the common or average person.  They may have started off with the right ideas but, they have evolved into multibillion dollar industries.  Let's take religion for a moment, in the beginning their heart may have been in  the right place but today it is a money machine.  Just look around at religious leaders  today and their net worth.  All denominations are included.  In the catholic denomination for example,  the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, and Nuns, all take a vow of indigency but, it is all an illusion because, all of their needs are taken care of.  The Pope lives in a palace with servants.  Cardinals, Bishops, Priest, and Nuns live in properties that in some cases are unaffordable for the average person and the envy of the world. Governments are the same.  All politicians receive tax payor funded salaries with the best health insurance and benefits.  Their most important concerns are getting re-elected.  Not whether you can make your rent payment.  Corporations are no different.  There number one concern is to their stakeholders.  In other words money.  
 All 195 countries in the world today are the same.  However, it is not all doom and gloom.  Why I believe most individuals have it all wrong in the "change movement" is because we "the people," have all the power.  We may not think so with all the fear and negativity being spewed around like sand on Miami beach but, it is true.  We have all succumbed to being treated like herds.  Any of the aforementioned institutions throw us a bone once in awhile to keep us above water and we acquiesce.  But, in really it is all on us, individually to change not them.    We have the power to change our lives.  I am not saying to rebel or revolt against the current system.  But, what I am saying is that you, we, the people, have an obligation to live a full, creative, significant life.   Regarding the three aforementioned institutions, they are not the problem.  The real problem is us.  We have to wake up to the understanding and knowledge that we are all powerful, spiritual beings and creators by nature.  We do not have to depend on institutions to water our god given seeds of success.  We are a law abiding society but if you don't like the powers that we have seeded to our government, we can vote or run for office to change it.  Regarding religion, I don't remember reading anywhere that we need religion to tell us how to morally live our lives.  If you are a person of faith, you can practice your faith without the confines of religion telling us where or when you can.  Regarding corporations, we have more power than we think.  We are the ones that purchase their products.  We have the power of the purse.  And, we can create our own companies.  Throughout human history, the aforementioned institutions have let the average person down "ALL" the time.  We do not need to be "Woke."  We need to "Wake Up!"  Start living the life we are here to live.  No one has power over you unless you forfeit your god given powers.  So, to all who want changes, start with yourselves and everything else will follow.  I leave you with a quote on point by Rob Siltanen.
 "People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."
    Just a thought.

It's estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day.      Decisions are part of our way of life.  As Americans, we are free to make decisions that others living abroad may not have.  We are so imbedded in our freedom to decide that many take them for granted as in the decision to vote.  We look at our free market system and expect many choices. Researchers at Cornell  University estimate we make 226.7 decisions each day on food alone.  This is insane!  Not necessarily insane in the aforementioned but, in how we take our lives and the freedom of choices, that we all have for granted.   You get up in the morning and decide what you're having for breakfast, how and when to drink your coffee, when to shower, what to wear for work, if you're going to work, what road to take if you're driving to work, what time to leave, which elevator to take to get to your office, what projects to work on first, what to have for lunch, what to have for dinner, what to do in the evening, where to go shopping, where to plan your vacation, what dates to go on vacation, what type of sneakers to buy, what gym to join, what type of workout to do, when to workout, what time to go to bed, who to marry, whether to have children, where to raise your family, what schools to attend, etc... I suspect you get the picture.  
 Behind your decisions are thoughts.  We can all agree,  decisions cannot be made if you do not think about them.  Some will make emotional decisions or decisions based on instincts.   Others will make decisions after a long drawn out logical analysis.  I believe individuals make decisions using all of the above.  Emotions, I believe, play a significant role in a spiritual way because it draws all your attention and feelings about something that you desire deeply.  If you believe, as I do, that your thoughts are very powerful in manifesting the life of your dreams, then the emotional component is very important to stimulate your subconscious towards those desires.  Some times following your instincts or intuition, is a built in safety alert to warn you about an impending danger.  I remember many times in my life following my instincts and on every occasion, I made the right decision. Whichever way you decide to make a decision, there really is not a wrong way or right way.  This is because I believe that regardless of the outcome, it can only make you smarter, better and wiser.  And, you can pass these experiences on.  So, either way there is a benefit.  When I have a decision that I need to make that I'm unsure about, I meditate or sleep on it and I can honestly tell you that I always make the so called right decision.  I say right decision loosely, because I don't believe there is ever a wrong decision.    I always tap into divine guidance.  We all have this divine guidance within.  It is part of who we are as spiritual beings.  Even though it is there for all of us to use, free of charge, most individuals rather be guided either, by their senses or by others.  The internal powers to be will "NEVER" disappoint you, while external influence always have a potential for disappointing you.  Once you make a decision, let it go.  It is out of your control.  Let the powers to be or the universe take over.  Trust that it was the "right" decision.  I leave you with an article by Deepak Chopra on decisions.
 "If you obsess on whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another.  The universe has no fixed agenda.  Once you make any decision, it works around that decision.  There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling and action that you experience.  If this sounds too mystical, refer again to the body.  Every significant vital sign, body temperature, heart rate, oxygen consumption, hormone level, brain activity and so on, alters the moment you decide to do anything.  Decisions are signals telling your body, mind and environment  to move in a certain direction." 
    Just a thought.

Sobriety is the state of being sober.  As an ex-cop and current defense attorney, I am very familiar with the field sobriety test that police officers administer, when they pull over an erratic driver.  In essence, these are tools that officers use to establish probable cause in determining whether to arrest a driver of a motor vehicle for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  One final point on this clef notes version of driving impaired, sobriety has been misused often.  Sobriety does not mean abstinence.  I am not advocating drinking and driving or smoking weed, (in jurisdictions that allow recreational marijuana usage), and driving.  So, I started thinking, why is there not a field test or home test that can determine whether you are under the influence of negative life altering conditions, such as fear, and doubt etc..., that can make your life miserable?  The way I see it, if you are accused of driving under the influence, as a first offense and you add up the cost to hire an attorney, the minimum financial punishment from the court after a guilty plea or a conviction by a jury of your peers, the court cost and the increase in insurance premiums, you're looking at approximately $10,000.00 in expenses.  That is assuming the judge will not sentence you to a jail term and, will not suspend your privledge to drive for a significant period of time.   I'm not even going to address the lifetime blemish on your driving record or the psychological and societal stigma.  However, negative life altering conditions that are mostly self imposed, can have more of a negative  impact then a run of the mill, driving under the influence charge.  
 Then, it hit me!  We do have a test to determine whether you are living a sober life free and clear from negative life altering conditions.  Although, a super majority of individuals either, do not know about it or just don't care.  The test is this - look at your life.  Look at where you are presently.  I'm am going to make two assumptions.  The fact, that you're reading this article tells me that you are an individual that continues to grow and that you are open to changes.  So, the test is this.  Your present situation is a result of your past way of thinking.  Whether you don't have enough money,  are over weight, in ill-health or a bad relationship or do not have many friends, is the sum total of your way of thinking in the past.  I hate to break it to you but, tomorrow and the day after and the day after that will be the same or worse if you do not decide to do something about it.  The good news is that all you have to do is change the way you think.  The past will never be changed.  What's done is done but, the present and the future is a different story.  You have total control of your life from this day forward.  You do not need external help from me or anyone else.  You have it all in you to change.  So start now thinking of how beautiful and fabulous you want your life to be and completely change the way you think.  If you want to change your life you need to change your habits.  If you want to change your habits, you need to change the way you think.  So, after you are done reading this article, stand up and stretch.  Take a deep breath and exhale slowly and think and visualize the life you want.  I leave you with a quote on point.  
  "The best part about life?  Every morning you have a new opportunity to become a happier version of yourself."
       Shappsters
    Just a thought.

I believe that most individual's ambition in life is to be comfortable.  Who wouldn't?  Who would not want a good secure income that covers all the bills, a good family, a house, a retirement, and their loved ones at their death bed?  I sincerely believe that if all the aforementioned conditions were met, that a significant amount of the world population would sign up for it.  In fact, that is exactly what most people strive for their entire life.  But, not me!  I am not judging the super majority of the population that chose that type of lifestyle.  That is how they have been conditioned from early on.  Now, many will tell you they want more but I'm not so sure they really mean it.  You see, lip service without works is just that, lip service.  The lifestyle that, most individuals were taught to live from a very young age is what was imbedded into out minds.  As I  have written in the past and will continue to, whatever we hold in our minds for a prolonged period of time will eventually materialize and manifest into your life.  Our thoughts, positive or negative, are very powerful.  We all have these powers through our thoughts but, with a few exceptions, institutional powers would rather you not believe that.  They rather you continue to live your comfortable life, because they are the beneficiaries.
 I was not born  into this world just to exist.  To live a life just to "exist," is no different than my dogs.  But, my dogs have a legitimate excuse for just existing. As far as I can tell, they do not possess the ability to think and logically make decisions.  But, they truly live a comfortable life!  Think about it for a moment.  I provide for all their medical needs, food and shelter.  I take them for walks to the park and love them.  That is truly a wonderful life - for a dog!  Individual's that just live to exist, in my opinion, are not much different.  I write, not to offend anyone, but to open the readers mind.  It is my attempt to coach individuals into a positive, loving, fulfilled life.  This is my contribution and legacy to society.  I do not get paid for this.  It isn't always about getting paid.  I am fortunate and grateful that I have this desire to write and coach others towards a better life.  For me, it is a calling like no other.  Now, back to man's best friend for a moment.  We are not here at this time in history to be like dogs or, "successful individual's best friends."  We are here to be the best that we can be.  To succeed in any endeavor we chose.  
 I believe we are "all" created in god's image and, we are all endowed with the seeds to succeed.  In everyone of us we have this power, regardless of our past, education, or our environment.  I believe that living comfortable makes it possible for the seeds of success never to blossom.  If you want to live a life of playing it safe, don't judge or complain when others are living it up.  You and only you made the choice to play it safe.  From a spiritual perspective, those who are in the, "playing it safe or comfort zone," lifestyle are part of the super majority who believe that their lives depend on things beyond their control.  I am not a control freak but, with one exception.  I absolutely believe that I have total control of my life and how I chose to live.  This isn't just me.  I do not possess anything different than what we all possess.  We all have this power!  I encourage all to use these natural,  god given powers to get out of our comfortable life and live, and be, where our true desires take us.  For those religious minded person's this is true, "heaven on earth."  I leave you with a poem on point.
  "An amazing thing happens when you get honest with yourself and start doing what you love, what makes you happy.  You stop wishing for the weekend.  You stop merely looking forward to special events.  You begin to live in each moment and you start feeling like a human being.  You just ride the wave that is life, with this feeling of contentment and joy.  You move fluidly, steadily, calm and grateful.  A veil is lifted, and a whole new perspective is born."
        Author unknown
     Just a thought.

I am called stubborn by those who know me.  I used to think that was an insult until I discovered that stubborn is synonymous with perseverance.  Perseverance is persistence in doing something despite the difficulty or delay in achieving success.  To me that is what life is all about.  You see, we are all here to succeed.  Life is about moving forward, regardless of the obstacles.  At the end of your time on earth, you need to answer just one question before moving on to your next adventure.  Did you live the way you were supposed to live?  Only you can answer that.  You have to answer that question not your next of kin, or your loved ones, or your friends.  You owe the answer to yourself. You have an obligation to live a complete life.  A complete life according to how you chose to live.  Not how others have defined it for you.  I know there is something, that only you can do better than anyone else.  It doesn't matter what it is.  It can be from having an electrifying smile that moves whoever comes into contact with you to inventing the next intercontinental high speed travel machine.  We are all one.  We all come from the same universal intelligence.  We are all created equal.  That doesn't mean we all have the same start in life but what is really important is that we all have access to universal intelligence.  Some call it god, Christ, Mohammad, soul, spirit etc...  I call the universal intelligence god.  The god I refer to in all my articles is not a god of any religion.  It is the god within that we all have.  A god that is pure, unconditional, never before felt love.  A love that we will eventually reunite with after our time on earth.  
 Where perseverance plays a role is that it flames the spirit within to continue chugging along, although, others may have ridiculed us, or the light at the end of the tunnel is nowhere to be seen.  It is that "thing," that moves you when most individuals would have given up.  The way I see it, nothing will ever take the place of perseverance.  Education or money can never be a substitute for perseverance.  If you don't believe me just take a look around.  There are lots of highly educated poor and unemployed people.  Further, I am sure you have heard of many who come from money but have lost it all or have done nothing with their lives.  The flip side of the coin is that we have all read or known individuals that came from absolutely nothing and have created wonderful lives for themselves and their loved ones.  If you study this phenomena, as I have, the missing ingredient between the successful and unsuccessful individuals is perseverance.  Perseverance  flames the intense inner desire to accomplish what you set out to do.  The simple truth is that we all have it, but we don't all use it.  This is all connected to my enlightenment.  I get asked often what does it mean to be enlightened.  To me, it is an understanding that we are all created equal.  That we all have god within, not an external god.  That we are all connected to god through our minds and our thinking.  It is an understanding that we are not alone.  That any problem that we perceive, has a resolution if you only believe and have faith in our universal omnipotent power.  That is what enlightenment means to me.   Once we understand this, everything that we want to do is attainable.  Not some things but everything.  Look at a very young child learning to walk.  They fall and what do they do?  They get up and keep trying until they succeed.  Look  at a child in a swimming pool holding on for dear life on the edge contemplating whether to let go or not.  Eventually, they let go.  Makes you wonder what happened because they didn't learn any new technique from when they were holding on to when they decided to let go.  That is true perseverance or stubbornness in action.  That is life!  You fall but you keep on until you reach your goal.  Once you reach your goal, you set other ones.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "A Thousand to One."
 "There's a thousand "can't-be-done-ers" for the one who says "it can!" but the whole amount of deeds that count is done by the latter clan.  For the "can't-be-done-ers" grumble, and hamper, oppose and doubt, while the daring man who says "It can!" proceeds to work it out.  There isn't a new invention beneath the shining sun. That was ever wrought by the deed or thought of the tribe of "can't-be-done."  For the "can't-be-done-ers" mutter while the "can-be's" cool, sublime, make their "notions" work till the others smirk.  "Oh we knew it all the time."  Oh, the "can-be's" clan is meager, its membership is small, and it's mighty few who see their dreams come true or hear fame's trumpet call;  But it's better to be a "can-be," and labor and dream and die, than one who runs with the "can't-be-done's" who haven't the pluck to try."
        Berton Braley (1882-1966)
    Just a thought.  

Since Independence Day is upon us tomorrow July 4th, I started thinking about what this monumental landmark day means for me personally as an American and first generation Cuban and the spiritual component that is rarely addressed.  I see this as a great opportunity for all individuals to reflect not only on our country but on ourselves.  I would even go out on a limb and say that the individual is more important in this discussion because all individuals collectively are what make this country a special place.  I know we are presently going through tough times and political polarization and even though America is not perfect, it is the most prosperous country on the planet.  It is a beacon of success for everyone.  It is a place where many will risk their lives to get here for a part of what America has to offer which is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  It is the only place on earth where you can be who you want to be and speak how you want to speak without fear of persecution by government officials.   Just look at why so many immigrants, legal or illegal, want to risk their own personal life and liberty to come to this wonderful country.  I am not saying America is perfect but neither are my children.  
 In the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776 in unanimous declaration of the thirteen originally colonies, it states in part, "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's god entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS," emphasis added. We all know what has been going on in our country lately with rioters and mayhem attempting to change what America stands for.  Some are real concerns for change, which I concede may be a good thing.  But real concerns are being drowned out by the violent aspects of these incidences.  Listen, I believe that change is always a good thing.  That is how people and governments evolve and grow.  Governments will eventually fail if they are not willing to change.  So, I am a proponent of change.  But, in order for change to be effective we need to acknowledge and preserve our history.  History is important so that we as a country have a marker and guidance on the type of changes we want.  We never want to change going backward.  We always should want to change going forward.  In other words we do not want to repeat out past mistakes.    Where I see issues, is that we as a society, are ironically hindering positive future change because we are not teaching our children our American history.  You can blame schools or institutions, but, the real blame should be put on each and everyone of us who are parents.  So, while we are enjoying the grill outs, fireworks and reunions this Independence Day, take a little time to teach our children the importance of this date.   It is our obligation and not anyone else's to teach our children.  By giving them  ancestry guidance with all the wisdom accumulated through history, they will make the changes and continue the growth that America needs to become a more "perfect Union!"
 From a personal perspective as an enlightened person, I see July 4th, as a spiritual choice.  A choice between being personally dependent or independent.  As individuals who have been endowed by our creator with unalienable rights.  That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we have an obligation to pursue these god given rights.  Government will not and should not bring you life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  These rights were granted to us as individuals from god not from or by government.  It is our responsibility to create the life that we want.  Many individuals blame government or anyone else for their lack of success.  I get it, it is the easy way out.  It is always easier to blame others.  It may make you feel better but it certainly will not make your life any better.  You and only you have this power.  It was given to you to use.  It is never too late to start using your endowed seeds of success.  By blaming capitalism or who's in the white house or your spouse or your neighbor or the color of your skin, or your social economic position or your religion or your sexual orientation etc..., you are giving away your unalienable rights.  You are literally telling others, "please control me because I am useless."  No one can ever stop you from accomplishing what ever you want to accomplish in your life, but yourself.  You and only you are the master of your life.  Life is an experience.  You are here at this time to make a positive impact not only on yourself but on others.  There is no one else like you.  You have a specific purpose.  Go out and find that purpose if you haven't already done so and start painting the portrait of your life.  It all starts with how you think and visualize your life.  Always keep it positive and the changes will come naturally.  So, this July 4th, I have a question for you.  Do you want to be dependent or independent?  The answer to me is clear.  We should all strive to be independent!  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Enabling Freedom."
 "The more I do the more you don't, it just seems that you won't.  I feel like the harder I try, the more you sit there and lie.  The day has come to wake yourself up, to get out into the world and try your luck.  I blame myself for spoiling you, at the time I thought it was the right thing to do.  Now I see the more I help, I made you unable to deal with the hand you were dealt.  Fly my friend and find your way, there is so much to do on this day.  The time is now and the place is here, start living your life free of fear.  You have no need of me, It's time I set you free."
           Crabudd
      Just  a thought.

Chameleons are a highly specialized clade of lizards.  Many have the ability to change colors.  So, last night I was listening to music.  For those who know me, know that I love music.  I came across Culture Club's Karma Chameleon song that was performed by Boy George.  Part of the lyrics are; "karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon you come and go, you come and go.  Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams, red, gold and green, red, gold and green..."  So I started thinking and  creating thoughts which are the focus of today's article.  We are all chameleons, metaphorically speaking.  We constantly change and adapt.  The physical part of who we are, changes by the day.  Look in the mirror and you will exactly know what I am referring to.  The body you had a few years ago is not the same body you have today.  The hair you had back then is not the same today. In fact, what you had or were yesterday is not the same today.  That's how the law of nature works.  It is a law of  constant change.  Studies have shown that all the cells we have in our bodies rejuvenate every 11 month.  What this means is that all our organs every 11 month have a new set of cells. This makes sense.  If it wasn't so, they would not allow middle aged or older people to be organ donors.  From an external perspective, humans adapt to their environment constantly.  It is never ending.  In the winter out bodies adapt to the cold. In the summer the same applies etc...  So physically we are like chameleon's in that the law of nature is all about change and adapting for existence. 
 Spiritually, the same rules apply.  The law of nature or life, as I like to describe it, is all about creating and growing.  That is why we are given the power of thinking.  Nothing can ever survive if it stands still.  Or maybe I should say it can survive for a very short period of time like if you have to stand still and pretend to be dead so you don't get attacked by a bear.  But, even in that scenario, eventually you have to get out and make a run for it.  You will not survive for long if you have to remain still for a long time.  Your mind is the same.  You have to constantly use it or else it get's stale and useless.  Who I was in the past and ideas that I had in the past have changed throughout time.  That is the law of nature at play.  That's an essential part of growing.  Because as I have said before, if you stop growing, physical death is imminent sooner than later.  I know individuals who take pride in saying that they are the same person today that they were 30 years ago.  To me those individuals have been dead for a long time.  They just don't know it.  They are in their cars, (Body), on cruise control at 35 mile per hour, (Their minds), and watching everyone pass them by, (Life), on the fast lane, on the way to the cemetery while others are continually growing and on their way to the party.  My rule of life is very simple.  It is akin to the 4 year term of the U.S. Presidency.  Every 4 years I re-evaluate where I am in life.  From the car I drive, to the house I live in , to the work I am doing.  I constantly look at areas to improve and grow.  That is the internal god in me constantly moving me to create and grow.  We all have that.  However, most individuals suppress those feelings.  Some call it a mid life crises or whatever they want to call it.  I look at that as your creative nature wanting you to grow and experience life.  Your soul picked the body you're in to team up and take it to the party of life.  It is out obligation to show our soul an appreciation for picking everyone of us individually to enjoy this beautiful dance together.   The dance of life!  Therefore, change is imminent.  Encourage it, expect it, and,  show the world your colors as the true  chameleon that you are.  I leave you with a quote on point.
  "There's been an undeniable truth since before we ever existed; Nothing ever stays the same.  Change can not be resisted."
       Ms. Moem
     Just a thought.

Why grow old?  I understand that the physical body will eventually deteriorate.  That is just how nature works.  But, in a spiritual sense, why grow old? Old just like youth is not a matter of time.  Instead, it is a mental state.   We constantly  are conditioned to think growing old is connected to age.  We have evidence of this behavior all around us.  I know a person who is middle age who walks, talks, acts, eats, dresses, and behaves like an old lady.  When she walks, she does so very gingerly taking short slow steps looking at the ground for fear of falling.  I finally got the courage to ask her what is her aliment?  To my surprise, or maybe not a surprise because I am sure most individuals suffer from this way of thinking, she answered, "I am getting old."  This is a women in her early sixties.  I am not judging her because we chose the life we want.  But, to me, I literally cannot comprehend that way of being.  Individuals are so quick to blame "Old man age," for their physical and mental aliments.  You can have vigor, regardless of age.  You can have that bounce in your step.  You can have that radiating energy.  It is all about how you think.  How often have you heard seniors saying "if I can only live my life over again."  The fact is you truly can live your life over again.  Or I should say, start living your life as it is meant to be.  It is never too late.  It does not matter if you're 40, 60, 80 or beyond.  It is all in your mind.  
 We are all created as perfect beings.  But somewhere in the walk of life, we were told that age is a barrier to youth.  We seem to hold preconceived ideas of old age.  We add certain diseases to certain stages of old age.  With all these self inflicted worries we wonder why people are dropping dead younger.  Since it is all in the way you think, they are fulfilling their self-fulfilling prophesies and reaching their golden years in full service nursing homes, with unlimited aliments.  No wonder why the nursing home industry and their partners in the pharmaceutical industry  are a multi-billion dollar industry.  Negative thoughts of disease, fear, stress, etc..., poison the cells of the body to a point where the organs malfunction.  If you don't believe me, next time you eat under stress or fear, pay attention to how you feel physically.  Pay attention to  how your digestive system is impacted.  Compare that to when you are on vacation all spread out on a white sandy beach.  Through your mind and thoughts, you create the life you want.  This includes your health and your perception of the aging process.  As a society we should pay less attention to the appearance of the physical body and more attention to the thoughts that create the physique.  My affirmation to myself is that, "I will never grow old!"  Growing old is definitely not for me.  It doesn't have to be for you either.  There is an alternative to growing old.  The alternative is that you have to realign the way you think about age.  Age is a beautiful natural thing as long as you keep, "getting old," out of it.  I once told a friend who was complaining about getting old, that, "just because you're getting old, doesn't mean you're getting old."  At the time he laughed but I was serious.  Age and old are not the same and should never be used together.  I leave you with a quote by Albert  Einstein, "Do not grow old, no matter how long you live.  Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born."
    Just a thought.

Relationships are something that I am an absolute expert in. That is because of my experience.  You see, prior to my current relationship of which I am happily married for 15 years and counting, I had several failed relationships.  I believe that enlightenment has played a huge factor in my happiness.  I would like to put my relationships into two categories.  The pre-enlightenment and the post-enlightenment categories.  Let's begin with the pre-enlightenment category.  In this category it was all about me.  All about my happiness.  I was selfish.  When I look back at them, I can see now why they did not work.  Those relationships were destined to fail.  It was all, 100%, my fault.  I truly own up to the disappointing outcomes.  Now, for those who have read some of my previous articles, I do not live in the past.  The way I look at my past is to acknowledge that it existed and move on.  This part of the past is important so that it will assist me in not making the same mistakes.  Or let's say so I don't have the same experiences.    So when I look at my past relationships it is for a limited purpose.  Remember I stated, I had several pre-enlightenment relations.  To be specific, it was with different women; at different times of course and, I say women because I am not gay.  However, the same applies to non-traditional couples.  In fact, I have a gay friend who I describe as, "my brother from a different mother," who I have known for over 30 years.  He is currently single but,  when I decipher his  previous relationships, the same issues apply.   Looking back at these relationships, I was looking for happiness externally.  I am here to tell you that if that is your position in a relationship, you will fail.  No one will ever make you happy.  You see, happiness comes from within.  When I was in the, 'all about me,"  stage, I was unhappy or unsatisfied about myself so I looked beyond "me," or myself to fill in the gap.  That is a huge mistake in a relationship because no one or thing can ever fill that need.  I sometimes see couples who are going through problems resort to having children in the hopes that,  that will fill in the gap.  That just makes it worse because now you have children to deal with.  The same problems exist but are now magnified with children.  Some couples attempt marriage counseling for help and although, I am not discouraging it, because it can be beneficial to some, they are looking for something external to help them when in reality they have what they need within themselves to fix whatever problems they perceive to have.  As an enlightened person who is spiritual and a true believer in the law of attraction and the power of your thoughts, connecting the dots backwards from where I currently am, I truly believe that I attracted my previous relationships because of who I was at that specific time.
 Post-enlightenment is truly like night and day as it relates to my life,  but in particular relationships.  My wife is beautiful physically but more beautiful internally.  I believe I attracted her as aforementioned  because of the law of attraction and the universal powers to be, worked hand in hand to connect us.  It was all put into motion, I believe,  by the universal powers of which we are all part of.  Once I figured out that I can live the life I  want and that I can be in the relationship that I want,  it was an awakening or as I prefer to describe it as enlightenment.  It all started ironically with, "me," again!  But the "me" part was an understanding that  happiness starts from within.  That it is internal not external as in my pre-enlightened days.  Once I figured this out, my entire life changed.  Once you understand this, all those so called problems that couples have in relationships are really not problems at all.  You see problems really don't exist.  What exist is experiences that will only make the relationships stronger as time goes by.  You see, if you are truly happy with yourself, you then look at issues that arise in a relationship from a positive perspective instead of from a negative one which can be a relationship changer.  I suggest if you are going through a bump on the road, look at all the pleasant times you had, have and will have.  Now, I understand that for individuals that are not spiritual or enlightened it may be a challenge but it certainly is not impossible to do.  To me a relationship is really not about give and take as we hear all the time it's more about being who you are.  It is a team.  Akin to two individuals on a canoe.  You have to paddle in sync to get to your destination.  I read somewhere that when two people get married they become one.  I bet you that whoever wrote that is either divorced or has never been married.   What that means is that they become a half.  I hate to tell you but, I rather not lose half of anything.  I prefer to see it as when two individuals marry they become stronger by adding one to become two.  My wife always tells our daughters, which I believe to be fabulous advise, is that if a boyfriend one day tells them "you complete me" that they should dump them and run the other way!  One will  never be happy until they are complete in themselves.   One other thing, every time I call my wife, I start the conversation off by stating, "is this the best women and mother in the whole universe."  In the beginning she was shy in answering in the affirmative but not anymore.  And, I truly mean it.  She is the best women, wife and mother in the whole universe!  Just like every one of your spouses should be.  I leave you with a poem on point.
  "Ever loved someone so much, you would do anything for them?  Yeah, well, make that someone yourself and do whatever the hell you want."
       Harvey Specter
   Just a thought.

Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hinderance or restraint.  That is the ultimate power for an individual.  That is why we are all on earth.  It is endowed in each and every one of us.  Watch a baby how before they can say a word, they want to crawl and in some cases run away from their parents.  Look at adolescents wanting their freedom to explore and make their own decisions.  Same for teenagers, young adults, adults,  and seniors.  Nobody likes to be told what to do.  We all want to explore and grow on our terms.  And, we wonder why there are so many divorces.  If couples only understood that love is freedom.  You can be in a wonderful, loving marriage like I am but understand that you both need your individual freedoms.  To me that is true love and respect.  Just because you are married does not mean you lose your freedom.  In fact, it should mean more freedom.  Freedom is life.  I used to bungy jump and ride motorcycles because I love the feeling of being free.   As the chorus to the Tom Petty song, "Free Falling," states, "And I'm free, I'm free falling, Yeah I'm free, free falling…"  It is human nature that we do not want to be confined.  Our soul or spirit within is the same way.  I hate to break it to you but our soul cannot wait for the day where death will free it from the confines of the body.  But, while we are here at this time in history, we have an obligation to contribute to our souls' needs.  So it begs the question, how do we do this?
 To me, the answer is clear.  But, I also understand that I feel this way because of my years of reading and studying the power of the mind which led to my enlightenment.  Listen, I understand that some may think that this is all bogus.  All I can say is that I respect everyone's belief's and that I am not attempting to sell anything or convert anyone into a religion or any other organization.  I absolutely love writing and sharing ideas.  I believe my studies on this topic and, I enjoy sharing them with the readers.  If I can make a difference to a person, in time of need, I have succeeded.  So back to the aforementioned question, on how we contribute to our soul's desire?  We need to understand that we are all part of a universal mind.  Call it as you want.  Some call it universal power, energy, god, Christ, etc...  We are all connected to the universal mind.  No one person has more or less of this universal mind.  We all have equal access to it.  The geniuses of yesterday, the inventors of today, to the homeless person on the streets, we are all connected to the universal mind.  The only difference is in understanding this power that we all posses and using it.  The individuals that understand this and use this unlimited power, are constantly in a creating mode and thereby feeding their soul's with the necessary freedom it requires.  This power associated with universal mind is something that you can connect to anytime, anyplace and anywhere.  It is that simple.  You see, thoughts, working through your mind makes the world you chose to live in.  There are many individuals that think they are free but in reality they are living in bondage.  They are living at the beck and call  of others.  I personally know of many individuals who are constantly living in fear that they will get terminated from their employment.  The way I see it, if they were to get terminated from their employment, it will open up other bigger and better opportunities.  So, in the words of General John Stark, Live free or die!"  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Love is Freedom."
 "I can't live without loving you.  But, I can't live without my freedom also.  When your love became a cage, tying my wings, I chose my freedom over your love to fly.  If you miss me, if you wish to meet me, meet me in the sky flying with the freedom.  Meet me if you also want to fly.   But, this time holding my hand.  Never try to make a cage for your love.  You forgot, love is freedom.  It can't breath in a suffocating cage."
           Mohini Puranik
     Just a thought.

For those sexually minded individuals, this article is not about that type of erection.  It is about erecting something in your life.  Erection is the act of erecting a structure or object in your life.  In life there are two types of individuals; the ones that make things happen and the ones that enjoy the things that the individuals that make thing happen create.  The individuals that make things happen are the ones that have whatever they want.  They are the ones that regardless of what you throw at them they keep going.  They keep digging and digging until they find what they want.  These individuals are determined to succeed.  The way to success always opens for these individuals.  In fact, they welcome bumps on the road.  They understand that the bumps are signs that they are on the right track because it can only make them stronger.  The way always opens for the determined.  Sometimes you have to convince yourself that you "got it."  As Shakespeare said, " Assume a virtue, if you have it not."  Sometimes you have to walk the part, dress the part, talk the part, act the part before you can get the part.  I'm honestly telling you that it truly works.  Here is a personal example.  Although I am an experienced attorney licensed to practice in New York and Ohio, I have been in many situations where after a court hearing, strangers have come up to me asking if I can represent them instead of their current attorney.  I have always taken pride in looking like an attorney in court.  Appearance is crucial.  Although I am confident in my abilities, you still have to look the part.  Their attorneys can be excellent at their craft as well but, what separated me from them is that I looked the part better than they did.  Similar to what Shakespeare was referring to.  It really all boils down to a determination in your mind that you are going to succeed.  Without determination, you are done without even trying.  Akin to a prenuptial agreement prior to marriage.  If you are going into a relationship with the inclination that it may not work out, then why get married?  You are setting yourself up for failure.   As Orison Swett Marden puts it, "The majority of failures in life are simply the victims of their mental defeats.  Their conviction that they can not succeed as others do, rob them of that vigor and determination which self confidence imparts, and they don't even half try to succeed."
 Then their are the individuals who enjoy everything else that the individuals who make thing happen build.  Don't be ashamed if you are in this category because about 90% of the rest of the population is right there with you.  The way I look at it, if you are not working on your goals or dreams, you are certainly working on someone else's.  And if you are going to be working anyway, why not work on your own success? Most individuals in this category just exist.  There entire existence is dependent on someone else.  They are in a state of servitude.  Subject to the will of someone more powerful.  The reality is that it doesn't have to be that way.  We are all social, creative, spiritual beings.  It is all, 100% about the way you think.  I cannot be more clear.  You are exactly what you think.  If you want to know what you will be like in 6 months or a year from now, pay attention to what you are thinking today.  Today will create your many tomorrows.  If you are happy about your life then welcome to the 10% category.  But, since you are reading this article, I assume you want to make some changes.  If you change your thinking, you change your life.  I leave you with a quote on point by William Arthur Ward.
 "Success never resides in the world of weak wishes."
     Just a thought.

In early spring I decided to take my oldest son to New York City so we could spend some quality time together.  Part of our activities was to go to a Broadway show.  Growing up in New York City, Broadway shows were a common occurrence for me.  For me, there is something energizing about going to a Broadway show.  I get mesmerized and feel a spiritual connection to the actors.  I get so into it that I look for things that I bet most people don't pay attention to.  Things like whether the actors are wearing knee pads under their trousers when they are sliding on the stage on their knees or, if they try to clear their throats prior to singing.  Things that I am sure most people don't notice or don't care about.  So anyway, my son and I got to see the Broadway show, "Book of Mormon."  It is a fabulous musical comedy.  It is a satirical examination of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' beliefs and practices that ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service.  It was for adults only and if you ever have the privledge to see it you would understand why.  It certainly is not for the easily offended.  Part of the plot revolves around young Mormons going to an Africa island to minister the book of Mormon to the natives.  One of the main characters, a young Mormon obviously did not pay attention to his studies because his teachings to the natives were not anything, even remotely, close to the scriptures in the book of Mormons.  So he lied and exaggerated about the scriptures.  When the elders found out they excommunicated them from the church but the natives loved them and reasoned that the exaggerations and lies were just metaphors  and that it was an excellent way to learn about the book of Mormon.  
 As I go through life, isn't that what life it?  Just a metaphor?  We are more than just what our conscious minds through the assistance of our senses tell us we are.  We are spiritual beings.  What we see in flesh and bones cannot be who we really are.  Part of who we are is intellect, emotions, fears, passions, and creativity.  It begs the question, who commands out intellect and creativity?  It obviously is not what we know through our senses.  There has to be something internal and unseen that is part of us.  Who we are is just a metaphor.  Who we really are is spiritual.  If you don't believe me just look at all the religions of the world.  There are 4,300 religions of the world.  This is according to Adherents, an independent, nonreligious affiliated organization that monitors the number and size of the world's religions.  And, many of them believe that one's status in the afterlife is a reward or punishment for their conduct during life.  Another question I have is, if we are all going somewhere afterlife then why couldn't there be a beforelife?  My point is that no one really knows.  But what I do know is that something keeps me alive when I am sleeping.  That same "thing," which I believe is the universal powers or god, is available at will to all of us.  We just have to believe in this all inclusive omnipotent universal power.  You don't have to earn your place in the afterlife because you are living it everyday.  Through the power of our minds, we can access this omnipotent universal power.  So one final question.  What are you waiting for?  I leave you with a short quote on point.
  "Determination can make the impossible possible for all."
       Marinela Reka
    Just a thought. 

A problem I see why many individuals always seem to attract unfavorable conditions is because they are always planning for the rainy day.  They are always preparing for a time of need or trouble.  They live with this idea in their mind that they know a rainy day will come sooner or later.  We have been indoctrinated into waiting for the rainy day.  I'm sure we have heard or seen our parents putting something aside, as in money, for a future time in need.  I am not saying that you should not save some money or abolish your savings account.  But, you should think carefully about the power of your thoughts with regard to what you are doing.  Instead of saving money from a position of lack, start saving money from a position of abundance.  If you start from a position of abundance your whole attitude is converted into gratefulness.  Say to yourself how grateful you are that you do not need the money that you decided to put away.  How thankful you are that your mind, through your thoughts have made this process of saving some money possible.  Say to yourself that you have everything that you desire because of this wonderful opportunity of putting money away.   When you do this from a perspective of gratefulness and abundance, you convince your subconscious mind of it and then the flood gates of abundance are opened.  That is what is meant in the bible when it states, " Believe that ye receive it, and ye shall have it."  Mark 11:24.  What happens instead is that many individuals plan for a rainy day and guess what?  They attract rain.  Rain in the form of negative circumstances.  
 Remember that your thoughts are all powerful.  It will create the things you constantly think about.  Your thoughts do not differentiate between good or bad.  You thoughts don't have thoughts of their own to separate the good ones from the bad ones.  Your thoughts just create.  Please don't panic if you periodically think of an unpleasant  thought, thinking then that you are doomed.  We are all created with free will and eventually we have  undesirable thoughts.  But, the purpose of this article is to alert you to when you have bad thoughts, to catch yourself and change your thoughts.  It really is that simple.  When I have a bad thought that comes into my mind, I immediately change it to a happy, pleasant thought.  I think about places that I have vacationed with my family or my beloved New York City.  If an undesirable thought is stubborn and does not want to be evicted from my mind, I play music if I am driving or if I'm out and about I'll hum a song to myself.  Bad things that are attracted to us through mind is just the sum of our persistent bad thoughts that we allow refuge in our minds.  We have the power to change our life with the power that we all possess with our minds.  Bad things really don't exist.  Universal mind, of which we are all part of, did not create the bad conditions.  We created it through the power that we gave it by thinking about it.  I know that it sounds crazy to think that we can create any conditions that we please.  So, how about trying it?  What do you have to loose?  Starting today, for just 7 days, think about positive thoughts.  Think about something that you want to change in your life.  Believe that you truly have the power to change whatever it is you want to change.  See what happens!  My hope is to make a positive impact on your life.  One thought at a time.   I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Think Positive."
  "Get to the positive lane.  Not just by keeping your mouth shut.  But, by keeping your mind shut.  From stuff on the negative lane."
        Tolani Akinola
     Just a thought.
 
 

In my previous writings, I usually mention god.  Not a god of any religion but instead a universal power or energy god.  An all pure unconditional love god.  In a unique way, dance allows me to connect to god or my essence.  Other ways I connect to god is by meditating or taking a walk through nature.  Or, in an unusual way I feel close to my source when I am in New York City because of the volume of people on the streets.  As an empath, I can feel their energy.  However, I am not in New York City, I presently live in Columbus, Ohio.  Therefore, dance is a mechanism to enhance my spirituality and connection to god. Anytime my youngest daughter who is currently 11 years old and I would be walking down the street regardless of  whether it's a mall, strip shopping center, regular street, park etc..., and we hear music, we automatically stop and start dancing.  As she is getting older, I think she is less willing to dance but as far as I'm concerned, I am unstoppable.  I don't need a partner to dance nor will I ever force her or anyone else to do something against their wishes.  Dancing really does something to me.  Anyone can do it.  We are all born dancers.  I believe this because dancing is as easy as walking.  If you can walk, you can dance.  Don't every sell yourself short.  I hear often, especially from males that they can't dance.  That is not true.  That is contrary to our creative nature as humans.  What they are in essence saying is that they are embarrassed or afraid that someone will laugh at them.  Those are just barriers that some individuals use.  But, I bet you, if you let loose, you will feel what I am referring to regarding the connection between spirituality enhancement and god.  Since god it energy it would make sense that it can bring you closer to your source like yoga or any other enjoyable activity.
 I also love music, but music alone doesn't do it for me.  You see music without dance usually takes me to a place in the past.  A place that can be good or bad but dancing focuses on the present.  Have you ever seen or heard, usually in a church setting where someone is so overcome by emotions that they start speaking in tongues? Dance does the same to me but in a physical way.  When I start dancing it's like I am possessed.   Which quite frankly, it is my subconscious or soul taking over and guiding my every move with my body as its dance partner.  Dancing is just part of who I am.  Since I am a Latino, I guess I am fulfilling the stereotypical view that Latinos love their salsa.  When I refer to salsa, it is the type of Latin American dance that incorporates elements of jazz and rock not the salsa that you would put on chips at a Mexican restaurant.  So, I remember back in the day wanting to go to a dance club to dance.  This is when they were called discos.  The problems I had was that most of my male friends were not into dancing for all the aforementioned reasons or, wanted to go clubbing just to pick up girls.  So I was pretty much on my own.  If I went to a club on my own, without a girl, a very large, inhumane looking door bouncer would either not let me in or, if he was gracious enough to let me in after I greased his palm with a few bucks,I would end up dancing on the corner of the dance floor by myself.  Although, I was never really alone because it was my soul and I dancing.  But, nevertheless,  the "crowd, " would think that I am weird.  Looking back, I know now why I always had lots of room to dance! Humor!!  However, if you see girls dancing alone or two girls dancing together it was totally acceptable.  Not fair!!  
 Dancing is not only good for you spiritually but physically as well.  It keeps you active and moving around.  Dancing is my sanctuary.   From the moment I start dancing, I can feel an internal cleansing.  Since dancing requires physical movement, it is generally a healthy activity.  A healthy activity contributes to a healthy body which in turn relates to a healthy mind.  In my opinion dancing is a universal language.  It should be spoken by everyone.  We all have it in us we just don't all use it or are unaware of it.  We are all creators by nature.  It is in us to feed our creative spirit.  That is our responsibility.  After you read this article, I encourage you to put on some music, close your eyes for a few seconds and let your soul take over.  It will become addictive.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "The Dancer."
  "I met an artist, now my days are painted in lavender.  Every hour a different hue.  I dream in watercolor, dance in blurred tones with each stroke I glide moved by inspiration.  I am his vision, his dancer, his impression of beauty.  This canvas my stage as I perform for you."
       Christy Ann Martine
      Just a thought.

I do not believe in heaven or hell.  It is all within.  There can never, ever exist a devil.  Since god or universal power or whatever you want to call it created  all, and since god is pure love, then god could never have created a hell or a devil.  Those are lies created by most religions to create a sense of fear so that  the people will comply.  We are all guilty of this, it's not just religion.  As a kid growing up in a Catholic environment I was told that if I disobey, I will go to hell.  My wife tells me all the time about her "Jewish guilt".  When my children were young if they didn't obey I would tell them that Santa is watching etc...  In reality the only devil ever created was by people through fear.  Fear in essence is the devil.  But, it is an illusion, a man-made creation, a fiction.  Fear creates all the ills of the world.  If you think about every problem conceivable, it has a fear underbelly.  Look at the racial division that had plagued out country lately.  It is all about fear.  Whites fearing blacks for whatever reason and the blacks acting in kind.  Politicians flame division by fear.  We hear it all the time.  Democrats saying vote for us because the republicans are racist.  Republicans saying vote for us because democrats are not for law and order.  We hear a vote for a democrat  means your safety is in jeopardy.  I can go on and on but whatever the issue, both parties use fear as a way to control voters.    
 Your body is controlled by your mind.  If you hold negative thoughts of fear, poverty, illness, distress, doubt, disease etc., that is exactly what you will attract.  I personally know of a loved one who periodically will state, "I was born to attract bad things.  That is what my whole life is about.  If something bad was to happen it comes my way."  And guess what?  That is exactly what he has attracted into his life.  You see we all have the power through our thoughts to attract whatever lifestyle we wish.  This whole coronavirus pandemic is a perfect example of fear mongering.  I am not saying that we should be reckless and not follow certain scientific recommendations.  But, what I am imploring the reader to do is to take a good look at your life and make informed decisions.  Not decisions based on fear.  I am a middle aged man and I have never had a flu shot.  I rarely get sick.  When I do feel under the weather, it may last hours or a day before I'm back.  Why is that?  Certainly not because I have super powers.  Not because I am better than you.  Not because of anything that I ingest.  Not because I stay fit.  Not because I have a strict diet.  In fact, I love sweets.  One of my favorite times of the year is Halloween because I get to steal and eat my daughters' candy.  Not because I get 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night.  None of that!  The only reason is because of my MIND!  Your life is like a canvass with an artist waiting to paint on it.  The hands of the artist  is not doing the painting.  It is the mind that first creates the picture and then orders the hands to follow.  The hands do what the mind has decided.  Without mind the hands are useless for an artist.  That is the same with everything else in life.  Without mind, your life is pretty much useless.  So, since we all have a mind, why not use it in a positive way.  Sounds very simple but look around at how much hatred, poverty, disease, there is.  The truth is it doesn't have to be that way.  
 I always wonder why it is that major learning institutions do not teach this.  I can only conclude that it is all based on fear.  Fear that the public will finally figure out that they don't need to depend on these institutions  to live a wonderful life.  A life of their choosing.  Let's remember what Shakespeare said, "There is noting either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." I would rather say there is only good so don't let thinking destroy it.  I leave you with a poem on point.
 "When you're going through life's valleys, and you think there's no way out, you're not the first to feel this way.  There's hope without a doubt."
           Dave Roberts
     Just a thought.

In the Bible in John 8:32 it states "and the truth shall set you free."  I always wondered what exactly does that mean?  Set me free from what?  I was raised as a Catholic and their interpretation of that phrase is to mean, that if you believe in Jesus as the way and savior of all, you are set free. In my adult life  as I ventured in my journey to enlightenment, that statement took on a whole different meaning.  It raised more questions for me than answers.  As a person who has not been part of any organized religion for the majority of my adult life, the aforementioned phrase took on a whole different meaning.  To me it is pretty simple.  In life, there is a right way and a wrong way to do things.  For example, for a gin and tonic to be perfect, it should be crisp and refreshing, never boozy or heavy.  In order to mix it the "right way," it should be equal amounts of gin and tonic.  If you use a different variation, it will unbalance the traditional gin and tonic.  With personal hygiene, it is undisputed that a person should shower everyday to maintain an acceptable level of cleanliness.  That is the "right way" of keeping clean.  In mathematics there  is a "right way" of solving a problem.  When you're putting together your kid's Christmas presents, there is a "right way" of doing it.  When you start a new job, there is a "right way" of doing it.  When you learn how to drive a car, there is a "right way" of driving.  You get my point.  At that particular point when you figure out the right way, it is a feeling of relief.  I have had many life experiences to illustrate my point but the following was intense.  In law school I was an honor student.  I was serious about my studies.  However, there was one class that shortened my life.  I say that with humor and sarcasm.  That class was real property.  I had a professor who was extremely knowledgeable on the topic but lacked in practical experience.  In other words, she never practiced law.  No, I am not blaming her as in my previous article titled, "blame."  I am just trying to bring it home.  So when she got to the topic of the rule against perpetuities, I could not understand it.  Regardless of how much I studied, the rule against perpetuities scarred me for life.  It was so confusing to me that I promised my soul, that I would never practice in the area of  wills of which the rule against perpetuities applied.  It damaged me so much, that I took an elective course in bankruptcy law which is probably the most boring dead end area of law an attorney can ever practice in.  In fact,  the attorneys that I know who practice in bankruptcy law are introverts, boring, and are deficient in personality.  A deceased individual in a casket has more life that they do.  Humor!  Back to my experience on the rule against perpetuities.  I ended up receiving my worst grade in law school in that course.  Fast-forward to when I took a prep course for the bar examination.  One of the prep course teachers was a practicing attorney. When we got to the topic of the rules against perpetuities he explained it in a simple, practical way.  Although, for me the damage had already been done because I made a promise to my soul to stay away from it, a promise which I have faithfully kept, I had a total feeling of relief!  The truth on the rule against perpetuities had set me free.  
 In a spiritual way there is only one right way of handling any situation.  Since we are all created in god's image then, we all have god inside.  Since god is all love and everything good, then, life is all good.  The problem why there is poverty, illness and hatred around is because individuals have disassociated themselves from their source.  The universal powers to be, or call it whatever you desire, is always with you.  The statement, "and the truth will set you free,"   to me is understanding that in the walk of life, you are never alone.  This all powerful universal mind that we are all a part of, will solve all of your perceived problems if you believe it and allow it to.  And, the way to access it is through prayer or mediation.  Now, since I am not a religious person, I meditate often to connect to my source but, prayer will do the same.  When someone asks me for advise to a problem, I tell them to mediate on it and a solution is inevitable.  To me, knowing that I have this power is the truth that set me free!!  I leave you with a poem on point.
  "Oft' times when the road seems rough and all your dreams have flown, just remember, wherever your road may go nobody walks alone."
        Isadera DeLaVega
    Just a thought.  

It is so much easier to blame others for our lack of success.  Unfortunately, it is built into our DNA.  Young ones are taught in school this concept.  When colleges and universities need to create safe spaces for their students, what is the real message they are putting out?  It is pretty clear to me.  Instead of assisting students to open up their minds and listen to opposing views, schools are teaching them that they don't have to listen to opposing views that may get them upset.  Schools in essence are saying, let's blame the person with the opposing view for you being upset.  Instead of teaching and coaching them to listen to other views which is instrumental in learning, maturing and growing.  Blaming others seems to be something our current society supports.  Politicians use the blame game all the time to get elected or re-elected.  Democrats blame the republicans for all the ills in society.  Republican return the favor blaming in-kind.  Many individuals blame politicians for all of society's problems.  However, they forget that they are the ones that voted for them.  Some individuals will blame their race, gender, physical attributes, sextual orientation, their parents, their upbringing, their speech impediment, their height and everything else they can think of.
 When things are going great, we want to take all the credit.  When things don't go as planned it's someone else's fault.  So why do people blame others.  It is easy!  If we blame others, it takes responsibility and accountability off our shoulders.  In my practice as a criminal defense attorney, when I represent a client in a domestic violence  accusation, one of  the most common excuses for this unacceptable behavior is that, the victim caused it because of their behavior. I cannot even begin to comprehend that logic because reacting with violence is never acceptable.  In addition, no one can ever make you do anything.  I get it.  Prior to my enlightenment, and when I was in my 20's, I blamed my mother for everything I perceived negative in my life.  My family was dysfunctional.  My upbringing gave me a view of relationships that was not healthy.  I had a lousy relationship with my mother and I was always angry.  One day I just had a surreal encounter with myself.  I broke it down to two choices;  either continue living my life constantly blaming  her for everything that I perceived negative or; let all the anger go, stop judging her and come to the realization that I am in control of my life.  I chose the latter.  I can tell you from experience that my life since then has been wonderful.  My life became easier.  Easier than the erroneous notion that life is easier if you blame other.  I can tell you there was no comparison.  
 I have learned that blaming others does nothing for your personal well being and spiritual growth.  It may feel uplifting and comforting but the pain and suffering it will cost you in the long run can be debilitating, physically and emotionally.  Blaming others can have long term negative consequences.  Think about this, by blaming others you lose total control of your life because you are saying that you do not have the power to change your life.  This is so contrary to the laws of nature.  We all have the power to change.  Not only do we have this immense power but, we have an obligation to use it to change any condition that we want.  To think otherwise is to allow others to have power and control over you.  Some call me strange because I am a free thinker and I don't care what others think or say about me.  I believe in the freedom and power of  the soul.  I have faith in the individual's spirit to create a life of their choosing.  By blaming others you submit to the control of others for your existence.  I cannot think of a more miserable way to live.  Remember the words of Patrick Henry in St John's Church in Richmond, Virginia where he stated, " I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"  He was referring to war against the British.  However, the essence of his statement can be applied to the blame game.  I leave you with a quote on blame;
 "When you blame others' you give up your power to change."
        Dr. Robert Anthony
     Just a thought.

Policing in America has been a topic of division recently due to white officers killing black men in two separate incidences.  In one incident the officer knelt on the handcuffed, unarmed individual until he killed him.  It was all caught on video.  It was a very disturbing, inhuman incident.  It was a cold blooded murder.  The second incident, two white officers were called to the scene of a Wendy's drive thru where the driver fell asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle in the drive thru lane.  After a field sobriety test, the officers attempted to arrest the individual for driving under the influence but,  he resisted and fought the two officers.  During the violent scuffle he stole an officer's taser and started running away.  He then turns around and shoots the taser at the pursuing officer and was shot to death. It too was captured on video.  In my opinion, this incident was a justified shooting.  However, this incident happened about a week after the first shooting so it became extremely political.  This article is not to discuss specific incidences of police shootings but rather the subject of policing in America and some common sense changes that can propel policing into the 21st century.  I believe I have expertise in policing since  prior to my current career as an attorney, I was a police officer.  I believe current policing is antiquated.  There is a current movement to defund or get rid of police departments by some but, this would be a grave mistake.  If we were to defund or do away with police departments, the impoverished communities that need them the most would suffer.  Policing and criminal justice has always been an area of interest to me.  I have received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.  I then was a police officer for approximately 10 years prior to my current 24 year career as an attorney, where my primary areas of focus are criminal defense and immigration.  My hope is that this article can be useful as a starting point for a sincere discussion to assist in transforming policing in America into the 21st century.  This will benefit all the stakeholders involved but most importantly, it will change the way minority communities see the police.  In order to start a sincere dialogue, we must leave emotions and politics out.  
 First a disclaimer, I love the police! Now that I got that off my chest, lets begin with a question.  Does policing in America need to be reformed?  To me the answer is clear.  Yes, it not only needs to be reformed but, it is in desperate need of a make over.  Instead of defunding, we should be investing more money into policing.  But, not just pouring more money into police departments for business as usual.  Business as usual does not work.  Most police departments are antiquated.  By just pouring more money into a broken system is not a wise investment in public funds.  Look at the New York City Police department.  They have approximately 40,000 sworn police officers.  This makes them larger than many militaries around the world.  They take pride in saying that they are the best police department in the world.  But, they are still using memo books to document their daily activity.  Memo books are rectangular note pads in a black leather cover that each officer sticks in their back trouser pockets.  It is akin to a daily diary of activities that police officers keep.  Then, a sergeant or above will periodically meet with the officer on the street to initial the "memo book."  That is no joke.  You would think that with the current advances in technology that they would not use this memo book system that I was using when I was a cop on the NYPD in the early 80's.  This is just one minor example of outdated police practices.  I believe that the recent events and the protest that followed are a statement that communities are done with policing as usual.  However, since emotions are high and ignorant politicians are politicizing this issue, no one is listening.  
 The first step that I would take, if anyone cared to listen, is to organize and convene a group of individuals devoted to making positive changes.  I would suggest 9 individuals that way  we can assure there will not be a tie.  The group can be comprised of community leaders, people in the community that are respected like people of faith, criminal justice experts, attorneys, and police officers.; not a police chief or a mid level supervisor but a regular street cop.  Some areas that should be discussed for sincere police transformation are;
1- Chief of police
2-Weaponry
3-Age 
4-Education
5-Police registry
6-Compensation
This is not an all inclusive list but it's a start.  Lets discuss the above topics individually;
Chief of Police
 I believe that the chief of police position should be a civilian position.  Before you criticize my recommendation, consider that the President of the United States is a civilian and Commander in Chief of the most potent military in the world.  His trained military personnel all take orders from him.  If you ask me how this system of a civilian in charge of the military has been working out I'd say pretty well.  So why can't it work with a police department?  Instead we hire chiefs of police who have been cops for many years.  I believe they are part of the problem.  They are part of the antiquated system.  Look at the Minneapolis police chief.  Minneapolis is where the first incident aforementioned occurred.  Before his appointment, he was a police officer for approximately 30 years in the Minneapolis police department.  All of a sudden he has all the answers to reform the police department.  Why didn't he do it before?   In addition, how can he possibly manage officers that he was a street cop with?  I would think that the community may have a problem trusting him since he was a part of a department that has had problems.  It makes no sense to me to hire a person within,  to be the police chief.  For this civilian police chief position that I am proposing, the hiring body should require strict qualifications.  Qualifications that should be considered are individuals with higher education in the area of social sciences, psychology, philosophy, legal studies, etc... These areas of interest or expertise can benefit the communities. I would think that this type of system will be a welcomed transformation.  It will create a system of immediate trust with the community.  Whether the community is poor or affluent, it can only be a win for all the stakeholders but mostly for the communities where this system is implemented.  And, no worries that the civilian police chief has no police experience because his assistant and all the mid level mangers will be certified police officers with police experience.
Weaponry
 Police offers will always need to be armed with lethal weapons.   That is just the nature of the work they do.   We can't expect the police to respond to an armed robbery in progress with a non lethal weapon.  Most calls that police officers respond to are not of the armed robbery type.  Maybe it started that way but when the police get to the scene the suspect is gone.  There needs to be other non lethal weapons that can be helpful in an emotional type of call to deescalate the situation.  It should not be an all or nothing approach.  If the call  the officer is responding to is one where emotions are high as in a domestic disturbance call, a non lethal weapon may be extremely beneficial to everyone involved.  I believe that police officers don't go to work with an approach that they want to kill someone.  But, the system in most departments furnish the officer with a gun and maybe a taser and some impact weapons, that's it.  In my opinion that is not enough.  This may sound crazy but hear me out before passing judgment.  Part of the funding to police departments should be used for research in non lethal weapons like a high powered pistol that shoots a foam like substance, the type of foam that comes out of a fire extinguisher.  Shot to the face or body of a suspect can cause disorientation in the suspect from a distance without dire irreversible results.  This can buy the officer enough time to subdue the suspect without killing him.  This type of weapon can benefit all stakeholders.  I am positive that this type of weapon, if it doesn't already exist can be developed.  I should consider patenting such a weapon!  Just a little ice breaking humor. I did a simple google search and found other non lethal  type of weapons that can and should be used such as a gun that fires tear gas and pepper pellets to disorient a suspect.  This is the type of research and development that a civilian chief of police would probably consider quicker than a 30 year plus cop turned police chief who has all the answers to policing.
Age
 Many police departments have an age requirement to become a police officer.  The younger end of the spectrum is 18-21 years old.  The older end is 35 years old with an increase in the age if the individual has military service.  I propose eliminating the upper age restriction.  I believe the older an individual is the more mature they are.  In addition, the older individual will bring wisdom and life experience to the policing profession.  If an individual is 60 and looking for a career change as long as he can pass the physical, psychological and background check, I don't see why they cannot be considered.  In fact, I would highly recommend a more matured individual because I believe that they would be more inclined to deescalate a situation based on their age and life experience than a 25 year old that looks like Dwayne "the rock" Johnson all buffed and ready to kick some ass or like Laila Ali who will cause some serious damage to a non compliant suspect.    You get the picture.  I also believe that with a more mature police officer the public will respond in kind.
Police registry
 I believe a nationwide police register should be instituted.  Not just to register bad behavior by a cop but all behavior, good and bad.  If the officer has received commendations and metals for his service it should be documented on the national registry.  If the officer has received disciplinary action it should too be documented on the national registry.  Also this registry should be online for all to access.   It should not be just for hiring purposes.  It should be for everyone to see.  A system like this should be welcomed by all stakeholders.  This would be a transparent checks and balances that is long over due.
Compensation and education
 These two sections go hand in hand.  Most police departments just require a GED or High School diploma for becoming a police officer.  This is insane! However, in order to get more qualified college graduates on the police departments, they will have to pay them more.  Imagine if you will, a police officer who is 22 years old with a high school diploma responding to a domestic disturbance call where the caller a 40 year old professional women called the police because she caught her 50 year old surgeon husband cheating on her with her best friend who is a psychologist.  The husband then tells the officer, "get the fuck out of my house!" As he walks away into another room.  This may sound like a fiction but it is not.  I handled a call just like that when I was a cop.  We expect so much from our police officers but, the education and compensation is not in par with the job of policing.  This is where funding can be invested in police departments to hire officers with at least an associates degree and pay them according to their level of education.  
 The way I see it, policing is a calling.  I believe that individuals join a police department to become police officers to make a difference in a positive way in their communities.  But in a way, the system as it presently is has let them down.  They are put in an impossible situation.  Lately when I see officers vilified, spit at, assaulted and killed it breaks my heart.  A very small percentage of police officers who are not worthy of wearing a badge are making it very difficult for the rest who understand they may never come home but continue to serve and protect.  All for a wage that in my opinion is not worth the risk.  But they do it anyway.  These are true heroes.  The system of policing has to take responsibility for what is currently going on in society.  In order for policing to survive and for the communities to be the beneficiaries, the system needs some changes.   I hope that this article will make a difference.  I hope that at least it will open up the way for an honest discussion.  We as a society cannot give up on the institution of policing.  We are a country of law and order.  Without individuals who are willing to put their life on the line to maintain law and order we would have nothing.  I would not be writing this article or enjoy the things I have, if it wasn't for our brave men and women in blue.  Whenever I am in a store or restaurant with an officer, I show my appreciation to the men and women in blue by paying their bill.  I feel fortunate to be able to do that and it's my way of saying thank you for what they do.  I'm not saying you should do the same or that I am better than you.  But, maybe  next time you see a police officer just thank them.  I leave you with a poem on point. 
 "I'm just like you, I have been where you fear to be; I have seen what you fear to see; I have done what you fear to do; All these things I have done for you.  I am the one you lean upon.  The one you cast your scorn upon.  The one you bring your troubles to.  All these things I have done for you.  The one you ask to stand apart.  The one you feel should have no heart.  The one you call "the man in blue."  But I am a person just like you.  And through the years I have come to see, that I am not what you ask of me.  So, take this badge, take this gun.  Will you take it?  Will anyone?  And when you watch a person die and hear a battered baby cry, then do you think you can be all those things you ask of me?"
     Just a thought.

Physical fitness has always been important to me.  I feel this body that was given to me to house my soul is precious.  We have an obligation to maintain it.  We seem to worry more about our house or car than we do our body.   Some get completely carried  away and only concentrate on the physical aspects of our existence but ignore the mind.  In other words, they are all neck down individuals and no neck up.  You know who I am referring to.  If you have ever belonged to a gym or fitness facility, they are the individuals walking around in tank tops and tight shorts carrying a gallon of some sort of colorful beverage.  If you don't see them, you can certainly hear them screaming, moaning  and groaning like a women in labor.  Further, if you hear them speaking to others they sound like Rocky Balboa in the original movie where after a fight he kept yelling, "YO Adrian!"  You get the picture and I hope you get the humor.  Aside from my attempt at humor and satire, whenever you are physically tired but you get started whether it's a workout or a project, there is this second wind phenomena.  Scientists believe the "second wind," to be the result of the body finding the proper balance of oxygen to counteract the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles.   Other scientists believe the second wind is due to endorphin production.   
 I believe that although, there may be some scientific proof of what is responsible for a second wind, stored in every one of us is a great reserve of energy.  Energy that is available at will but, most individuals are unaware of it.  I remember taking my 11 and 12 year old daughters to Coney Island Beach and amusement park in Brooklyn, New York last summer.  We each rode a go-cart.  After like 30 seconds into our ride, I hear on the speaker system, loud and clear for everyone in the park and outside the park to hear, the following; " Lady in the white dress please step on the gas!"  Unfortunately he was referring to my 11 year old daughter who was holding the steering wheel with all her might, looking straight ahead and just rolling on neutral without stepping on the gas pedal.  We laugh about it but, I believe many individuals live their lives on neutral.   Not knowing that we all have that reserve energy to use at will.  And, we fail to use it.  At the very first sign of tiredness, some individuals would rather take a nap or blame it on lack of sleep or a restless night.  Can it  be that our souls are begging us to get out and move or create something because it has this reserve energy that needs to be released?  Next time you feel tired, if jogging is not your thing, go for a speed walk and see what happens.  I guarantee you that the first few minutes your body is somewhat feeling a bit tired and then once you get the oxygen and blood circulating, the second wind will kick in.
 To me the most important aspect of a second wind is your mind.  After you discover the second wind you feel like your soul has been cleansed.  There's this spiritual connection to your source within.  It is almost like your soul is thanking you for allowing it to release the cooped up energy.  This is a real feeling.  However, some individuals will never experience it.  This is what the law of the universe is all about.  It is an infinite supply.  There is no such thing as limitation.  We set limitations on ourselves.  That is unnatural.  We are given the tools to use all the resources on the planet at our disposal but some don't understand this law of supply.  Everything we will ever need is available.  It is our fault if we aren't where we want to be.  Fear, doubt, poverty, illness, hate, discrimination etc..., does not exist.  It is only a lack of faith, confidence, abundance, health, and love.  If we have faith in this omnipotent all present universal source, we would all be living in utopia. Since you are reading this article, it tells me that you are ready to claim what is yours and change your life.  You are ready to open up your mind and change your life for the better.  I am absolutely happy for you.  I cannot wait for you to start living a life of total happiness and abundance. Although, I may not personally know you, I can feel your spirit because we all came from the same place and we're all going back to the same place.  I leave you with a poem on point titled "Keep Going."
 "When it all seems too hard and you are crippled by fear, the best course of action is to simply persevere."
          Ms. Moem
     Just a thought.          

I love children!  This is an understatement!!  I have six; four girls and two boys.  One of the best songs ever composed about children is, "The Greatest Love of All," by George Benson in 1977 and performed by Whitney Houston.  Part of the lyrics in this masterpiece are, "I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside, give them a sense of pride to make it easier, let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be..."  I am not a child psychologist, but I am an expert in child rearing, just as all parents should be.  I also want to preface this article by saying that all parents have their own rules or opinions when it comes to "their" children.  My writing on this topic is my opinion.  I am not here to judge other parent's opinions about children in any way.  I am not the rule on the topic of children.  So, with that said, I believe some parents feel that their children are theirs.  That they own them.  At least until they become adults.  Why not take this approach?  After all parents do have a legal obligation to support their children.  They must treat them humanly.  Parents are responsible for their children's well being, psychologically and  physically.  With all that said, parents do not own their children.  The children come through them into this world but they are not property of anyone.  This is hard to understand at times.  The way I see it, I am a coach for my children.  I have been given, probably the most important privilege and honor imaginable, to be a parent.  To be another human being's head coach and mentor in all aspects of life.   I cannot fathom a more important role in life.  
 We are all children.  We want to be respected and treated accordingly.  We want to explore and learn.  We answer to our soul's desires when we use our sense of adventure.  Life is a never ending learning and growing adventure.  We are an extension of  the little children and they of us.  A rule of thumb that many parents apply is, "do as I say, not as I do."  This is hypocritical.  It would be akin to me, writing about loving my kids but being charged with neglecting my children by Children Services.  Great coaches lead through examples and parents are no different. Children are similar to sponges.  They look up to us.  Everything we say or do they absorb.  They are the future generation of leaders, parents etc...  If we do not let them explore, we are stunting their mental growth.  I understand that sometimes parents "get in the way," because we love our children.  We don't want children to push the envelope too much because we as parents have fears; but, children are fearless.  We see on a daily basis the extreme cases when parents are breathing all over their children.  They are what has been called, helicopter parents because they constantly hover over their children.  
 I bet we have also seen parents embarrass their children by calling them names.  I believe one of the worse things a parent can do to their children is to tell them that an idea that they may have makes no sense or is stupid.  Just remember when we were little children,  I say little children, because I believe as I stated earlier that we are all children regardless of age.  We had a vivid imagination.  Then we grew up and arrested our imagination and replaced it with fear and doubt.   Let them use their imagination.  They have unlimited potential.  I remember reading about Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's, when he was a little child, all he wanted to do was flip burgers.  Can you imagine, no pun intended, if his parents discouraged him by saying, "that is nonsense son, you want to be a doctor or a lawyer."  Luckily for the hamburger eating members of society he followed his imagination and dream.  And, just look at the outcome.  It was Einstein who said, " Imagination is more important than knowledge.  For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."  He also stated, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairytales.  If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairytales."  Let's not let love be an excuse to prevent our children from accomplishing whatever it is they want to accomplish, free of parental pressure to do otherwise.  I understand that because parents want their children to succeed that they may want them to follow in their footsteps especially if the parents have been successful.  However, a child has his own soul and desires.  A child is the master of his ship.  Let them be who they want to be.  Not who we want them to be.  I leave you with a poem on point.
 "I would hold your hand every minute of every day, but I won't because I know you need to find your own way."
          Jayne
     Just a thought.

I am sure we have all, at one time or another, heard of  individuals talking about opportunities in life and describing them as a "door opening."  I believe that many individuals do not succeed because they expect some thing external to happen in order to get that break that will propel them to success.  Maybe they're counting on luck or someone to open that door for them.  Most individuals are in this waiting mode.  Stuck in the mud with a rear wheel drive, two door mid size sedan.  Thinking that by just stepping on the accelerator they eventually will get out.  Or, slowly shifting their transmission numerous times from forward to reverse in the hopes that they will accumulate enough momentum to be freed from the grasp of the mud.  Or, if that doesn't work, hoping that a motorist with a huge pick-up truck  will come along and pull them out of their situation.  And, finally if none of that works, call for help on their cell phone.  Most individuals do not believe in themselves.  They don't understand that they alone have the tools within to turn the doorknob and open the door of opportunity as wide as they want with absolutely no restrictions.  However, opening the door of opportunity is the first step in the right direction.  The next step is to walk in with a concentrated focus on what it is, with clear purpose, that you want.  Most individuals just go along the road of life living in a rut.  They go through the same routines day in and day out.  They work so they can support their families or themselves.  They work in an unhappy job so they can pay the rent or a mortgage, utilities, food and taxes and get up the next day to repeat the routine.  In essence, they survive to be able to sustain a lifestyle until they die.  Some may get lucky and have a little time between work and death in purgatory!  I'm sorry, I meant retirement! Just a bit of humor.  
 The way I see it, the people who live in beautiful homes, who drive a vehicle of  their choosing, who go on vacations are people that for the most part when they walked through the door of opportunity, they went in with a clear focus - a vision of exactly what they wanted to accomplish; a clear picture of what it meant to them to be successful.  This is important because success is personal.  It is how you define it.  A fancy house, car and vacation may not be your definition of success.  You may want to rent in apartment on the beach somewhere and wear sandals and t-shirts and own an ice cream shop.  My point is that you have to be clear in your mind of exactly what it is you want.  To me success is a combination of things.  It is living a balanced lifestyle.  Hence the title of my website and my book, The Law of 4, where I encourage the reader to look at life metaphorically as a vehicle.  I make the analogy that like a vehicle that needs 4 tires to run, so does with life.  We need 4 pillars to live successful.  Those 4 pillars are, health, wealth, love and gratitude.  You need money to experience all that life has to offer but, not a the expense of your health.  You need your health so you can make money and enjoy your life.  You also need love because that opens up the channels to receive and you have to be grateful for all you have because without appreciation things can get pretty rough.  
 I will let you in on a little secret.  Well, it shouldn't be a secret because it has been available since the beginning of life on earth but it isn't taught in schools.  You have to find it on your own; however, I promise you it is out there.  I found it so can you.  It is, that you are all powerful.  You are connected through your mind to a bigger universal mind that will bring to you all your desires if you have faith.  Every significant invention that has been created has come about from this universal mind.  Trickling down to individuals who used their minds to visualize exactly what they wanted to create.  The way I can describe this power is like a water drop from the ocean.  A single water drop has all the elements of the water in the ocean but unless it can re-connect to the ocean it is powerless.  If you put that single powerless water drop back in the ocean it connects to its source and all the power of the ocean is at its disposal.  The mind operates the same way.  Once you understand that you can connect at will to the universal mind then nothing is impossible.  The complete power of the universal mind is at your disposal.  Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, the pioneers of yesteryear Ford, Emerson, Rockefellers etc.., understood this.  So why can't you?  Please don't say its because you lack the education or any other means.  In fact, most of the aforementioned creators either had no school or dropped out.  Moreover,  most of them had limited beginnings.  However, they understood the power they had and with clear focus they became unstoppable.  WE ALL HAVE THAT SAME POWER! Let us start using it.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Two Doors."
 "There are two doors, the first door is leading to an amazing life, and the second door is the one keeping you from getting to the first door."
         Luna
    Just a thought.

 Selfishness is a concern of one's own welfare or advantage with a general disregard for others.  I believe this about sums it all up why some individuals are successful and others are not.  If you are always trying to take, it creates a corrupt, deficiency environment where the flow of positive energy seizes to exist.  This occurs in any aspects of life.  If you are always looking out for yourself, you are creating an animalistic survival of the fittest environment.  With this type of thinking, everything is a struggle.  Things will not flow according to the laws of the universe.  You are creating a concept where you have to fight for everything in order to survive.  This creates an all about me, me, me attitude.  It pains my heart because that is contrary to my belief on how life really works.  In, President John F. Kennedy's, inauguration address on January 20, 1961, much can be learned by reading his speech in its entirety.  But, I will quote a few sections as I think it will be very useful for today's topic.  Although, I find it ironic that many may criticized my beliefs simply out of their own disbeliefs.  However,  I live by simple rules.  One of them being that I really do not care what others think about me.  What they think about me is their business.  What I think about me is my business.  To me, my business is more important than their opinion of me.  Back to JFK, "... For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty...,"  "... the belief  that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hands of god..."  I believe that JFK was an inspired individual.  He believed, as I do from my soul, that we all have the power to live the life we want.  No one can ever take that away from us other that ourselves through fear and doubt.  In addition, to this power that we are all endowed with, he goes on to say,  …"  And so my fellow Americans: ask not what America can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
 This is, in my opinion, the formula for manifesting things you desire into your life.  To give of yourself for the sake of others.  By taking this approach, it spiritually opens up the mechanism for you to receive.  However, giving, whether it's your time or money, has to be genuine.  In other words, not attached to any exterior motives.  In act 20:25, Jesus stated, "...it is more blessed to give than to receive."  I have many examples on how when I gave, it came back to be many times over.  Whether you are enlightened or not is irrelevant.  It works just the same.  When I was a young police officer in New York City, on occasion when I arrested someone, I knew they were going to be locked up for awhile so I would sometimes go in my pocket and pull out my only five dollars that I had to buy the person I arrested something to eat.  Remember that back then I was on a fixed income.  Being on a police officer's salary was a slight step up from poverty.  The times I did this for others, it never failed to be returned to me many times more.  I remember going home on one of these occasions and finding an unexpected check in the mail for money that was owed to me.  Money that I forgot all about because I knew when I loaned it that getting paid back was probably not going to happen.  Recently, when I have decided to do legal work pro-bona or give a homeless person a few dollars on the street, I have either received a  new paying client or have literally found money on the street.  If you give you will get back!! But, remember it has to be genuine and with no expectations of a return.  This law will never fail.  
 The most selfish personal act I can possible think of is expecting others to take care of you.  Whether you expect government or family to care for you, it is selfish.  We have the power and ability and I would say, the obligation to create and produce.  Part of that is to provide for ourselves toward the end of our lives.  That is part of our payback to our loved ones or society in general.  That is our payment for rent, to be in this amazing place called earth.  So ask yourself, "what am I going to do for society?"  It can be selling cold water on Miami beach, it can be playing the piano, or painting a piece of art, or building a house for someone or becoming a lawyer and serving your community, or a doctor to help the ill, or a fabulous cook, or a father, or mother, or coach or teacher or whatever it is that floats your boat.  But, do something to benefit society as a whole.  I recently had a young man in his twenties tell me that his mother who is in her late fifties told him that he MUST care for her when she is feeble and old.  I understand if you want to care for a loved one.  I would probably want to care for my loved one also.  But, to be required to do it or to put that burden on someone is the most selfish and burdensome act someone can put on another individual.  We should all try to live a life where we are not dependent on anyone.  We have an obligation to at least attempt to put ourselves in that position.  We all are the masters of our lives.  We all have the power to live as we please.  This power does not discriminate.  Using excuses to justify for failing or not even trying, is an easy way out.  William Shakespeare said, " God has given you one face, and you make yourself another."  I say god has given you one life with all the tools to succeed but many have chosen not to.  I leave you with a poem on point.
 "If you wish for the happy years, and the love of a friend who sees your tears, and the world's respect, and an honored name, and all the joy which the gentle claim, you must think of others in all you do, you must think of them first and last of you.
         Author unknown
      Just a thought.

I am a believer in the power of the mind to create the life we want.  Today my wife and I took our daughters to a zip lining excursion through a beautiful area in Hocking Hills State Park in Southeastern Ohio.  It is a beautiful place for outdoor activities.  A great place to connect to nature.  As we were driving there we had conversations about nature and life in general.  My daughters are only 11 and 12 but they are extremely spiritual beyond their ages. I truly pity the boys that will attempt to date them one day.  So, I got to thinking about this inherent power that we all possess.  But, most of us don't use it or understand it.  Regardless of how many books I have read on the power of the mind, it all comes down to the subconscious.  Most of us are familiar with the conscious mind.  Your five senses work through your conscious mind.  We are all familiar with our five senses.  When we hear, see, taste, smell and touch, the sensing organs associated with the aforementioned senses, send information to the brain to help us understand and perceive the world around us.  This is all done through our brain or how I like to describe as the conscious mind.  In other words, we use our conscious brain when we are awake.
 But, what happens when we go to sleep?  To me that is the interesting part of our brain.  The  subconscious part or the subconscious mind.   Think about your subconscious mind and, all it does that we take for granted.  It keeps you alive, not only when you are sleeping but every second of every minute of every hour since you were born.  It regulates all your organs.  It makes sure that your heart is beating and your digestive system is working perfectly.  You don't have to think about breathing or the distribution of fluids or nutrients to your organs or the rest of you body.  We take all that for granted.  The subconscious literally occupies the whole human body.  That is the physical part of what the subconscious will do for us but, there's another important function.  From a spiritual perspective, it is our protector.  Have you ever had a feeling prior to making a decision or committing to doing something, that it just wasn't right?  That something gave you the, "Heebie Jeebies?" That was your subconscious sending you a warning.  I know, especially in my last line of work as a police officer that it saved my life on several occasions.  It was that intuition that intervened.  You don't have to be in a stressful, dangerous environment to feel this power of the subconscious.  I bet, the reader knows exactly what I am referring to, because it happens many times in everyday dealings.  
 The subconscious also has the ability to lead you to whatever it is you want to accomplish in life if you use it properly.  I believe the subconscious mind is the all powerful connection to the creative force within each and every one of us.  Some call it god or universal power, or your soul.  Call it as you please.  What you call it is not important.  Understanding this power is.  If you impress upon it your true desires in life it will produce.  The problem is that most individuals do not believe in this power or impress negative thoughts upon it.  And the irony is that not only do we all have it, it takes no effort to use it.  We have all heard that most individuals only use 10% of their brains.  That is because the other 90% is part of the subconscious portion that we are not trained to use.  Can you just imagine if we were to expand out capacity of our minds to just 25%.  I encourage all to just think about this because, once you understand this power of the subconscious, that we all have at our disposal, it becomes a no brainer!  No pun intended.  I leave you with a poem on point;
 "When your conscious catches up to your subconscious, more than small miracles begin to unfold.  Your eyes see the golden sunrise.  You discover treasures within.  Your ears hear the children's laughter.  As you become young and alive again.  You smell essence of life as you taste life again.  And, touch the soul of god."
         Richard Wlodarski
      Just a thought.  

History is the study of past events, particularly in human affairs.  This is so crucial as a society because it allows us to understand our present.  Currently there seems to be an atmosphere, although not by a majority, to erase or ignore our past.  In fact, some don't even want to acknowledge our history.  As an enlightened person, I have a general much broader view and a personal perspective about this topic, which in my opinion should not be controversial.  The general view first.  Our history as a country or a society is crucial because it allows us to understand who we are currently.  Most individual's primary focus is the future.  In John Lennon's song, "Beautiful Boy," it contains Lennon's famous quote, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."  We are all busy making plans forgetting that who we currently are as a society is a part of our past.  Some seems to take our history for granted.  It is almost as if we were beamed down at this place at this time to just be. Some would rather just forget our history.  All the pain and suffering of our country in the past is helpful in understanding where we presently are.  In my opinion, the United States is the best country on the planet.  In general we are all free to be whatever it is we want to be; to live however it is we want to live.  Of course we are a law and order society.  Therefore, we have to follows laws, but, in general it is all good.  I also understand that the United States is not perfect.  We have had some dark and painful moments in our history that some would rather forget.  But, I think that is a very dangerous path.  If we abolish our history, we have no learning point markers.  We then create a situation ripe for repeating the unpleasant parts of our history.  As parents I feel we have an obligation to teach our children the greatness of the United States and the not so good past events.  It is imperative to give them a balanced perspective.  I have personal views about history and life that I hold dear to my heart that my children know about but, I also teach them other views and perspectives.  I do this because I don't want them to be like me.  I want them to be who they want to be in life, not who I want them to be.  
 From an enlightened personal perspective, history can be an obstacle in your life.  You see, most people live in the past.  The way I look at my past is that I acknowledge it and move on.  But, it is necessary for me personally to understand about my past because it is a part of who I am today.  And, I use it as a guide for me to not repeat my past mistakes.  From my spiritual enlightened perspective, my past is not who I am today unless I live in my past.  It only has the importance that I give it.  I probably was a dumb ass 30 years ago but certainly not presently.  No matter how ashamed you are of your past, that is not who you are today.  You can be upset with yourself of all the bad or immoral decisions you made in the past but you cannot change the past.  You can only change through the power of your mind who you presently are.  For some unbeknownst reason, at least to me, some individuals rather live in anger or sadness or conflict.  We all have the power to make choices to change our lives for the better or the worse if that is what you prefer, but we need to acknowledge that power.  Your power is in your mind!  Nothing external, whether it is people or things they do not have any power over you.  It only has power if you give it power.  So, from a general or personal perspective, let us acknowledge our history.  Let us learn from our history and let us move on and understand that we have the power to change if we use our mind and thoughts.   I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Yesterday is History."  
 "Yesterday is history, tis so far away.  Yesterday is poetry, tis philosophy.  Yesterday is mystery where it is today, while we shrewdly speculate, flutter both away."
        Emily Dickinson
    Just a thought.

The topic about heaven has always intrigued me. Is there really a place somewhere over the rainbow where after death the good souls end up with other good souls to forever "live" the afterlife?  Is it supposed to be such a wonderful place as so many have been led to believe by countless religions? If so then why not just skip the living on earth part and go right to it?  Before I dive into this topic, the reader needs to know that I am not a religious person.  As a youngster I was involved in the Catholic religion through my parents but as soon as I became an adult, I had many questions religion could not answer.  I therefore have not been involved in organized religion for a very long time.  I am a spiritual person.  Spirituality does not need religion.  But, the reverse is not true.  Religion does need spirituality.  Also I respect individuals' freedom of religion.  It is not my position to judge or offend the reader regarding their faith.  I am not selling or attempting to convert anyone into any beliefs.  How hypocritical and insulting would that be? In fact, I encourage everyone to read, research and come to their own conclusions as I did.  So the following article is my conclusions and my opinion from my research.  
 The word heaven, in Greek means, Ouranos which translates into expansion, the action of becoming larger or more extensive. I will refer at times to the bible because I believe that it is one of the two best books for answers in the area of spirituality and self healing.  The other book being the Tao Te Ching which was written long before the bible.  Expansion as aforementioned is the action of becoming larger.  In the bible, Jesus assures us that the kingdom of heaven is within us, not a distant far away place.  So if we use common sense, what within us can we point to that can expand and continue to grow constantly without barriers?  Not our organs for sure because once they reach adulthood they obviously continue to function but healthy organs do not get any bigger.  And, organs can expand to a point but within reason or else they would blow up.  For example, if you're a runner your lungs and heart will expand to allow the increase of blood and oxygen but, only to a point.  The only thing that can expand without limits is the MIND.  Historically, in the bible there are countless examples of expansions and references to obtain whatever it is that you want in life.  Jesus directed that "Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all these things shall be added unto you."  And, he goes on to say, that "...the Kingdom of Heaven is within you."
 I believe Jesus was a person who "got it."  He was enlightened and it reflected on the way he conducted himself.  He encouraged others to understand that they have the power to do what ever they wanted as long as it was for the common good.    However, this wasn't a power that only he possessed.  It is a power that we all possess.  Through your way of thinking you can shape your life in whatever you want.  We are all created in god's image.  Not one of us are left out.  What we do with our life is our choice.  Some will say but look at the evil all around us, how can god have created that since we are all created in his image?  That exactly gives credence to what I am saying,  that we have the power to create out of life whatever it is we want.  Through our mind and our way of thinking.  God is in all of us.  When Jesus was accused of blasphemy for claiming to be the son of god, he responded, "Is it not written in your laws in Psalms 82:6, "I said you are gods?" We are god. God is pure love.  What we do with it is our choice through our free will.  We are not robots.  The kingdom of heaven is in every single one of us.  The problem is that we either don't want to believe that or we have been taught otherwise.  "Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself." Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching.  I leave you with a poem on point;
 "Wish pure love and soft peace upon the ones who've been unkind to you and keep moving forward.  This will free you both."  
      Author unknown
  Just a thought.   

The name Manhattan comes from the Munsi language of the Lenni Lenape meaning island of many hills.  Other theories say it comes from one of three Munsi words.  "Manahactanienk" meaning "place of inebriation."  For me it is home.  Manhattan is synonymous to New York City.  It is also simply referred to as the "City."  It is the only place in the world were I not only feel spiritually connected to but, am closest to my source or god within.  I understand where many who have travelled to Manhattan  are eager to get out.  It can be overwhelming.  It is the most densely populated of the five boroughs that comprise New York City.  Manhattan consist of Manhattan Island surrounded by the Hudson, East and Harlem rivers.  I believe I was born there because spiritually prior to my birth I chose that location.  I believe we all came from somewhere and we are all going somewhere.  If you really think about it this is a reasonable perspective.  If, as many believe, that after death we are going to a place that they call the afterlife, then it ponders the question why can't there be a beforelife.    That is why I feel spiritually connected to Manhattan.  I have lived in other places that I called home for a certain period of time and  have only great things to say about them but, I have never felt a spiritual connection to them as I do with Manhattan.  
 On a lighter note, maybe that is why I enjoy a "Manhattan" as my favorite adult drink.  For those who may not know, the ingredients are bourbon, sweet vermouth, real bitters topped off with a maraschino cherry.  Now, I want to be clear, I am not advocating drinking alcohol.  We all have the free will to live and make choices as we please.  But if you do have a Manhattan I advise you to please drink responsibly and NEVER  drink and drive.  That is the lawyer in me speaking.    It makes sense doesn't it that the word Manhattan can be traced back to the Munsee words Manahactanienk which means place of inebriation and my enjoyment of a Manhattan adult beverage.  Although, I have never allowed myself to get to the point of inebriation.  It is also ironic, that Manhattan can be broken down into three words, man, hat and tan.  And, I am all three of those words.  I am a man who loves hats and am olive complexion or tanned.  
 Now let me get back to a more serious connection.  I thrive on energy.  The noise and energy in Manhattan enhances my energy.  To me energy is what brings to the surface our creative forces within to grow.  I am an energy person to begin with and when I surround myself with outside energy I am taken to a different level that goes real deep into my spirituality.  There have been times when my family and I have taken walks in New York City where at the end of our adventure we check out fitbits and have walked 15 plus miles. For me it truly is a deep mesmerizing experience.  Listen I  am not saying it is a perfect City.  And in fact everywhere you go there seems to be trash and in some places stench.  But, none of that matters because at the end, the benefits, especially the spiritual benefits, far outweigh all other factors.  But, I must say that although I have this deep rooted love of New York City, spirituality ultimately comes from within.  I believe that I may not feel that way about New York City or life in general if I were not an enlightened person.  You can be living in rural Mississippi and have the same connection to your source.  It is all within each and everyone of us to manifest this deep connection to ourselves.  To the god within.  This is our purpose in life.  This is how we leave the world  a better place.  I leave you with partial lyrics to Alicia Keys' song, 'Empire State of Mind."
 "Grew up in a town that is famous as a place of movie scenes.  Noise is always loud, there are sirens all around and the streets are mean.  If I could make it here , I could make it anywhere.  That's what they say.  Seeing my face in lights or my name in marquees found down on Broadway.  Even if it ain't all it seem, I got a pocket full of dreams.  Baby, I from New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of.  There's nothing you can't do.  Now you're in New York.  These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you.  Hear it for New York, New York, New York..."
     Just a thought.

Life is what you want it to be.  It is a continual changing condition preceding death.  Look at yourself and you can see this change every day.  You are not the same that you were yesterday or  a month ago or a few years ago.  Change is a necessary component of life.  The trouble with most of us is that we are mentally lazy.  We prefer to let life come to us and do whatever life does.  Most individuals do not live life.  They live to die.  That is how most individuals are taught.  A significant part of your life is how you use your mind.  You need to open up your way of  thinking.  Plow the roads of you mind of all the garbage that has accumulated up until now.  Make room for the new you.  Make room for all the good that will come your way if you allow it.  Change your attitude towards life.  We are only here for a short time.  So ask yourself, do you want to live your life as you desire with all the good that is available to you or would you rather have life live you and bounce you around like the waves against the rocks with no purpose?  
 And, I hate to break it to you but once you have accomplished your goal, then what?  Are you done or are you going to continue to strive and set other goals?  Think about it this way, after an athlete becomes a champion, what is one of the first things he or she will say?  That they are going to start training soon to win another championship.  You see that is a perfect example of the creative forces within all of us for continual change and growth.  That is life!  It is pretty common in sports but we all have this burning desire in us.  If your goal was to save $100,000, once you have that nestled in the bank, you will probably start on your next $100,000.  Myself, once I accomplished my goal of becoming an attorney, I set other goals.  And once I accomplish those goals I set other ones.  You should never settle in and allow your current success to stop you from continuing to create and grow.  You should never be satisfied with achieving just one success.  This is the law of life!  You can not stand still.  Complacency is equivalent to death.  
 Some like to blame their misfortune on their environment.  It is common and easy to blame everyone and everything for your lack of success.  But, it really is all within you.  If you are honest with yourself, you will see that all your problems are your fault.  The sum of all the bad choices and negative attitude.  Understanding this is a critical step towards changing your life for the better.  So look at yourself closely and have a sincere talk with yourself.  And as I stated earlier plow the junk out of your mind that has interfered in your forward progress.  If you do this self evaluation, you will live the life you have always wanted.  I leave you with a poem on point;
 "If you knew your self for even a moment, if you could just glimpse your most beautiful face, maybe you wouldn't slumber so deeply in that house of clay.  Why not move into your house of joy and shine into every crevice.  For you are the secret treasure bearer, and always have been."
           Rumi
      Just a thought.         

For those who do not know me, let me give you a background of who I am.  I believe it will be helpful for the reader.  I was born and raised in New York City, the most diverse city in the world.  I do not identify myself as Hispanic although, that is how others have chosen to label me.  However, this is not the only adjective others have used to identify me.  When I was a police officer, I was identified as a "cop."  Subsequently when I became an attorney, I was and still am identified as a "Lawyer."  As a youngster, when I had no choice but to be enshrined into my parent's religion, I was identified as a "Catholic.'  When I campaigned to be a judge I was identified not only as Hispanic but as a man of  "Color."  What really matters to me is not what identification markers society or individuals have labeled me, but how I identify myself.  I identify myself as tall, dark, kind, enlightened  and handsome.  My opinion regarding racism which is a volatile topic is exactly that, just my opinion.   What is currently going on in our country resulting from the killing of a black unarmed, handcuffed individual by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota is appalling and contrary to humanity.  Therefore, I have decided to write an article about racism.  Maybe I am writing this article more for me and my peace of mind than for the reader but, either way I felt compelled to do so.  I so believe in the kindness of the soul that it gives me comfort that we will all come out of this horrific incident better overall.    As a police officer in New York City and as a "minority, I believe I can share with the reader a unique personal perspective that potentially can contribute to the country's collective healing.  
 To start, I believe that the current conversation regarding racism is useless.  There are many factions that would prefer to divide us instead of unite us.  So beware. Let me start with a few examples of personal experiences and some of my ideas about how to contribute to real changes.  My parents immigrated from Cuba with my three older siblings in the mid 50's to escape the Castro/Batista revolution.  They were only allowed to take a paper bag with whatever personal belongings they could fit into it.  This was not a unique experience for my parents as many other Cubans were also exiled and forced to make difficult decisions.  Subsequently my parents were allowed to immigrate into the United States.  My parents not only immigrated to a foreign country but, they did not speak the English language which added to their difficulties.  They ended up in a government subsidized housing project in a rough part of New York City.  My mother stayed at home caring for the children while my father worked day and night in restaurants to support the family.  Shortly thereafter  myself and two of my younger siblings were born.  I remember the love and gratefulness my father had in his heart for America allowing him the privledge to start a new life.  I too am grateful beyond words because without America's generosity and open arms, I may not be where I am today.  Or, I would not have been born.  At a ripe old age of about 10, I started to work with my dad for cents to help contribute to the family.  And just to be clear, this wasn't because my father requested it.  It was a choice that I made.  It also helped that I had a close relationship with my father and I talked him into allowing me to work with him so I could spend time with him.  
 Fast forward to my first real job as a New York City Police Officer.  I say this not to denigrate restaurant workers because I have worked in the restaurant business for many years, I say this because I was entering employment with health insurance and a pension.  The police officer training in NYC consisted of a six month police academy and a subsequent six month field training.  In the field training portion, you were assigned to a precinct, usually a high crime area with an experienced officer called a field training officer, (FTO).  My field training officer had 20 plus years of experience as a police officer.  He was Caucasian.  I mention his race although it should not matter but, in light of our current racial divide, it was a recipe for disaster.  I remember one of my first calls in the community that led to an arrest of a black male and the field training officer bluntly and to my shock telling me that there was a difference between being black and being a nigger.  I understand he was trying to make a distinction between being a law abiding citizen and a thug but that was an offensive and improper way of communicating that to me.   This was in the early 80's.  My training early on also discouraged officers from reporting other officer's wrongdoings.  In other words, it was highly discouraged.  If an officer got a reputation that he or she snitched on other officers, their career would be over.  They would be singled out and no officer would work with them and they would not receive any assistance if they called for back up.  It will be difficult and dangerous for them to continue their career and were most likely forced to resign.  
 It seems from what is currently going on that nothing has changed.  From what I understand, in the current situation in  Minneapolis, the officer who kneeled on the victim's neck which led to his death was a field training officer.   By all accounts he had 19 years of service.  That is when officers are in the burnt out stages of their careers.  The other officers didn't intervene.  How dare they?  They are not going to snitch on another officer.  It is easy to play the blame game and blame the "Cop" on the street.  I get it.  They are the most visible.  But, this goes deep into the culture of policing that starts from the top and trickles down through the mid-level supervisors and ultimately at the hand of the "cop."  Yes, the cop on the street is responsible for his actions but, others as aforementioned should also be held responsible.  It really is hard for me to say this because I love the police and the majority of police officers that I know are willing to die to protect and to serve.  They have accepted this risk for very little compensation.  To me, those are true heroes.  We should not paint them all as bad for the actions of a few. 
 Here are some simple changes that I believe can he helpful for all involved.  Have field training officers that have a maximum of 5 years of experience, this way you can assure that they are not at a burnt out stage and teaching rookies bad habits or how to cut corners.  The  intimidation factor is reduced with a younger field training officer.  Also, have departments hire civilians that can be part of the field training programs to assist in the training of not just the rookies but all police officers.  There can be one civilian unarmed officer patrolling on every shift.  This civilian officer will not handle any call or respond to any in progress dangerous situations or anycrime scenes.  Their function would be to respond as a mitigation or tension breaker to calls where the public is directly involved or tensions are high like domestic violence, disorderly conduct and traffic infractions.  Their involvement would only be as an observer or mediator for the purpose of deescalating the situation.  I can only see this as being a win-win for all parties involved.  I have many more ideas that if a police department would contact me I would share them.  To me it would be my way to contribute to making policing better and minority communities stronger.  
 Unfortunately racism will always exist.  I believe that individuals who say we will eliminate racism completely are contributing to the problem.  It is akin to attempting to eliminate all stupidity in the world.  Good luck!  You will never change how someone chooses to be but you can change how you react.  If you react with kindness and love, maybe, just maybe that person who had a broken racist heart will see that he is the problem not the person that looks different than he does.  On a more personal experience, my wife recently had to take our daughter to the local children's hospital for an injury and after she was checked in waited several hours to be seen.  She finally asked what the hold up and was told that they were waiting for an interpreter.  They assumed that because our surname is Perez that she needed an interpreter.  How is that possible you may ask especially since my wife is Caucasian and she nor my daughter  speak Spanish?  They don't even have an accent other than maybe a New York accent.  
 I also remember growing up being called many despicable names like spic, wetback, shark, greasy, etc.  What I have learned through the years is that I can never change a person or their opinion of me.  But what I can do is control how I react and in doing so make a difference and turn the experience into a positive encounter.    We also need to understand that government can never abolish racism.  In fact, I believe that they create it directly or indirectly.  Recently, I saw a bunch of politicians in Washington wearing  kente cloth stoles and others draped in African regalia in support of antiracism legislation.  If they really care about minority communities instead of giving them handouts they should tell them that they can accomplish whatever it is they want to accomplish without government interference.  There is power in self governance.  We are given the power to succeed in whatever it is we want to accomplish.  But I believe some individuals in power do not want you to believe that because it will render them powerless.  There will come a time in our evolution where we will become enlightened.  That is when the truth will set you free and society will heal and advance.  You will then understand that you are invincible and that you are the captain of your ship guided by the god within.    I leave you with a quote on point;
 "I am that by which I know I am."
       Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
   Just a thought

Society wants us to think that prison is for the law violator.  A prison is a building in which people are held for punishment after a conviction for violating the law.  As an attorney, I have been in many detention facilities to meet with individuals that I have represented.  I hope that is not a reflection on my lawyering abilities that many of my clients are in these facilities.  I'm being humorous because I am confident in my legal abilities.  It is just the nature of my chosen practice area.  I have always stated that by far, the single most place on earth where creative talent is found, are in these facilities.  The problem is that these individuals use their talents and focus on wrong doing or self fulfilment instead of good.  If only they would use their abilities for societal good, the planet would be unrecognizable.  
 Think about this for a moment.  From a spiritual perspective, most individuals live in their own self imposed prisons.  They are living behind bars.  These bars may not be steel bars but they are just as damaging.  These bars are made out of fear.  I would argue that they are more debilitating than steel bars.  At least in a traditional prison setting there usually is a time certain where the individual will be released once they paid their debt to society. It would be a rare occasion where an individual would be behind bars for life.  However, in real everyday life, individuals are sentencing themselves to a life sentence.  And, most are clueless.  Ask anybody you know to try something new and hear their response.  The self imposed fear that they live under is astonishing.  But, it is masquerade in the form of a comfortable life.  To me being comfortable is being at the end of your life.  Doctors practicing in the are of geriatric medicine will advice the next of kin of a dying patient to, make sure their loved one is, "comfortable."  If you watch any sports, more often than not a team that is "comfortable" with a lead ends up losing the game.  There are countless stories of individuals who have lost all their earning because they were "comfortable" and stopped performing.  Or stopped creating and therefore their business along with their drive went kaput.  To me comfort is a death sentence with a fear component attached to it.  For the athlete it may be fear of injury since they are comfortable with a lead.  For the business owner it may be fear of trying something new since up to now they are successful.  For the wealthy it may be fear of losing money since they are comfortable where they are.  
 Unleash the metaphorical animal and live your life.  Leave no stone unturned.  Live a full life! Leave nothing behind because you can't take it with you.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Time goes by."
 "Time goes by and slips away just as  the sky turns from blue to gray.  We are here but only for a short stay.  Don't let life pass with words you never say.  Don't live in anger, with fear and regrets.  Seek forgiveness and lay your pain to rest.  Don't judge too quickly as you may be wrong.  Instead choose to live your life as an uplifting song.  When tears fall wipe them away as they will only last but for a day.  Sometimes we hurt because we care.  Sometimes  life seems unfair.  We make mistakes we wish we could change and wonder how our life could be rearranged.  Second chances last only for so long.  Reach out to others as we are only sisters and brothers.  There are angels in heaven that watch us every day.  They look over us as we laugh and play.  Live with joy and when you lie down at night thank the lord and release any strife."
        Crystal Lewis
     Just a thought.

Life is an example of limitless.  I am not referring to the 2011 film, "Limitless," about an individual named Eddie Morra, played by Bradley Cooper who's life is in dire straights and he can not seem to get it together.  Then his friend offers him a, drug that enhances mental acuity.  He then starts living a limitless life, at least for the brief time while he is on drugs.  Anything he sets his mind to he achieves.  The problem with the plot is that Morra depends on an exterior element for his success.  He becomes dependent on a drug and instead on living a limitless life he lives a shameful, wasted, limited life.  This is a common plot in the life of many individuals.  Whether things are going well or not, but in particular when they are not going well, they attribute the situation to some exterior element.  We seem to give power to exterior conditions as a reason for our status in life.  As Michael Jordan stated, "Limits like fears are often just an illusion."  It is human nature to  live with illusions which stop us succeeding at whatever it is we want to accomplish.  You do not need to take my word for it.  Open your eyes, the evidence is all around us.  
 In order to live a limitless life, you first need to understand that you are all powerful.  You are unstoppable if you set you mind on it.  But you need to want to do it.  If you want to change your life you have to change your ways.  You need to understand that you need to do it now!  Not tomorrow!  Do it today!  Get started immediately.  As soon as you are done reading this blog.  In fact, don't finish the blog.  Stop right now and get into action.  It is urgent because life comes with an expiration date.  And, you don't know when you are going to expire.  You are not like a carton of milk with a date certain for your demise.  But remember that as soon as you are born, your clock starts running.  
 In order to live a limitless life, you want to experience the wonders that life has to offer.  This is all a matter of personal preference. For me money is important because I love to travel abroad, enjoy culture and, art.  In order to enjoy that lifestyle money is necessary.  For others reading a book on a beach and having the basic necessities is their bliss.  These are personal decisions.  Another element as I see it, of living a limitless life is your physical and mental health.  We can all agree that we can have a billion dollars but that if we are not physically healthy to enjoy life, we have nothing or at the very least we are limited.  What I want to briefly concentrate on  is our mental health.  Our mind is the conduit to a limitless life.  The way we think will create our lives.  I can not express this more.  We are who we are today because of the way we thought about things in the past.  If we want to change our lives from our current situation, we have to change our thinking.  If in the past we believed in a limited life, we have to change to believing that it is possible to live a limitless life.  I can shake you upside down but unless you truly want to change your thinking and your habits, your tomorrow will be like today but worse because you will be a day older and closer to your expiration date.  Life is  not supposed to be difficult.  Difficulty doesn't exist.  What exists is the way we thing about certain conditions that we want to change.  If things are not going as planned, so what!  Think about those times as great experiences to get you to where you ultimately want to be.  I leave you with a poem on point.
 "We paint the auras around the stars at night as if our fingers are celestial brushes.  THE SKY HAS NO LIMITS.  We make waives with our blown kiss as if love is the tide in a sea of love.  THE SEA HAS NO END."
        Mel Corbeau
    Just a thought. 

Superstitious is believing in beliefs that do not have grounds in logic and reason in the physical world.  It may sound crazy but superstition requires some kind of belief  that something, usually bad will happen.  For example, things like walking under a latter, or a black cat crossing your path or breaking a mirror, whether  intentional or accidental.  Prior to my enlightened years, I remember my mother telling me when I accidentally broke a mirror that I had to immediately urinate on it or else something bad will happen to me.  That was very stressful for me as a child - believing all that crap.  Athletes are notoriously superstitious.  Especially in baseball which I played at an advanced level through college and a brief time after college.  I remember if a teammate had a great game, he would copy exactly the same routine for the days and games that proceed.  Let me tell you that sitting next to  a teammate that has not washed his jock strap in days is horrific.  Watch a baseball game and you will see behaviors that are on the cusp of obsessive compulsive disorder.  
 It is all about belief.  But, I must warn you that is can be both positive or negative.  So why not keep it positive?  One question, that I guarantee every person asks themselves, even if things are presently fabulous is, "how can I make my life better?"  This question will follow you everyday until you either die or you resolve what ever it is you want to change for the better.  The fact that you are reading this article is great news because you are alive and wanting to resolve your life question.   I also believe you are on the path to success or else you would not have discovered my blog.  Believing in yourself is very powerful.  It really does not matter if others do not believe in you.  The question is whether YOU, believe in yourself.  You can only accomplish what ever you believe in and no more.  Belief is the evidence in the things not yet seen.  You can do anything you think you can do.  I believe that this power in self belief, is the god in all of us.  This inner god, the true god that we are all a part of.  No one can be alive and not have this true god in them. Some call it your soul or your essence or your energy.  Call it what you please that is not important.  The critical part is your belief in You.  In the god that is you.  The unlimited potential that we all have.  This creative power inside.  
 I enjoy watching professional sports at times.  It amazes me to see an athlete do something special in a game and after the game when he or she is being interviewed they give thanks to the god above.  Please remember that I  am not a religious person.  I am a spiritual person  I say this because I do not want to offend anyone who is religious.  That is not my intention.  But, I can not wait for an interview where the athlete says, "first I want to thank myself, the god within me for my accomplishment."  Some may think that is humorous or arrogant but, since we were all created in god's image then, we are all god.  To me, god is internal.  Not an external disassociated god who is judging everyone.  You as part of god are entitled to every good thing in life you desire.  YOU are the only one who can stop YOU from living the life YOU want.  Ironically, many have strong beliefs in superstition but little or no belief in our internal power to succeed.  Defeat does not need to follow victory.  Victory should follow victory.  We have all heard individuals say, after something occurred in their favor, "knock on wood."  How about next time say, "I believe and therefore, I received."  I leave you with a poem on point.
 "The leaves were slowly falling, dying.  But, the roots never gave up.  And, when everyone thought its end was near, the sun touched the tree, fondled it, making it the loveliest for all to see."  Believe in yourself and, be the sun that re-energizes your life.  And no doubt that one day I will see you sun bathing at Maundays Bay Beach in Maundays Bay, Anguilla.  
        Anonymous
   Just a thought.  

"Without faith, nothing is possible.  With it, nothing is impossible." Mary Mcleod Bethune.  Such a powerful statement.  But, true to our core.  Without it we would be on this path of life without any purpose or direction. In my opinion, the greatest advice given to humanity came from the greatest motivational speaker the world has ever know when he said, "Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."  Many who know me, know I am not a religious person however, I am spiritual.  To me Jesus was an inspired individual.  He got it.  He was inspired before being inspired was a good thing.  From all the  research and reading that I  have done, he was no different that any one of us.  He had what they call the It factor.  He believed in the power of the individual to accomplish  whatever he or she wanted to accomplish.  All that was needed was  FAITH!
 How do you use faith to accomplish whatever it is you want whether it is healing your body,  to living a life of abundance and everything else in-between?  By believing that it is within you.  By expecting the end result without any doubt.  When a farmer plants a seed.  He has faith that whatever he planted, will eventually manifest.  He doesn't dig up the seed he planted every other day to confirm that the seed is still there.  I think we can all agree that would be silly.  But really it's not that silly because that is what many individuals do.  They say they want, whatever it is they want but lack the faith to believe it's theirs.  They say they want that nice house in the suburb but in the same breath say that it was not in their cards or that they are not deserving of it.  In other words, they lack the faith needed.  
 I read once where the wise men of old learned thousands of years ago that life is like an echo. It always returns the call sent out.  If you say you are sick or poor, that is what you are sending out.  And, in return, that is what comes back to you.  If you say you are healthy, beautiful, loving, happy, and rich, that is the call you are sending out.  And, that is, according to the wise men of yesteryear what will be returning to you.  There are so may examples in my life on how faith has turned things around for me that, it would not be practical for me to even attempt to write about them.  All I can say to the reader is that when I believe that what I want I will be getting, I get it.  Nothing can stop me from my goal but me.  If I do not allow the "me" to stop me, I am unstoppable.  You have unlimited possibilities within the law of probability to accomplish whatever you want.  You have the infinite power within fueling your soul!  I leave you with a poem on point.
 "Somebody said that it couldn't be done, but he with a chuckle replied that maybe he couldn't, but he would be one who wouldn't say so until he tried.  So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin on his face.  If he worried he hid it.  He started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn't be done, and he did it."
          Edgar Guest 
   Just a thought.

Semmelweis reflex is a human behavioral tendency to stick to preexisting beliefs and to reject fresh ideas that contradict them, despite adequate evidence.  Well, well isn't that what most individuals exhibit in the area of the power of your thoughts via the mind.  My wife cautions me periodically to beware of who I talk to  regarding this power that we all possess because I may be mocked or considered, "Out there," with my beliefs.  My response it always, I don't care what people think about me!"  Don't get me wrong, it is nice to be accepted by all but my research and my convictions are my life.  As much as I believe in what I think, I respect individual's choices just as equally.  If you are reading my writing, you are looking for a positive change in your life.  So, this is for you.  It seems to me to be common sense that if you want to change your life, you have to change your way of thinking.   It can't be any more easier than that.  Let's just say you want to have more money.  Obviously, you have to make an effort to change the way you have been taught to think about money because it has not been working for you.  Some want more money but constantly think about the lack of money.   Some want to get out of debt but, they literally focus their attention on debt.  Or even more egregious, they have this misplaced belief that money is, "the root of all evil." It makes no sense to me, that you want more money to come your way with a strong dated, negative  opinion about it.  
 This is not just directed at money, it is for anything in life that you want.  You have to create a new self and that starts by creating a new way of thinking.  We have this ability that no other specie has to decide how we no longer want to be.  Listen, I get it, it is difficult to change.  Especially, when our own parents, who we trust, love and who we connect their love with a sense that they only want what's best for us, have enshrined us with their way of thinking.  Which in many cases it's outdated.    But, maybe their way of thinking, although good for them and their generation, was not from an enlightened perspective.  This is how humanity evolves.  I am not necessarily saying there way was no good.  What I am saying is that there way was what it was and we have the ability of changing our thinking to change our lives for the better.  After all, isn't that what our parents would want for us?   We have to evolve and grow from our Semmelweis reflex and create and leave the world a better place so that future generation's starting point will be the next phase of advancement.
 To advance and empower your life to manifest your desires, you have to become aware of where you are currently in life.  And, you need to want to make changes in your life.  This is where your past comes in handy as a learning experience but, not as an excuse to not advance.  Understand your past, learn from it, put it aside and move on.  Your past is good to give you a perspective on your self awareness but not as an obstacle of your potential.  You are where you currently are in life because of your past belief's.  Whether those belief's were positive or negative is irrelevant.  It is what it is.  Or I should more appropriately say, it was what it was.  In order to create a different life, you MUST have a different way of thinking.   This is as clear as the air we breathe.  Can it be painful at times? Of course but the rewards will be worth it.  If you take this journey, tomorrow and your many tomorrows will be well worth it! I leave you with a poem on point.
 "There's been an undeniably truth since before we ever existed.  Nothing ever stays the same.  Change can not be resisted."
        Ms. Moem
     Just a thought.
 

Visualization is the formation of a mental image of something.  I am sure you have heard the phrase, "I'll believe it when I see it."  I rather say, "I'll see it in my mind first then I'll believe it."  You see forming a mental image of whatever it is you want to acquire is crucial.  Visualization makes the dream of the dreamer a reality.  If you can not see it first in your mind, then it does not exist.  There truly is nothing that can not be achieved through visualization.  I remember when I played organized sports using  visualization  to achieve a certain outcome.  I would literally go through the mechanics of an activity in my mind the night before prior to falling asleep.  In the morning, I would go through the same process.  At game time when it was time to perform, more often than not the visualized outcome materialized.  In fact, I felt like the execution part was easy.  It was as if I already did it.  Which I did several times in my mind.  
 This process of visualization is not just for the athlete.  You can use it to materialize anything in life.  Now, you can not just visualize an outcome without taking the necessary steps to achieve whatever it is you want to achieve.  For example, you can not visualize being a trial attorney or doctor or Olympic runner, if you don't do the things necessary to put you in position to succeed.    You can not just dream about being a lawyer without doing the underlying work and going to school to obtain the necessary education.  I remember reading a book titled "The Secret" and, it left me with the impression that if you visualize something, it will magically show up.  That is not what I am saying here.  You see, by putting in the underlying work and setting the universal powers  and energy in motion, it is very powerful in achieving your ultimate goals.  And, by supplementing the aforementioned with visualization will turn a weak dream into a real possibility.  
 All this is within the law of probability.  By this I mean, say you are in your eighties, and never played football but want to, at this ripe age, playing in the National Football Association, I would think that you would need to have a sincere talk with yourself and  do an analysis based on probability.  And, the end result is probably that it is more probable than not that your football career is over before it started.  However, it may be more probably than not that you may be able to be involved in football in other ways not related to playing.  
 I can tell you from may experiences in my life that visualization is crucial in materializing whatever it is that you want.  We are all created equal.  We all have the same opportunity, to be and have whatever it is that we desire in life.  Some may start off in a better position than others but, so what!  The best lawyers and doctor's I know came from nothing.  It really is not how you start that's important it is where you end up.  The cards, so to say, may be stacked against you but do not let that get in the way of your  dreams.  Life is full of many examples where some have been spoon fed but end up in the gutter.  Why is that?  I'll tell you why.  Because, they stifled their creative power.  They had it all from the beginning so they had no need to dream big.  Visualize the roll you want to play in the movie of your life.  If you visualize just being an extra, then you have made your bed.  Do not complain when the stars in your movie are shinning bright.  Whatever you visualize of yourself, that is what you are! I leave you with a poem on point.  
 "Whenever you cultivate a thought remember it will trace with certain touch, its pictured form a story on your face.  Whenever you dwell upon a thought, remember it will roll into your being and become a fiber of your soul.  Whenever you send out a thought, remember it will be a force throughout the universe, for all eternity."
        Clarence Edwin Flynn
   Just a thought.

I was thinking it is appropriate to write an article on fire based on what is currently going on in many cities in the United States with the rioting, looting, fires, leading to loss of life and massive loss of property.  I am not writing to take sides.  I can see why individuals want to assemble and protest.  These are rights imbedded in our constitution.  The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion; or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress..."  I am a true advocate of the right to assemble "peacefully,"  but once it turns to violence, the line has been crossed.  It no longer is about the constitution, it's about the preservation of civilization.  
 What we all have watched is a breakdown in civilization.  So it begs the question, why is this happening?  To me the answer is clear.  Many have lost their connection to god.  To this almighty power within.  To pure love.  Everyone is to blame.  No one is immune.  We have  heard the adage, "you fight fire with fire."  That is antithetical to peace and love.  By fighting fire with fire you make the fire bigger.  By fighting hate with hate, it seems to me that you are increasing the level of hatred.  Fire will never extinguish a fire. Hate will never evaporate hate.  Fire gets extinguished with water.  Hate gets evaporated with love.  It is akin to having a child do something wrong and when you ask him about it,  he tell you the truth.  Your disappointment is completed reduced.  You get to the point where you almost want to reward him for being honest.  So why is it that adults can not seem to figure out this simple concept?  I would like to think that they are just not enlightened.  I know that there are many possible cynical answers but, I rather stay with the positive perspective.  
 Ignatius often ended his letters to Jesuits going to the missions with the expression, ite, inflammate omnia.  Meaning, go set the world on fire.  I bet he didn't mean that literally.  If  individuals would believe and allow their internal god which is pure love, peace and prosperity,  to work in their lives, it would create a peaceful, loving world.  And, they would possess infinite possibilities to lead and accomplish whatever it is that they would want.  It is so clear to me and so easy to do.  All you have to do is open your mind.  We know what not being or living an uninspired, loveless life will lead to.  Just turn on the television and look at the current chaos.   I encourage all to be the spark that inspires the fire to lead the masses to enlightenment.  That is every individual's obligation.  That is a call for duty from your soul.  From the god within.  This is a call for duty like no other. There is no other service call as important as this one for civilization.  This my friends is how to change the world for the better.  I leave you with a quote on point.
 "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."    Mother Teresa
I encourage you to be that stone and create the ripples of positive change.
    Just a thought. 

In general, most individuals develope  and or care about their physique.  They care about their appearance.  We see it every day.  Some worry about their weight.  During the warm season, they want a beach body.  Look around at fitness clubs.  It seems that there is a fitness club or gym popping up on every street lately.  I remember  years ago when fitness clubs were scarce, expensive and the member had to commit to a long term contract.  Heck, I even remember when fitness clubs were not even used to work out and stay in shape but, they were a place to socialize and meet people.  Hence the label "Meat clubs."  But, this is for a future discussion.  You see, we seem to pay attention to things that we can see and feel.  But, many individuals ignore the mind.  Why is that?  I believe it is twofold.  One aspect is that we can not see the mind.  We can not see our thinking.  And two, we take our mind for granted.  Why is that?  Well, the answer should not be a shocker to anyone.  The mind came for free.  We inherited it at birth.  We can all agree that the mind is the most important element of our humanity.  But, many prefer to put more value on their expensive cars, houses or even jewelry than they do their minds.
  Your mind is your connection to your universal power.  To the source off all things.  To the god within.  Your thoughts that originate in your mind are the molds that hold the pieces together that, through time will harden and cement the ideas and end at the manifestation point of your life.  Thoughts can be good or bad.  So knowing this, why not concentrate upon the things you want.  Or, just positive ideas.  In manifesting your desires in life there is no big or small thoughts.  It is just thoughts.  It does not take any more or less effort.  A thought is a thought.  Emerson writes on thoughts, " To the soul that maketh all; And where it cometh, all things are; And it cometh everywhere; I am the owner of the sphere, of the seven stars and the solar year, of Caesar's hand and Plato's brain, of Lord Christ's heart, and Shakespeare's strain."  You see by this eloquently stated poet, that it all starts with the mind.  To me this is more obvious than common sense, if there is such a thing.  Everything you see.  Everything surrounding you as you read this writing started with the mind.  A builder can not build the structure you are in right now if he first did not have an idea in mind of what it is supposed to look like.  Same for the chair you are sitting on.  Same for the lap top, I-pad or I-phone you are reading this writing on.  Same for the clothing you are wearing.  Same for the car you drive, etc...  
 You see every aspect of your life revolves around your mind. We can only do, be, have accomplish, what we think in our minds we can do, be, have or accomplish.  If you can conceive it in mind, and you know you can, you can achieve it, and you know you can!  I encourage all to use this amazing power of the mind to create the amazing life that you want.  Go through life with an awakening.  Allow this beast of creativity and pure love to exhibit this amazing power within you.  Allow the real you to manifest into the life of your dreams.  Be the one where people say that you have a sparkle in your eyes or a bounce in your step because once you understand this amazing power, you will be set free.  I leave you with a poem about life.
 " Fear is loud and bossy.  She can be vicious at times.  And the worst of it is that she often mingles truth with fiction.  But you must learn to challenge the stories she feeds you.  You are beautiful and resilient and worthy of building a thoughtfully crafted life. " 
        Krista O' Reilly Davi-Digui
   Just a Thought.

I read a book once titled "Three Magic Words," written by Uell S. Andersen, first published in 1954.  It was an amazing read on the topic of spirituality.  The author is a spiritually enlightened individual who believes, as I do, that we attract into our lives the physical manifestations of the thoughts we think.  And, in order to attract good instead of evil we must learn to control our thinking.  To think positively instead of negatively.  Individually, we must be able to choose our thoughts.  We are the only species at this time in evolution that is endowed with this power of thought and the will to do as we please.  If a person thinks only in response to their conscious stimulus of the outer world, or the world as we can decipher through out senses, they remain in the ego.  But, when we originate thoughts from the center of our subconsciousness or super-consciousness, we create our own life in the image of our thoughts.  What transformed me from an average Joe to an enlightened individual is the belief in this power of the mind that we all possess.  I do not possess special powers or special abilities that were just given to me.  If I were to believe that, I would be misleading and arrogant.  This ability is in all of us.  Regardless of where you are or who you are.
 Let me share a personal story.  At birth, my  parents named me, are you ready for this, hope your are sitting and no one else is around because you are either going to let out a loud laugh or release one of your biological functions, JESUS!  Very funny right? but, true!  For me it was difficult growing up with that name and being a Catholic.   In addition, for those who know me know that although, I am a spiritual person, I am not a religious person.  Another issue was that my classmates and friends and quit frankly everyone I knew did not know how to pronounce my name.  The common pronunciation was "Hey sus."  So, when I became an adult, I had my name legally changed to "Jay!"  
 Back to the book, "Three Magic Words," it is not until the very end, that the author reveal's what the three magic words are.  And, that is, that "YOU ARE GOD!"  That is very revealing.  At least to me because I believe that we came from somewhere and upon death we are going somewhere.  Of course, our mom and dad got together and did the traditional things for us to be here but, it is much more deeper than that.  We came through our parents but,  that is not the whole story.  There first had to be a mental picture of what a person looked like.  In the bible, that was what happened when god created the world.  In the beginning was the "Word."  The mental concept.  The image on god's mind of what he was thinking.  And, then that image, manifested into flesh.  It took on shape and substance.  And since we are all,  every single one of us with no exceptions, created in god's image then, we are all god.  You see, god is internal not an external source as many religions teach.  We have all the power ourselves to live a life of our choosing.  The reason we have poverty , illness and misery in life is because many do not understand or believe in this power.  I get it, how difficult this way of thinking is because there are many forces at play that don't want you to know this because they lose control.  Churches, politicians, pharmaceutical companies, medical professions, etc. All these aforementioned entities would lose their power and control if you know this truth.  And that my friends will set you free!
 First the words and then the thoughts that you decide to put in your mind will manifest into your life.  So, next time you say "I AM," beware of the power behind those words.  If you follow I am with negativity like, I am sick, I am poor, I am a loser etc., that is what you are.  If you follow it with positive, loving words such as, I am healthy, I am love, I am successful, I am abundance, I am courageous, I am intelligent etc., you will be exactly that.  And don't forget the most powerful of all "I AM'S," I AM GOD!  I leave you with a poem on point;
  "Where is god? Asked the child, so young so innocent. He is here, he is there, he is everywhere said the mother.  Show me god cried the child.  He is in heaven looking down on you said the father.  Who is god? Wailed the child.  Let's see, smiled the teacher.  He whose eyes shed tears in the misery of others.  Whose helping hands extend in difficult hours.  Whose loving heart envelops others for ever and ever, he is god.  Now I know god exclaimed the enlightened child!!  I AM GOD!!
         Rama Muthukrishnan
      Just a thought.           

Summum bonum is the highest good, especially as the ultimate goal according to which values and priorities are established in an ethical system.  We see examples of the avoidance of Summum bonum and the subsequent outcome in our society.  As I write this article, there are several riots in two large cities, Minneapolis and Los Angels, that started as peaceful demonstrations but have since escalated.  My concern is that these riots will spread to other cities.  It all started from an arrest of a black man by a white law enforcement officer which lead to the death of the individual arrested.  There were several videos that captured the incident.  From my experience as a police officer in New York City and a current attorney, I was and am unable to defend the indefensible.  The video was excruciatingly disturbing. Some have called this incident an example of systematic racism.  And, I can see why they would come to that conclusion.  specially in the minority communities.  
 Although, I see this differently.  I see this as a breakdown or erosion in summum bonum.  Society's higher ethical standard.  Society is all about people.  We the people have made horrible decisions because we have lost our connection to who we truly are.  The true self of our soul.  We see this everyday.  Just look around when you're out.  And, see how individuals interact with others.  Most individuals see themselves as separate from others but in reality we are all one.  By callously standing by while your neighbor is in need is contrary to our highest ethical obligation to each other.  This is not about a dichotomy between black and white,  male and female, young or old.  That is part of the problem.  This labelling game that people play.  We are all one.  The evolution of the human race, in my opinion is dependent on a movement that enlightens us all toward our spiritual source of pure love.  Love and hate can not co-exist.  If we truly love our neighbors, we would feel the connection to our source.  
 Those who use a tragic incident, as what occurred in Minneapolis to promote an agenda are as much the blame as the police officer who made a terrible decision.  I look at George Floyd, the person who lost his life, as a part of me.  That's because he is!  He is a part of all of us.  We should not pour hatred into a situation that by all accounts and common sense is indefensible.  We should extinguish that kind of behavior with nothing but pure love.  The unenlightened want us to continue this never ending labelling and dichotomy because it's the easy way out.  It's an easy excuse to either justify such bad behavior or to hide behind a fake belief that, that can never happen to me, or in my neighborhood.  By waking up and tapping into our source, we can all live how we are meant to live.  With true love and peace in our lives.  I leave you with a quote on point.
 "I did not come into the world to prove anything.  I came into the world to love everyone and everything."
         Sri Chinmoy
  Just a thought.

Life is truly about change.  It has to be because the purpose of life is a continuation of growth and creativity.  Life was not, and is not supposed to stand still.  However, many do not see this purpose in life.  I have studied and  am well learned in the power of humans to live an abundant, happy, self actualized life.  This is why I choose not to follow religion in my adult life.  I always had questions that religion could not answer.  I was always curious about life and how and why things happen in this movie, I call life.  I always had this urge, and still do,  to read and learn about life.  The more I read, the more I learn that life is all about change.  In fact, life is change.  Think about it for a moment.  When a child comes out of the womb, it immediately starts to grow and change.  If it did not, it would die.  Look at yourself and your body.  It is not the same body that you had twenty years ago.  You do not have the same taste you had years ago.  You do not have the same ideas you had years ago.  You may not even like the same things you liked years ago.  Or maybe even as recent as a few years ago.  Creatures of yesteryear  have gone extinct because they did not change or adapt to necessary changes.  So what happened? they died.  Empires of the ancient past like Persia and Rome perished because they failed to grow and change.  
 Life is all about change.  I see this urge in me to continue to grow.  This I believe is our purpose in life.  Once that urge ceases, then your will to live will cease.  Change is a requirement for viability in life.  I can see it with my own personal experience.  This urge for change is very powerful.  I believe it is our endowed seed of greatness that we all have in us, communicating with us to feed its urge to expand.  To nourish it.  I personally know of many individuals who tell me that they are proud that they have lived in the same place for thirty or forty years.  Who have worked in the same place for the same amount of time.  Who's political opinions have remained the same for their entire life.   In one particular case this one individual told me that, that is what makes her secure and stable in life.  That, what you see is what you get.  My vision is very different.  However, I want to make it clear that I am not judging because, that individual may be happy and secure with her lifestyle choices.  But, to me that lifestyle would be a death sentence.  I am also not saying that you should be changing your spouse and children.  Those are extensions of you life especially if you are enlightened because you have attracted them to you through the law of attraction.  I believe you attract who you are form a spiritual perspective.  
 Change is essential to the continual existence of life on earth.  Albert Einstein stated, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change."  I say the measure of life, and in reality life and intelligence are synonymous, is the ability to change.  So there you have it.  Change is as crucial as the air we breathe.  Without them, we will perish.   One final point, many, if not all motivational speakers will say that in order to succeed in life you need to find your purpose in life.  Well now, hopefully I was instrumental in answering that question for you.  Your purpose in life is to grow and change.  And, once you understand this, success is inevitable.  I leave you with the following quote on point.  
  " There's been an undeniable truth since before we even existed.  Nothing ever stays the same.  Change can not be resisted."
          Ms. Moem
    Just a thought. 

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and serotonin.  Together these three neurotransmitters make us feel good from head to toe.  Smiling by all accounts is a natural drug.  Ironic!  But, I don't ever remember a doctor prescribing doses of smiling to cure any aliments.  Smiling is a beautiful thing.  Besides the aforementioned, it's a game changer spiritually.  A smile in any form is a good sign.  It can make  someone's day.  I remember Earvin Johnson Jr. the hall of fame professional  basketball player, also known as Magic Johnson who played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.  His career was subsequently shortened by his diagnosis of HIV.  He had, and still has, one of the most beautiful, energizing, motivating smiles from ear to ear that I have ever seen.  It did help that he had beautiful shinning white teeth but, it really is not about the teeth.  It's about the radiant affect such a smile activates.  I have also seen smiles with the same affect in individuals from third world countries that are missing several teeth.  So, it really is not about the teeth.  
 The wonderful thing about smiling is that it doesn't cost anything.  It truly is a life changer.  In many cases, if not all, your smile WILL make a difference in not only your life but, the recipient as well.  I have literally turned negative situations completely around in the flick of a smile.  I can not foresee a situation where a person is in a unfortunate mood and smiling at the same time.  It's like travelling north and south at the same time.  That is impossible.  Now, it has to be a genuine smile as opposed to a pretentious one.  But, individuals are not stupid.  They can tell if it's the real deal.  There is just something soft about a smile.  A genuine smile can even turn a funeral into a loving memorable occasion.  Smiling is equivalent to happy.  You can not be angry and smile at the same time.  Your pets can even detect the difference.  
 Most individuals don't know this but, the first Friday in October every year is  World Smile Day.  It was created by Harvey Bell, a commercial artist from Worchester, Massachusetts.  To me smiling is a universal body language.  People react positive to smiles.  A quick case in point.  Because of my profession as an attorney, I spend lots of time in courts.  Outside courts seem to be notorious for homelessness.  I have seen police officers treat a homeless person who smiles with respect and dignity when trying to remove them as opposed to a non-smiler.  There is something gentle and relating about smiles.  Life is too short not to smile.  As I write this article the world is going through a pandemic.  One of my hang ups about wearing a mask, which is what the so called experts recommend, is that you can not see smiles.  That is my reason for not wearing a mask.  I believe a smile is more powerful for your health than a mask.  That is my choice.  I am not saying you should not wear a mask. That is your decision.  And, remember to smile everyday, not just the first Friday in October.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Infectious Smiles."
  "Smiling is infectious you catch it like the flu.  When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.  I walked around the corner and someone saw me grin.  When he smiled I realized  I had passed it on to him.  I thought about the smile and then realized its worth.  A single smile like mine could travel around the earth.  So if you feel a smile begin don't leave it undetected. Start an epidemic and get the world infected."
           Jez Alborough
     Just a thought.

Success is noting more than a strong , unrelenting desire to do whatever it is you want to do.  You have to feel an ebullition in your soul to manifest your dreams.  It's a lifestyle.  It is getting up in the morning and going to bed at night with the thought in your mind of what it is you want.  Not just wish for, but, truly want.  A want that consumes you.  A want that you will do anything to achieve.  And, of course we start with the premise that what you want is legal, ethical and morally acceptable in society.  Many will  not succeed because there is a price to pay for such a want.  There are many sacrifices, and habits that need to be changed.   A young person may need to honker down and hit the books in order to succeed while his friends are socializing.  That youngster is paying the price.  That's because when he becomes a renowned scientist, doctor or lawyer, etc..., while his school buddies are in and out of prison or AAA meetings, he can see that the price he paid in his younger days was worth it.  The business owner who puts in, an enormous amount of hours towards the viability of his business and is rewarded for paying the price, will tell you it was all worth it.  The athlete who trained countless hours while his friends were enjoying life, will tell you it was worth it after winning the gold medal in the Olympics.  
 I understand that there has to be a balance in life but the desire must remain, in order to succeed.  Success in life comes with a price.  The question is how much are you willing to pay?  You can not truly accomplish, if you are not willing to pay the price.  And, not only pay but, pay full price.  It's common sense.  At least to me it is.  You can't have that million dollar house if you are not willing to pay full price for it because, someone else is willing to pay the full price for it, if they want it bad enough.  I remember reading an old oriental fable that a teacher took a pupil on a boat and unbeknownst to the pupil, the teacher pushed the pupil overboard and held the pupil under water.  The pupil was fighting and gasping for air to survive as we all would in our right state of mind.  When the pupil was pulled back on board  after experiencing this horrific feeling of drowning, the teacher asked him, "tell me what was the one thing you desired above all others before I pulled you out."  The pupil responded, "air!"  This obviously is an extreme example but it stresses the point.  You have to be totally focused and, desperately want it bad enough to succeed.  
 If you are comfortable where you are in life then, this writing is not for you.  Life is about growing regardless of where you currently are in life.  If you are done growing, you will wither away and die.  There is no other purpose for you in life if you are content.  I am not saying you can't enjoy the fruits of your accomplishments and take vacations.  I am saying that once you have achieved your dream, then what?  The answer is clear to me.  Create other dreams and keep moving forward.  Remember the old saying, "an idle brain is the devil's workshop."  Even though I don't believe in the devil, the point is clear.  I leave you with a poem on point;
 "Everything in life has a price to pay. Everything you want in life has a price connected to it.  There's a price to pay if you want to make things better, a price to pay just for leaving things as they are, a price for everything."
         Harry Browne
   Just a thought.

Many individuals use circumstances to excuse their ineffectiveness or lack of accomplishment.  If you look at the word circumstance, you can break it down into two parts.  Stance which means the way in which someone stands especially when deliberately adopted as in baseball, golf, and other sports  and, or a person's posture.  Circum is a prefix with the meaning, "round about, round."  It is found in Latin loan words, especially derivatives of verbs that had the general senses, "to encompass or surround."  Life is all about circumstances.  Circumstances are inescapable.  It is like the air we breathe.  You can always use it as an excuse for action or inaction. It is predominately used for inaction; excuses to defend your lack of accomplishment.  We have heard them before.  I would have started my weight loss program but, the holidays are coming and you all know all those holiday goodies, so, I'll start after the holidays.  The circumstances are not right.  I was going to start my jogging regiment but, it was raining so I'll start when the weather is nicer.  The circumstances are not right.  I was going to start my online business on my spare time but, I've been pretty busy watching my favorite sport, baseball on television and, you know it's a long season and the games take about three hours so, I will start after the season ends.  The circumstances  are not right etc...
 I have also heard the reverse.  Boy, I am glad I opened the ice cream shop when I did because now, there are three other shops in town.  The circumstances were right.  But, if you really break it down, they are still using circumstances as an excuse because, that ice cream shop owner is telling us in reverse that he would not have opened up an ice cream shop if there were others in town.  If the circumstances are not what you desire or expect, make your own!  You will be surprised how things just fall into place by just doing the "something" that you want to do.  Maybe, the ice cream shop owner who decided to go against conventional wisdom, and open up his shop although, there are several other ice cream shops in the area made a great decision.  Because, the community wanted something different. Maybe the person who starts their weight loss regime during the holidays turns out to be a great idea because, they can eat the holiday treats without gaining extra weight because,  they are balancing it out with their weight loss regime.  I can go on and on but you get the idea.
 It brings a personal case in point.  I would never had gone to law school as a career change in my mid 30's in Columbus, Ohio, where there are two major law schools, and where Columbus has more attorneys per capita than Washington, DC, if I would have listened to conventional wisdom because, the circumstances were all pointing against my desires.  You see, that is what life is all about. There will always be excuses or circumstances for or against your wants and desires.  You just have to pull the trigger and go for it.  Take the attitude that you'll suffer the consequences later but, just do it!  If you don't, you'll never know.  And,  I'll let you in on a little secret. As long as you are alive, there are no circumstances that can stop you from achieving your dreams.  Anything less than that are excuses to take the easy way out.  So, go for it! Suffer the consequences!  Create your own circumstances and I will see you at the top of the mountain.  I leave you with a poem on point.
  "And then I realized that to be more alive, I had to be less afraid.  So, I did it!  I lost my fear and gained my whole life."
          Author unknown
      Just a thought.            

One of my favorite places in New York City is a restaurant named Serendipity.  It is located in a plush area of the city on 60th street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.  For those unfamiliar with that area, it is around the corner from Bloomingdales,  high end boutiques and beautiful, breath taking brownstones.  It is considered a New York City landmark.  It specializes in frozen hot chocolate, ice cream and over sized hamburgers.  They have been in business since 1954.  The wait time to be seated is extreme.  Sometimes it takes two or more hours to be seated.  Reservations are not accepted.  You literally  have to show up and put you name on a waiting list.  From the outside it looks like an old unassuming knickknack, over priced shop.   As a kid, I loved it.  One of my fondest memories was sitting next to John Travolta and Olivia Newton John.  It was frequently visited by celebrities.  Oh, how perceptions change in adulthood.  If you were to place that business in a regular neighborhood, it would have been out of business a long time ago.  Why would anyone in the right frame of mind want to pay an exorbitant amount of money for a hamburger, ice cream and frozen hot chocolate?
 Its success is a perfect example of the law of attraction.  Serendipity has attracted celebrities and commoners for over sixty years.  There is this law in nature that you attract directly or indirectly what you think.  When you visit Serendipity there is an expectation that it is a very special place.  There is this aura of success.  Whether it is a customer or an employee, the energy is similar.  You see, this law of nature brings to you not only what you think about but I believe it also brings you, who you are.  If you see yourself as a person that does not belong there, you will not be attracted to that establishment.  In fact, you will probably have a miserable time and complain about the prices and waiting time.  On the other hand, if you see yourself  as belonging there, you will enjoy your experience.  And, not only will you enjoy it but, you will probably return.  
 Life is no different.  Whatever you think about you will activate the source within, the god in you, to materialize your wishes.  The problem is that this law of nature can not distinguish between good or bad.  It will eventually bring to you what you think about.  Now, I don't want you to think that whatever your heart desires will just show up at your doorsteps one day.  It doesn't work that way.  Think about it, if you just wish something but your are not willing to do your part to get it, then maybe you really don't want it.  Maybe it's just a wondering, unfocused, low energy thought in your mind that you think you want but, you really don't.  So if you think you are successful you will attract people and things to lead you on the path to success.  If you think about evil thoughts against a neighbor, you will attract in kind negativity to yourself.  Remember the old adage, "be careful what you wish for."  The irony about the law of attraction is that it works whether you believe it or not.  For the majority that don't believe it or understand it, it works just as well.  Let me explain.  If you are one of the unfortunate ones that believe that you are given a lot prior to birth, in other words that you are supposed to just work, pay taxes, support a family and die, that is exactly what you will get out of life.  If you are in the minority that believes that life is supposed to be an unlimited creative adventure, and that you get out of life anything that you want, that is what you will get.  The individuals that created big things for the betterment of society, are the ones that had enormous ideas.  There will always be let downs but, they never stayed down when things didn't workout as planned.  Life for the enlightened soul, is similar to a seed.  When you get buried you grow!   I leave you with the following poem on point;
 "The man who thinks he can"  
  "If you think you are beaten, you are.  If you think you dare not, you don't.  If you'd like to win, but you think you can't, it's almost a cinch you won't.  If you think you'll lose, you are lost.  For out in the world we find success begins with a fellow's will.  It's all in the state of mind.  If you think you're outcasted, you are.  You've got to think high to rise.  You've got to be sure of  yourself before you can ever win a prize.  Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or the fastest man.  But, soon or late the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.  
          Walter. D. Wintle
   Just a thought.

Have you ever noticed that some individuals use their position of power to scare you?  Politicians are notorious for playing this game.  If you listen  to any politician lately, they will end their speech by saying that this is the most important election ever.  That if you don't vote for them, America as we know it is forever done.  Why is that?  If you have been keeping up with the pandemic situation that we are currently going through, politicians act as if they are the ones that will get us out of this mess.  Why is that?  If you watch a sporting event, you'll hear some commentators say, this is the best game ever.  Why is that?  If you are a basketball enthusiast and follow the National Basketball Association draft, you'll hear some say this is the best player ever drafted.  Why is that?  If  you purchase a home or a car or furniture, You'll hear the purchaser at times say, this is the best... You can fill in the blanks.  Why is that?
 I can tell you why.  In the case of the politicians they forget that they obtain their power on a temporary bases from, "We The People."  We loan our powers to them so that they can make decisions for the common good.  But, in many cases they forget that they are the people's servants.  They rule by fear because they are misinformed.  Most of them are unenlightened.  They seem to forget that we all, regardless of who we are or were, have inalienable rights given to us by god.  But, it cuts both ways because many of us, "the people," too have forgotten that we are all powerful.  We too are unenlightened.  Government will never fix anything.  Individuals are empowered with the seeds of greatness to live the life we choose to live.  Now, whether you forfeit that power to others, that is your choice.  I envision the next step of evolution to be a place where the majority of individuals are enlightened and understand that we are all connected. And, that we are all powerful and that we are the ones who can overcome any obstacles we face.  Once we reach this point in our evolution, that is when we will reach peace and harmony for all.  When I say for all, that is exactly what I mean.  Not for a few.  Not for a certain creed or religion, or political party, or gender, but for all!
 No different in any other aspects of society.  Whether it is sports or purchases etc... It is always the best ever, until someone else or something else comes along and takes its place.  I believe this is so, because most of the population is unenlightened.  Most live in a world that is limited.  Life is not supposed to be that way.  Life is supposed to be an exercise in abundance.  We are all here to live free and create.  God did not create us in his image to suffer.  Or, to struggle to exist.  If you are living a life that is not total abundance, you need to look at yourself and re-evaluate your thinking.  But, the first step on the road to abundance is to own exactly where you are.  It is no one's fault but your own.  It is no one's fault that you are in a job that does not stimulate you.  It is no one's fault that you have been divorced three times.  It is no one's fault that your children don't want to talk to you.  It is no one's fault that you are overweight etc... You are the one that made those lifestyle choices.  You need to look in the mirror and accept responsibility.  
 Once you have accepted responsibility for your choices, you are on the right path to success and happiness.  I get it, it is not easy.  And sometimes, it can be embarrassing.  But, I rather be not liked because of who I am then to be liked because of who I am not. 
 The next step is to connect to your source.  I find the easiest way for me to do this is through mediation.  I picture myself as part of the bigger picture.  I concentrate on where I came from and where I am going.  In this state, I feel pure love and energy.  I also feel  true unconditional love throughout my body.  All bad thing or ill-feeling seem to leave my body.  In fact, writing this section of my article gives me goose bumps because it takes me to a total state of pure love.  I can only compare this, to when an athlete describes being in a zone.  It is a trance like feeling.  Now, I understand it is difficult to live in this "zone," all day long.  And, quite frankly, I don't think that is necessary for a successful life.  But, the more you meditate and, connect to your source, the easier it becomes to access this almighty power that we all have without exception.  I encourage all to access this source within, and your life will change in amazing ways.  And, others will benefit from your inspiration.  I leave you with the following poem.
 "Even after all this time.  The sun never says to the earth, "you owe me."  Look what happens with a love like that.  It lights the whole sky."
      Author unknown
  Just a thought.

We have heard many times about our inevitable judgment day when our time on earth expires.  Usually, this so called judgment day refers to the day we meet our creator in the afterlife for their approval on whether we are accepted into the kingdom of heaven.  I am not a religious person, although, I was born and raised a Catholic.  But, once I reached an age of reason, I read and researched profusely about this afterlife propaganda.  Before I go on, I want the reader to know two important points about me; one, that even though, I am not a religious person and have not practiced in any organized religion for many years, I am a spiritual person.  And, two, I am not against religion.  Religion was just not for me.  I write to share my opinions with the reader because I truly love opening minds to other possibilities. You see, I believe that people who close their minds are going against what we are here for, which is to learn, create and grow.  No one in my opinions has all the answers.  Whoever professes to know it all is dangerous for forward progress.  
 I believe, that this judgment day propaganda, is just that, propaganda.  It was created to keep society under control.  In essence, it was a mechanism to keep the have-nots from rebelling against the haves by promising them that they will get theirs in the afterlife.  That the have-nots don't have to worry about the beautiful house or fancy car, or vacations, because, they will get it in the afterlife when they are judged and approved for admission into the kingdom of heaven.  And, if you did not follow the above rules, then you will be eternally condemned to a sauna with some dude with a burning pitch fork, called the devil, poking you 24/7.  Now, let me explain why I never subscribed to this way of thinking.  I believe that god is all love.  Not a god of any religion but an all inclusive, pure love god.    Love and hate can never co-exist.  If god is all love, he could never create hate, the devil or any kind of evil.  We as humans have the free will to do as we please.  We are all perfect.  Created in god's image.  Now, because we have free will, some make bad decisions.  I believe that the more we separate from our god, or source, or universal powers, that, that is when we make bad decisions.  I believe we all came from somewhere and we are all going somewhere when our time on earth expires.  And, this place we are going to is back to our source, which is pure unconditional love.  
 There is no heaven or hell.  There is only pure love. That is where we came from and where we are going back to.  There is no such thing as judgment day to determine if we are going back to our source.  It makes no sense to me that this pure love source or god or call it whatever you want, created  you in his image and then refuses you to return to your source.  If that were to happen then god is rejecting himself of which we are all a part of.  I believe, we are all being judged but, by ourselves or individuals we come into contact with on a daily bases. It is human nature to compare ourselves to other people's success.  I did it prior to being enlightened. You may look at your neighbor's house and feel unaccomplished if their house it bigger than yours.  You make look a their fancy car and feel the same.  Many individuals are constantly comparing themselves to the Jones'.  That is where the true judgment comes into play.  That is a living hell.  Individuals are judging each other constantly on anything from their political affiliations, to the color of their skin, to their sexual orientation to their religious belief's etc...
 There is no heaven or hell.  There certainly is no judgment day.  You are living your own heaven or hell.  You are constantly living under a microscope called judgment day.  The good thing about this is that once you understand this, your whole life will change for the better.  The pressure  will be completely released.  You will understand that you are your personal commander in chief.  You decide what life you want to live.  This truth is seldom told.   This truth will set you free!  I hope you stop being harsh on yourself and start living the life that you are meant to live on earth.  The only question I ask is this, do you want to live a happy, loving, healthy, abundant life or a miserable judgmental life?  To me the answer is obvious!  I leave you with the following poem on point.
 "Living in peace"
  "They speak of this moment when your soul finds peace.  No anger, no doubt, they all have been released.  I haven't moved, but everything has changed.  When your heart feels peace, only beauty reins."
        Natali Ducey
  Just a thought      

Symbolically, dominos can represent obstacle in our lives.  Things like doubt, fear, opinions of others, ill health, debt, etc...  Hence the phrase, "fall like dominos."  A domino effect is one decision or action that can lead to a host of other interconnected decisions or actions that turns into a suction cup that is very difficult to escape, if not impossible.  I use the word impossible loosely because I believe that nothing within the law of probabilities is impossible.  But, to believe this you have to be enlightened spiritually.  Back to this domino phenomena.  If you ever stubbed your toe, you know how painful that may be.  It then follows a chain reaction of events that lead to a bad day.  That is because this painful experience activates a cumulative chain of events that unless your are aware of this phenomenon will lead you into a vicious circle of negative events.  
 This can be a determinative factor in answering the question on why you are today where you are.  Here is an example of what I mean.  Let's say, you are eighteen years old and you graduate high school.  We can all agree that's a big occasion in a person's life.  So, your friends take you out to celebrate.  You then drink a bit too much alcohol.  Regardless of whether you are of legal age  to drink alcohol.  You then decide to drive home intoxicated.  You excuse your bad decision by reasoning in your impaired state of mind that you are a few blocks away from home.  You then get stopped by a police officer and arrested for driving under the influence.  Aside from the cost of your defense, the college that you were accepted into for your pre-medical studies that you starting in the fall.  You then can not start in the fall, because you have to resolve your criminal charge of driving intoxicated.  And, in addition, the school had a strict admission policy requiring  no criminal convictions on your record.  There are no exceptions.  Regardless of whether you can get into a diversion program and eventually get your criminal case dismissed, you have set in motion a chain of events that can have a profound effect in your life.  This is a classic example of a dominos effect.
 In the John Lennon song "Beautiful Boy,"  he states, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."  That is one of the challenges of life.  I remember seeing bracelets with the words inscribed stating, " What would Jesus do?"  I am not a religious person.  So, I changed the wording to suit me to say, "What would my father say?"  I had a close relationship with my father and before I acted upon an impulse in my younger days, I would ask myself that question.  More often than not, the answer was clear and I would make the  right decision.  What is telling, at least for me, is that individuals in sports or certain professions etc..., train often to master their craft.  And one of the benefits or repetitive training is that when things get stressful, and, they need to make quick decisions, they revert back to their training. Well, no different in life.  When I have met a challenge or obstacle, I would and still do ask myself the question, What would my father say or do?
 In life we have to understand that our past decisions are who we are today.  It all is a domino effect.  Good or bad it is where we are today.  If you do not like where you are, change your habits.  If you are unhappy with your weight, change your eating habits and exercise.  If you are in debt, change your spending habits or employment.  If you are shy join a social group, etc...  Your life tomorrow will be exactly as today except that you will be one year older.  You have the power to change your life for the better.  You have the power to create a wonderful, positive domino effect for your future.  You just have to want to change.  And, since you are reading this article, I am assuming your are on the right path.  I leave you with a poem on point, titled, "Domino Effect."
  A chain of reaction, setting cause of similar effect.  Misfortunes never comes singly, the domino effect.  Like dominos we stand.  Humble and tall. Quite clumsily we fall in the thick of things.  On rock solid ground.  Solidarity is shown.  Like dominos we stand. In tough times, we soldier on.  Unity is born.  Empires rise and fall.  We pick ourselves up.  Life carries on.  Inpursuit of dreams, we press on.  remarkably we all fall.  We puppets on strings.  Daily or routine.  Balancing life on a string.  Like dominos we all stand.  Yet we all fall.  Down trodden youth.  Don't stay grounded far too long.  These are life's balances, to make sure and strong.  Always remember life is more than a board game.  Life has no other comparison.  Like dominos we all stand.  In one accord unison, together for one.  
          Prince Kanokanga
    Just a thought.            

Life is really a road.  It is a road of obstacles.  Most individuals wear blindfolds while traveling on the road of life.  They are focused on a destination.  I guarantee you that the one road that we will all reach is death.  At birth, we are all born with a road map.  That road map leads everyone of us to death.  That is the end of the road.  That is our destination regardless, of your race, sex, religion, creed,  title, education, social economic level, what car you drive, what type of house you have, what kind of parent you were, what kind of spouse you were etc...   Life is understanding what your final destination is.  But, we have the ability of creating our own road map in the interim.  
 Life is understanding, that we are here for a short period of time.  Although, we all have an inevitable final destination, we have an opportunity to decide which detours to take.  We have total control on how we want to pave our roads.  Some would rather travel a road well travelled.  As long as that is their decision, and, they are comfortable with that decision then, they should be happy. Although, I really believe that they are ignorant to their possibilities.    Others, would rather travel a road less traveled.  In this category, a person may want to do things that have already been done so that they have a level of comfort knowing where a particular road will lead to but, they still have some challenges.  And, in another category, there are individuals who rather pave their own road.  Those are the individuals that go against the grain.  These individuals are said to beat to the beat of a different drum.  Some may even describe them as weird.  You, can include me in the latter category.
 Looking back at my life, whenever I was told, for what ever reason, that I couldn't do it, I did it.  You see, I understood that the only obstacle that will prevent you from doing anything you want to do is YOU.  You and only you!  If you decide to take the road mostly travelled, your destination is predictable.  You will live an average life.  You will avoid the broken glass, the potholes, and all the other challenges that an unpaved road will throw your way.  No different than say, climbing a mountain.  If your climb is not challenging, not too steep, and, it's a safe mountain to climb, the view, once you get to the top will be nothing to brag about.  In fact, you may even ask yourself, why did you waste your time climbing?  However, if you climb a steep challenging mountain, I'm sure your view will be captivating.  The irony, is that we are all born with the same seeds of creativity.  It is human nature to explore, create and grow.  We all have the same ability to be in the category to create and pave our own road in life but, the majority, let fear and doubt drive us to the road less travelled.  Robert frost stated, " Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." I take it a step further.  I say pave your own road.  I leave you with one of my favorite poems on point.  
 "There are many different paths that exist, don't be afraid to pave your own.  Lead others by your example, but, inspire them not to follow the path you've shown."
         Mahe Jabeen
    Just a thought.

I do not believe we ever really lose. Life is all about moving forward.  So, if things do not work out  the way we expected, move on.  Whether life is going as planned or not.  You see, life will do what life does.  Life goes on no matter what happens.  There will be some disappointments but, that is absolutely fine.  Because it means you are living.  It is all about experiences.  You either win or you learn.  There is no in-between.  You are not defined by things that do not go as planned, unless you allow it.  You are defined by how you choose to live your life.  I read a statistic once where Babe Ruth, one of the best baseball players in his generation made an out seven out of ten times he went to bat.   Think about that for a moment.  By all accounts, he failed seven out of ten times.   That statistic is a great life lesson.  He obviously did not consider the seven times he did not get a hit as a bad thing.  In fact, what made him great was that he took those seven times that he did not get a hit as a learning experience so that he got hits the other times.  And, he went on to be a prolific home run hitter and one of the best all time players in the annals of baseball history.   
 You can use all the excuses possible to give up on your goals but, at the end of the day, you are only giving up on yourself.  If you are that vulnerable to excuses, then maybe you need to re-evaluate your goals.  Maybe, just maybe, they are someone else's goals being adopted as yours.  Maybe, you are walking in your parents footsteps instead of yours.  You see many examples of that.  Especially, when a parent is successful in a career whether it is in the arts, athletics, sciences, etc..., and their children do not have the same level of success in their parent's career choices.  Maybe it is because their children are pressured into doing something that they really have no interest in.  It has to be the individual's choice not someone else.  And, you should never look back because you are supposed to go forward not backwards.  Life is not about going in reverse!  It is about growing and moving forward.  Zig Ziglar stated, "What you get from achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."  So true!!  Be honest with yourself.  Go get what you want.  If the circumstances are not right, create your own.  I leave you with a poem on point titled "Challenges."
 "It make no difference who you are, your age, your sex, or what you do; And though you may not be a star, you can't avoid not being you.  So take a moment, think a bit, you don't know what you're missing til you take the plunge of trying it.  And, all that's needed is the will.  So when is the last time that you dared to do something not done before?  Just view it as adventure fared, to then enjoy the pleasure stored."
          Richard Williams
     Just a thought.

Sometimes, when things are not going as planned, you need to have a serious talk with yourself.  I remember when I was growing up in New York City, if I saw a person speaking out loud to themselves, I would think that they are not all there.  Or that they are emotionally disturbed.  In fact, as a police officer, which was one of my first real occupations, those aforementioned, were usually taken unwillingly to Bellevue Hospital, which had and still has one of the best psychiatric wards in the country.   Since those early days, I have learned that sometimes I need to have an honest conversation with myself to put me on tract.  To re-boot me, so to say.  I must confess, that I have had many out loud conversations with myself.  
 These conversations usually occur when I am in bed, before I go to sleep or in my vehicle.  And, I do drive a lot in my current position as a self employed attorney with a practice concentrated in federal criminal and immigration law.  However, because of technology and Bluetooth, it is normal to see other drivers and people in general, on the street talking to themselves.  It does not look as odd.  Which, I am very grateful for.  The bottom line is that monologuing is very healthy and I believe beneficial.  This is an important activity for me to have a discussion with god or my real self; the god in me.  Since, I truly believe that we were all created in god's image, we are all part of god.  We all have god in us.  Every single one of us.  There are no exceptions!  It does not matter, who you are or where you came from or what have you done lately.  It does not matter whether you just robbed the convenient store or have chosen to be a priest.  None of that matters.  We are all perfect beings created in god's image.  Now, we all have free will to do whatever we please.  So with this free will, some, have made bad decisions.  
 Just because you have not lived a life of making good decisions does not mean that you are a bad person.  We are all loving, perfect individuals that sometimes, make bad decisions.  I believe that individuals that make bad decisions, are temporarily disconnected from their god source.  A great way to reconnect, is to have a conversations with god.  There is absolutely nothing irregular about that.  That is a healthy activity.  Now, if god speaks back to you, that can be an issue.  I am just being humorous.  However, although god may not speak to you verbally, he will speak to you in manifestations.  Mathew 7:7-8,  states, "For every one that asketh receiveth; and that he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."  The best way to change your ways for the better or to ask for whatever it is that you want, is to ask god directly.  Talk to yourself or the god in you as if you were having a conversation with your mom or dad.  Your parents only want what's best for you so why wouldn't god, who is all love, not want the same? I leave you with the following prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi;
 "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred, let me sow love.  Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith.  Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And, where there is sadness, joy.  O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console.  To be understood as to understand.  To be loved as to love.  For it is in giving that we receive.  And, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.  And, it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  Amen."
    Just a thought.

I recently pulled a groin muscle.  And, for those that have never had that experience, it is extremely uncomfortable.  I am very active and I have pulled groin muscles and other muscles in the past, but, for some reason I don't remember the past injuries being as painful as this one.  With this type of injury, you feel pain and tenderness in the groin and the inside of the thigh; pain when you bring your legs together; pain when you raise your knee.  You will also feel a popping or snapping feeling during the injury, followed by severe pain.  Needless to say, that any activity that requires your legs, including walking is very painful and awkward.  It just so happens, that at the peak of my injury, I  was scheduled to take a physical training admission exam for a program that I wanted to enroll in.  Part of the exam was to run a mile and a half in under twenty minutes.  But, the aim was a mile and a half in sixteen minutes or less.  Under normal circumstances, I would be able to reach those times walking.  I was stressing over whether I should drop out and move on.  After all, I had the perfect excuse.  I meditated over my predicament.  And, I was thinking that it was hypacritical of me to even contemplate quitting when I'm always professing positive thinking and the power to overcome anything with your mind.  So, I practiced what I preach!
 The night before, I let go of my worries.  I turned over my situation to a higher power.  If god is all powerful and pure love, and, if I was created in his image, then I'm going to let him do the work for me and heal me,  literally the night before.  What happened was not a miracle.  It was exactly what was supposed to happen.  The following day, exam day, I woke up pain free.  I went to my exam and I ran on the treadmill flawlessly.  At the fifteen minute mark, the administrator told me to stop that I achieved admission.  My daughter came with me to witness my physical.  As soon as I concluded, I called my wife and told her, "I killed it." This power that we all have to achieve and conquer whatever we want to, or resolve whatever we perceive as a problem, is real.  I continue to learn about this amazing power.  
 You just have to let go of whatever it is that is stressing you.  This power is omnipotent and omnipresent.  It is in all of us because we are all part of god.  It is inherited in our souls for our benefit.  Regardless of what difficulties we encounter.  It applies to everything, whether it is debt, our children making bad decisions, marital, health, etc...  There isn't a problem that can not be resolved.  But, we need faith in this power and to let go.  I leave you with the following poem;
 "My mind was filled with worry and fear.  My health was starting to fail.  I had sunk to the lowest point in my life.  I was a sailboat without a sail.  I fell to my knees and asked, "God if you're real let me know."  A small voice in the back of my head said, "I'm waiting for you to let go."  
       Author unknown
   Just a thought.

With everything that is going on over an unmasking political scandal, I was inspired to write this article.  In essence, we are all wearing a metaphorical mask.  A mask that masks our bodies and our soul.  The soul is molded by our bodies.  It uses our bodies to experience life in the consciousness.  It uses the five basic senses to assist it in living a physical life to the fullest.  That is the magic of life.  Actually, it's not really magic but, the law of  nature.  I am a spiritual person, not a religious person.  Although, I respect people of faith.  I say this because, I do not want the reader to suspect that I am trying to push any specific religion.  However, I am an avid reader in the areas of metaphysical and the connection to spirituality.  
 In the first line of the first chapter of the Gospel of St. John it states, "In the beginning was the word."  Now, I am not a biblical expert, but, I do believe that one of the best books ever written for self development is the bible.  There first has to be a mental image in order for a manifestation to occur.  The word as I understand it, is the mental image.  The word molds the universal energy into whatever it is that you are imagining.  We are all created in god's image.  It must be then,  that god had an image of what a person looked like in order to create humans.  So therefore, logic has it that, that image in the form of energy or our soul is the true YOU.  The god in all of us.  It is the form of the body you are now in possession.  This body that we are all in possession of, is how our soul or spirit lives in human form to assist us in creating  things all around us.  In essence, by the same theory, our physical bodies are not real.  It is just a temporary mechanism for our souls to experience the physical plane.  Our bodies are just a mask for our souls.  Once you understand this, you will unmask your true potential.  And, the truth will set you free.  I leave you with a short poem titled, "Your Soul," by Clairel Estevez
  "Your souls is a vessel.  Fill it up with kindness and good intentions."
            
    Just a thought.

I was listing to a song by, Leonard Cohen, titled "Anthem."  Part of the lyrics state, "...ring the bells, ring the bells that still can ring.  Forget your perfect offering.  There is a crack in everything.  That's how the light gets in..."  I found those words inspiring.  There is a crack in everything that's how the light gets in.  If you are so set in your ways, you are paralyzing your spiritual growth.  Each one of us is not an end all to a way of thinking or doing things.  There are other brilliant ideas.  We just have to learn to be good listeners.  Open your mind and let the light in to new ideas.  Your way may be better but, how would you know if you are not willing to listen.  This stubborn behavior is most prevalent whenever there is an age gap.  And, it cuts both ways.  Sometimes an older person is so sure that they know the better way that they close themselves off to a younger person's ideas.  Can you imagine where technology would be today with that frame of mind?  We also know of the younger generation discounting the older folks as dinosaurs with their antiquated ideas.  That too is a mistake.  Younger folks may want to listen so that they are not wasting their time re-inventing the wheel.  
 Your creative imagination needs to be fed in order to create.  Allowing, or at least listening to new ideas is feeding your soul of its desires.  When we are open, curious, and attentive to others we discover a deeper, sacred connection.  It leads to a new understanding.  Boy, if only our politicians can heed my advise!  Especially in our current polarized political climate.  We all have free will to do as we please.  I am not suggesting that every idea is a good idea.  But, what I am encouraging the reader to do is to at least listen to other point of views because if you do not, you may miss the one "The Big One," that may change your life for the better.  I remember years ago, I was working in a restaurant and a frequent patron who always requested me to serve him, asked me if I wanted to consider investing in a sports drink that he and his partners were thinking of launching.  It was, relatively speaking, a small financial investment in the mid 80's.  At that time in my life, I was not enlightened.  So, I immediately turned it down.  I did not listen!!  Well, that sports drink was Powerade.  If only!!  Therefore, open your mind.  Let the light in and even if you decide it's not for you, at least you listened and made an informed decision.  I leave you with a poem on point titled "The Sun."
  I told the sun that I was glad, I'm sure I don't know why; Somehow the pleasant way he had of shining in the sky, just put a notion in my head that wouldn't it be fun if, walking on the hill, I said "I'm happy," to the sun."
          John Drinkwater
    Just a thought.

Money has been so misunderstood.  I believe that individuals that tell me that they do not care about money are lying.  Money in my opinion, is the most important commodity on the planet.  We all need it to function.  Without money, we would have nothing.  Money is so important because it means less financial worries.  It enables you to give back to your community.  It allows you to give to charities and causes.  It allows you to give to your religious faith in the form of tithe.  You need money to cover your basic expenses such as food, shelter and clothing.  This is not a secret, that individuals that are considered rich, live in better houses, drive better cars, have better medical care, live in better neighborhoods, eat better food, have better relationships and overall have a better life.  Regarding the relationships, I am not saying that money buys love; however, it does significantly contribute to a decrease in relationship problems.  According to a survey by Ramsey Solutions, money fights or the lack of money are the second leading cause of divorce.   
 Money is very important to live a complete life.  After all, life is all about experiences.  At the end of your time on earth, you want to be able to say that you have experienced life to the fullest.  The soul needs to freely experience all that life has to offer.  To grow and create.  To experience the arts and all that life has to offer. You need money for most, if not all these experiences.  I do not think that god created humanity to live in a constant financial struggle for sustenance.  Life is not supposed to be that way.  I understand and believe that we all need to live a balanced lifestyle.  In fact, I have authored and published a book titled, "Law of 4."  Which, encourages the reader to balance their life in the areas of health, wealth, love and gratitude.  If you concentrate and stress too much on a particular pillar, say the wealth component, without balancing the other components, is can lead to problems.  Problems that can negatively affect your physical and mental well being.   Money is needed for any positive aspects of a person's life.  
 Money has received its share of notoriety.  We have all heard and seen stories about some who have scammed and stolen money for their personal gain.  We are too familiar with Bernie Madoff  and the likes.  A former stock broker who ran his multi-billion dollar firm as a grand Ponzi scheme.  Well, he is serving 150 years in prison for his ill-advised activities.  That is why people associate money with evil.  And, yes, I agree that type of behavior is evil.  But, money did not create evil.  Bernie Madoff and the likes did.  They are evil.  That is where we get phrases like, 'Money is the root of all evil."  Or, "filthy rich."  Money is not evil.  If it were evil, why do churches want and need money?  Moreover, money is not filthy.  In fact, if you look at money it is absolutely beautiful!!!  A piece of art!!!!  Money goes with everything.  If I am wearing a suit and tie or shorts and  a t-shirt, money in my pocket is a great accessory.  And, it make me feel happy.   The lack of it lowers my energy.
 The problem is that money is mistreated and misunderstood.  Money gets blamed for most, if not all, the ills of the world.  But, if you really take a good look at it, money is pure love.  It is  simply put,  a symbol of love, appreciation and gratitude.  Here's what I mean.  When someone provides me with a service that I requested, how do I thank them?  By paying them with money.    The more complicated the service, the more money I pay them.  When I go to the food store for groceries, how do I show my appreciation, love, and gratitude? By paying them with money.  If I provide a service or product that are a benefit to society, how does the receiver of my services or product show me love, appreciation and gratitude?  By paying me with money.  I can go on but I know you get the picture.  So, if you think of money as evil or dirty, give it to me.  You know how to get in touch with me.  I leave you with the following poem titled, "Money and Me."
 "Money and me, we're such a team.
 Money and me, inseparable we.
 Money and me, together we dream.
 Money and me, in harmony.
 Money and me, such a synergy.
 Money and me, so much in love.
 Money and me, a power to be.
 Money and me, we're hand in glove."
        Mark. R. Slaughter
    Just a thought.

A rose gives you everything it has.  It doesn't ask for anything in return.  It gives you its beautiful colors.  It gives you its gentle scents.  It gives you its life.  The colors and scents are for the consciousness of everyone who cares to pay attention.  For the eyes and the sense of smell to enjoy.  A rose will stimulates my soul in ways that are subtle.  Roses inspire feelings of love.  Love is a deep emotion that connects an individual to their inner, "I Am I," pure unconditional love.  I describe this feeling as a bone chilling, goose bumps activating energy.  I can only compare it, to when my daughters, Sophia and Haanel were  born.  
 Once a rose fulfills its duty on earth it dies, only to return when the conditions are right.    However, the love that it activated is unconditional and it remains infinitely.  Regardless of  how harsh a winter is on a rose bush, it will return to continue to fulfill its duties.  The ancient Greeks and Romans associated roses with Aphrodite and Venus, goddess of love.  A rose conveys messages without words.
 Roses have thorns which represent the pain or hidden hurt in the beauty but, true unconditional love comes with pain for the uninspired.  You see, the inspired understands that true unconditional love is a symbol of freedom.  It encourages giving without any expectation of receiving.  At times it can be a bit disheartening. It can also be hurtful, unappreciated and a feeling that you are being taken for granted.  I get it, it is not easy when you feel that you are being taken for granted.  But, akin to a rose, which will die, and come back, you are programed to give unconditionally as a symbol of your true loving nature.  I have always found so much joy in giving as a symbol of my unconditional love.  I leave you with the lyrics to the song, "The Rose."
 "Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed.  Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed.  Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.  I say love, it is a flower, and you, its only seed.  It's the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.  It's the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance.  It's the one who won't be taken, who can not seem to give.  And, the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live.  When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long.  And, you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong.  Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow.  Lies the seed, that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose."
 Be that rose and you will have fulfilled you duties on earth.
    Just a thought.

Enthusiasm is energy.  Strong energy that comes from faith in whatever you want to accomplish.  Have you ever tried to do something but for some reason it is just not inspiring you?  If you are in that position, you are probably going to give up or not do a good job.  I am not a quitter, but, at this point my advise to you is to let it go.  Have a good night sleep and start fresh in the morning.  You need faith in what you are involved in to increase your enthusiasm.  If you do not have the faith in your success, then you need to ask yourself, why am I involved?  Your answer may surprise you or at the very least guide you to a calling of your interest.  I can not imagine myself being enthusiastic about being a handy man.  Not that I think I am better than a person who enjoys that line of work but, I despise trying to use tools to repair or built something.  I would rather pay someone to perform such activities for me.  So my point is, if I had to do such an activity, I would not have the faith and the enthusiasm needed to succeed.  
 On the flip side, when you are involved in an activity that you consider your calling or at least that you have a deep interest in, you will be inspired based on your enthusiasm and you will succeed.  And, even if the outcome was not what you expected, you will not be defeated.  The ancient Greeks, referred to enthusiasm as "being inspired by the gods."  They understood that when you were truly enthusiastic about whatever it is you are doing, it would increase your mental and physical powers.  I enjoy motivating individuals and being a life coach.  I have always seemed to attract people to me.  My wife has told me many times that people want to be like me.  After she made me aware of this, I started to take notice.  I have concluded that she is absolutely correct.  I believe from my research that being an enthusiastic individual is contagious.  People pay attention to energized, enthusiastic individuals.  I remember a colleague of mine from Texas. I had several conversations over the phone with him and subsequently I met him in person at my office in Columbus, Ohio.  One of the very first thing he said to me when we met in person was that he could feel my energy over the phone and that it was confirmed in person.  Enthusiasm and energy is magnetic.  A person with his soul on fire, so to speak, tend to fire up the souls and hearts of those around him.  I leave you with a quote by Charles Bukowski
  "What matters most is how well you walk through the fire."
     Just a thought.

Individuals tend to categorize others in boxes.  It is a way to keep distance between us.  It is easy to do this because by doing so it shortens or 
eliminates the need to try and get to understand the other person.  It is easy to categorize people in boxes because it does not require much effort.  We categorize people by gender, religion, skin color, creed, sexual orientation, job titles, family, political affiliation, democrat, republican, libertarian, conservative, liberal, neighborhoods they live in etc...  This is human nature.  The irony here is that we are all the same.  Our souls are connected and that does not change.  We all came from the same place.  And, we are all going back to the same place once our stay on earth is over whether you like it or not.    
 To me, it is somewhat comical when you think about it.  But, maybe that is why it is easy to put people in boxes.  Here is what I mean.  Regardless on when the soul enters the mother's womb during conception or at any other point in the pregnancy, is irrelevant for this discussion.  However, we can all agree that when the infant is out of the womb, it has its own soul.  So metaphorically, the mother's body acts as a box for her baby.  Shortly after birth, after the mother and baby bond, the infant is transferred to some sort of crib similar to a box.  After the baby comes home, it ends up sleeping in another crib looking box.  Actually, at this point, it really is a double box, because the family lives in a residence of some sort which resembles a box.  Then, throughout school, we learn in institutions that look very similar like boxes.  After our education is over, we end up employed in places that look like boxes.  We drive to and from these places in automobiles that look and feel like boxes.  We shop in stores throughout our lives in places that look like boxes.  We work out in places similar to boxes.  We go to movies, theatre, restaurants and socialize in places that sure look like boxes.  And guess what?  When we die, the majority of us get put in at least one box or maybe two boxes if a vault is used. And, I did not even mention my favorite box of all.  The safety deposit box!!  
 That is why a soul wants to create so much.  That is why we are endowed with the seeds to create and succeed.  Life is about continual growth.  Creation, growth and imagination, leads to freeing the soul of its desires prior to its complete freedom upon death.  Physical death should come but only once in a lifetime.  The individuals who rather take the easy life and do nothing for his fellow man or women are fools.  Julius Caesar said, " cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of  death but once." Many are actually dead but they do not know it.  They are just here and allow life to twirl them around like the wind blowing a leaf on a tree branch in the end of autumn.  The leaf is dead it just doesn't know it until it hits the ground for everyone to step on and eventually disappears from the face of the earth.  There is so much more to life than just living in a box.  I am sure you have heard the phrase, "think outside the box."  And, I'll add, "live outside the box!!"  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Living in a Box."
  Living in a box is rough.  Looking for my next meal is tough.  I do not have a bed to lay.  I only have a place to pray.  Oh mighty god I know you are there.  Why is this life so unfair?  A homeless man I may be.  Lift your wings and set me free.  I do not need finer things in life.  Like a house, a car, a dog, a wife.  I only need one hot meal a day.  Then it's back to my box to kneel and pray.  The sun comes up and it starts again.  Living in a box is tough my friend.
         Nelson Lallier
    Just a thought.               

Most individuals live on an island.  The island is beautiful.  It has everything anyone can ask for.  Huge sprawling trees.  Beautiful white sand.  Clear blue warm water.  Perfect weather all year round.  The sun rises every morning in the East and sets in the West every evening.  The inhabitants are quit unique.  They seem to stay within a small portion of the island all the time.  They have no intention to explore this beautiful island.  They are satisfied with what they have and where they are.  They would prefer not to rustle any feathers.  Does this remind you of anyone?  Obviously, the above introduction is a satire.  Or is it?  You see the majority of individuals live on what I describe as "Someday Isle."  Someday they'll do this or do that.  
 You have all heard them.  They are adamant and, will tell you convincingly that someday I'll write that book.  Someday I'll take that trip.  Someday I'll open that ice cream shop.  Someday I'll run that marathon.  Someday I'll change careers.  Someday I'll start training for that Ironman.  Someday I'll join that gym.  Someday I'll but that car I always wanted.  Someday I'll get that tattoo I wanted.  Someday I'll finish my degree.  Someday I'll go to law school.  Someday I'll go bungy jumping.  Someday I'll learn to snorkel.  Someday I'll learn to tango.  Someday I'll get that cosmetic surgery I always wanted.  Someday I'll paint that painting I've been wanting to paint.  Someday I'll get in shape.  Someday I'll learn to cook.  Someday I'll learn that language I always wanted to learn.  Someday I'll let my parents know how great they are.  Someday I'll go on that cruise.  Someday I'll tell the boss how I feel.  Someday I'll start that food truck I always wanted.  Someday I'll get married.  Someday I'll have kids.  Someday I'll join that club I always wanted to join.  Someday I'll climb that mountain.  Someday I'll buy a dog.  Someday I'll start that business.  Someday I'll go back to school.  Someday I'll tell her I love her.  Someday I'll go on a diet.  Someday I'll stop smoking.  Someday I'll start living after my kids graduate high school.  Someday I'll have time after my kids graduate college.  Someday I'll visit the great wall of China.  Someday I'll change my life.  Someday I'll die!  I hope you get the picture because if you don't someday you will!! But that someday may be just a little too late.  
 Many individuals procrastinate because they are afraid of failing.  I get it.  Having  clear goals in writing, can be an effective way to take you off that metaphorical " Someday Island."  Having goals in writing is important because you need to see them everyday.  If it is a vacation you want to take to Costa Rica, print a picture of a beautiful place in Costa Rica and tape it to your bathroom mirror with a specific date you want to vacation.  That way in the evening while you are getting ready for bed, it's one of the last things you see.  In the morning when you're getting ready for your day, it's one of the first things you see.  Visualizing your goal works wonders on your subconscious to bring your desire.  You need to take action to start the momentum towards your desire.  To me, this is the best way to get you off,  "Someday Island."  I leave you with a poem on point titled "Nearer."
 "If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire.  If you want to be wet you must get into the water.  If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them."
       C.S.Lewis
    Just a thought.

The secret of life as I see it, is understanding that individuals have the power to live a life of their choosing.  That all you really need you have internally.  Cutting off dependence on things or others is essential.   Because, success and happiness starts within.  It is an understanding that what we see is really just a small piece of who we really are.  We need to look to ourselves for answers.  Every single answer you will ever need, or want, you have.  We live in a world where because of technology individuals seem to be lazier than ever before.  Presently, you can pretty much do everything from your computer.  It seems like everything is at our finger tips.  My daughter recently had an orthodontist appointment with a live orthodontist by computer.  My other daughter was evaluated for a potential virus with her pediatrician the same way.  The United States Supreme Court, the highest court in the  land, is conducting their hearings by telephone in an open setting and in real time for the public to hear.  Now, these are exceptional times because of the pandemic that is currently affecting the world.  However, in my twenty four years as a practicing attorney, I would never had predicted the Supreme Court conducting their business by telephone.  My point is that as a society , we rather look towards exterior, man made systems for answers.  We have created complacency as the rule.
 We preferred not to believe in our inner god given abilities for answers.  That is where the secret of life is.  The ones that understand this are the beneficiaries of  this secret.  In reality, it is not a secret because we all have this ability but, it feels like a secret because  most individuals do not use this unlimited, infinite resource.  Life is all powerful.  It is a powerful force.  Life wants to create and constantly grow.  Once that will, to constantly create and grow is extinguished, your life on this planet is done.  I look at myself as a conduit to the powers from the universe.  We are all conduits to this great source.  You ever feel edgy?  Like you need to get out to do something?  Or, at times do you ever feel like you can do much more than what you are currently doing?  I feel like that all the time.  I believe that the closer you are to your source spiritually, those aforementioned feeling are more intense.  To me that is the creative power telling me to create.  To get out and accomplish something.  The more disconnected from your source, the lazier,  more dependent on external stimulus, like technology you get.  A clue to tell when someone is disconnected from their source is when they say, they are bored.  I do not understand how someone can be bored in life or with life.  But, that discussion is for another day.  However, children, because of their young age, are more apt to boredom and that is understandable.  
 We all have this seed of success.  But, we do not all use it.  We all have this capability of drawing to us whatever we desire.  But, we do not believe this.  We are all created in god's image, but we seem to forget that.  We are all connected to this beautiful all powerful source.  But, we rather not think about that.  We rather not think about it because,  we can then easily justify our lack of production.  And, it's a way to justify our judgment of others.  You see, if we truly believe that we are all connected, then judgement would disappear.  Because, by judging others, we are only judging ourselves.  I leave you with the following poem titled, "Secret Of Life."
  "Life is short.  Life is bold.  Life is a mystery that we have to solve.  Try to dare coz life is unfair.  But never ever lose your faith up in the air.  You might get hired.  You might get fired.  But never ever get tired.  Coz life is process that we need to possess.  And will never be forgotten until we're erased."   
       Sweet Gerida
    Just a thought.
                

Life is a risk.  Living life is a risk.  A risk free life is impossible.  If you are looking for a risk free life, you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  And, the biggest risk of all is not taking one.  The greater the risk the greater the results.  I understand that some would rather take the road mostly traveled by others.  By doing so you can predict the outcome with some degree of certainty.  If you go the unpredictable way, it can be hurtful and discouraging if the outcome was not what you expected.  The easiest way is always the safest way.  It is an unchallenging way to live.  Life usually rewards individuals, in direct relationship with the risks associated.  I am not a gambler but on a few occasions, while on vacation,  I have indulged at a casino at the black jack table.  If you play at the five dollar table because it is less risky, the reward is just five dollars if you win.  You may be having a great day and win twenty games in a row.  Great success!  But you have just won one hundred dollars.  If you were to tell your friends you won twenty games in a row at the black jack table, they would assume, that your winnings covered your entire vacation and then some.  If you were at the one hundred dollar table, your winnings would have been two thousand dollars.  The end result in the above example is related to the amount of risk associated.  I am not advocating gambling or taking reckless risks in life.  But, there are risks in life that are worth taking because they contribute to your personal growth and other risks that even though the rewards may be high are not worth it.  Taking a financial risk where the worse case  scenario is losing  money, where money can always be regained or bungy jumping from a skyscraper in New York City where you risk your life, are very different.  Although, I tend to think  bungy jumping enthusiasts may differ.  It is all a matter of personal choice.  But, you get my point. Most individuals are scared of failing.  This is common sense.  You want to succeed in life.  You should not take on a challenge if in your mind, you think you are going to fail.  That is why I never understood  prenuptials.  Think about it, getting married with the idea that you may fail.  If you think that, you are setting the stage to fail.   I remember listening to an interview with a heart surgeon in a New York City hospital.  The interviewer asked the surgeon about the fifty percent failure rate in heart surgeries in his hospital where patients have died as a result.    The surgeon responded that he understood the numbers but that in this particular hospital, they understood the risks associated with the very high risk patients they were accepting.  He continued, that most of those patients were going to die anyway but that they would still accept them because they wanted to at least give them a chance.  I guess looking at the numbers, one can conclude that fifty percent survival rate for very high risk patients is a success.  No other hospitals would take that risk.  They decided it was worth it and I bet their patient's did too.  
 Looking at successful individuals, you realize they have a common denominator.  They are not afraid of failing.  They are willing to accept the risk of failing.  After all success is a bunch of failed attempts.  If you never failed at anything, you have not done anything worthwhile.  How is that for some food for thought?  Understand that if the idea you are about to launch is your calling, chances are you will succeed.  Even if it may require some tweaking or several attempts to get it right, keep going.  Do not give up!  Remember that age old adage by Edward Hickson,  "If at first you don't succeed try try again."  Also, remember that you are not alone in your challenges.  We all have the force of the universe within us to guide us.  Meditate and reconnect to your source and success is inevitable.  It has to be because the god in each and everyone of us is pure love.  Pure love will overcome any challenges or obstacles in your way.  I leave you with a poem on point, which happens to be one of my favorite.  
  "To live is to risk dying.  To hope is to risk despair.  To try is to risk failure.  But, risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk noting."  Author unknown
      Just a though.                  

All manifestations are followed by a direct unwavering idea.  It has to be a spine chilling idea.  A big idea.  Not just a passing thought.  An idea that will make a difference not only in your life but in the life of others.  Why it has to be spine chilling is because the entire universe is static energy.  If we were to smash any substance on the planet that we see as solids with our eyes and look at the particles under a powerful microscope, we will be able to see the moving particles.  It is all energy.  A big unwavering idea is the converter from static energy to manifestation.  But, it has to start with a big idea not just a vague passing thought.  The rule applies to every single thing on this planet.  An artist can not create a painting without first picturing it in his mind.  A builder can not build a skyscraper or a single family home without first picturing it in his mind.  A carpenter can not build the chair you are siting on without first picturing it in his mind.  This goes to every thing in life not just solids.  A lawyer, doctor, architect etc..., would not have gone to school and become such if they first did not picture it in their minds.  This process of picturing your idea requires a certain intelligence that only humans have.  Your dog for example, can not do this.  Only human can create from their thoughts.  
 Thoughts are magnetic.  I experience this daily.  It is no secret that I enjoy writing.  During the course of my day as I encounter life, I come up with thoughts to write on my blog.  Once I come up with a topic, I then sit with my lap top and start typing.  Things then just come to me. It is like my mind is a magnet to the topic of the day.  Even at times when I feel stuck, I seem to be directed to web searches on topics on point.  I usually like to end my blog with a poem on point and my wife is amazed at how I find poems on point.  It truly is a real thing.  Your mind does attract things that you think about.  But I have to caution you.  This energy or magnetic force that is in play does not discriminate.  It can not distinguish between a good thought or a bad thought.  Between a positive thought or a negative thought.  Between a thought of poverty or a thought of abundance. Between a thought of good health or a thought of bad health.  Of course most sane people only want good things in their lives but there thoughts say otherwise.  Some want good health but worry about getting sick.  Some want riches but focus on poverty or the things they do not have.  This is why you have to be intellectually alert at all times.  Similar to when you are sleeping and your organs are still functioning, you have to be on alert your entire waking hours to constantly monitor the thoughts going into your mind.  Those waking thoughts will impress the subconscious when you are asleep.  Once an inclination of negative thoughts attempt to invade your mind, KILL it!  You do this by thinking of something that makes you feel good.
 At times it is easier said then done.  I get it.   We are all humans and there is more than enough negativity going around.  I understand you can not disconnect from the everyday happening of the world.  Any news article on any platform is usually that the world is coming to and end.   All sorts of groups like environmental groups, always seem to focus on the worse case scenario.   They make outlandish predictions that the planet is coming to an end in a few years.  Or religious groups scaring people to comply.  I truly believe that maybe their hearts are in the right place but fear or negativity is not a way to attract the universal energy for the good of the people.  They obviously did not learn from Mother Teresa when she said "If you hold an Anti-War rally, I shall not attend.  But, if you hold a Pro-Peace rally, invite me."  I leave you with a poem on point.
 "Thought is a magnet, and the longed for pleasure or boon or aim or object is the steel.  And, its attainment hangs but on the measure of what thy soul can feel."
        Ella Wheeler Wilcox
    Just a thought

How do you see yourself?  Do you see yourself as a victim of circumstances? Do you see yourself as a limitless potential person?  I have a very dear friend who is African American.   We are like brothers.  I have known him for approximately thirty years.  Externally he is very successful.  He is a college graduate and has worked for the government his entire adult life in an area that he has chosen.  He has done extremely well in his professional career.  He and I have had many discussions on race.  He sees his life through the  prism of racism.  I do not want to sound insensitive.  But, if you see your life through the prism of an injustice, whether real or perceived, the only person you are hurting is yourself.  Does racism exist?  Of course!  It is wrong and a serious problem.  However, by holding some deep rooted views of injustice, is what the ignorant offenders of racism want you to do.  By holding such views you are paralyzing your life.  We are all born free and equal.  Some are in a better position from birth economically but we all came from the same place.  We are all created in god's image.  We are all children of god.  God did  not create racism, humans did.  God did not create the injustices in the world, humans did.  
 If you believe you are not good enough because of the color of your skin, you are hurting yourself.  We are all special with a unique calling.  I believe that from deep in my soul.  I am a Hispanic male and if I listened to all the naysayers who have attempted to discourage me from my dreams and aspirations, I may not be writing this article today.   I certainly would not have accomplished what I have done so far in my life.  And I am just scratching the surface. I am grateful that the god in me inspired me from when I was a little boy, not to listen to those that told me that I am a first generation immigrant who is destined at best to  just survive in the streets of New York City.  I remember a  high school teacher telling me that the only thing that I was good for is "selling popcorn," at Yankee stadium. 
 The important question is, how do you see yourself?  In any endeavor in life, it is what YOU think of YOU.  What somebody else thinks of you has absolutely no power over you unless you allow it.  And, this goes with anything in life.  If you are negotiating your salary and you under cut yourself, that is your problem not your employers problem.  Demand and expect much out of life in any endeavor and you will receive.  I was told once by a colleague that I seem to always be pushing ahead for more and that I do not seem to be happy.  My response, although I am grateful for what I have, was that since we are here on earth for a short time we should always continue to move forward and grow.  I never subscribed to the idea that you are born, work, expect to retire and die.  To me that would be a miserable life.  Life to me is more than that.  So, how do you see yourself?  I leave you with the following poem on point titled, "The Door of Dreams;"
 "I bargained with life for a penny, and life would pay me no more, however I begged at evening when I counted my scanty store.  For life is a just employer, he gives you what you ask.  But, once you have set the wages why, you must bear the task.  I worked for a menial's hire, only to learn dismayed, that any wage I had asked of life, life would have paid."
         Jessie B. Rittenhouse
    Just a thought

The way I see it, adversity is a good thing.  Some will look at it for what it is, misfortune or conflict.  I see it as a necessity for growth.  Without it, you are lifeless.  Think about it.  If you are a baseball player and, let's say you are in a slump.  In other words you are zero for thirty.  Which means that in the last thirty plate appearances you have not had a hit.  Pretty lousy right?  But, look at the flip side.  You are obviously playing or else you would not have the opportunity to be hitless in your last thirty at bats.  Eventually because you are playing, you will snap out of it.  And, if you do not, maybe baseball is not for you.  But, the benefit of knowing it early on is a good thing so  you will not waste your time in a sport you were really never interested in to put the necessary work into it to succeed.  I was once told by a law enforcement officer that if you are doing your job, you will get complaints.  That seems to be a form of adversity.  To some, that may be a bad thing but as I see it, it means you are not hanging out in the local donut shop, gaining weight and doing nothing on tax payer dollars.  You are actually working.  
 If your life is perfect.  In other words, there is no adversity noise around you, you are not growing.  Children fall before they learn to walk.  If nature had it that once a child falls he becomes so petrified of walking, that the child will not walk. I would have invested in the Segway industry.  There would be more segways than cars on the road.  If a marriage does not work out, does that mean that you are giving up on the institution of marriage?  I can go on and on with countless examples on why adversity is a good thing.  Just because you failed at something, that certainly does not mean you are a failure.  That experience will make you better the next time around.  A failure to me is a person who does not want to try anything because of fear of failing. 
 Perfection is not a requirement for a successful and productive life.  Do you know where you will find individuals who have no adversity in their lives?  In a cemetery!!  I am not saying live a carless life.  But, live a creative life.  Do what you want to do.  If your heart is in it, you will succeed.  Do not become an atychiphobia,  that you fear failing so much that you stop doing the things that can move you forward to achieve your goals.  Do not let others tell you, you are no good.  Michael Jordan, is considered to be the best or one of the best basketball players that ever played.  But, did you know that he was cut from his high school basketball team because his coach did not think he had the skills needed to succeed in basketball?  If he would have listened to that coach, he may never had continued playing.  And, basketball fans worldwide would have missed out on watching such an amazing talent. And, there are many individuals out there that were discouraged early on who gave up.  And, not only did they give up on themselves but, we all missed out on their greatness.  Keep that in mind next time you are contemplating whether you want to attempt something but, fear is trying to talk you out of it.  I leave you with the following poem on point, titled "Adversity."
  "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.  If we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
          Anne Bradstreet
   Just a thought

Humor is important for your physical and mental health.  And, the subsequent laughter is powerful. Regardless of what you choose to do in life, if you add humor to the equation it tends to leave a positive impression.  I remember when I was a police officer on the New York City police department, my partner and I received a call to respond to a brownstone apartment, in the area we were patrolling, of a a suspicious odor.  I know from experience that a suspicious odor call, in an apartment building, coupled with the fact that the tenant has not been seen in awhile is indicative of a dead decomposing person.  It did not take long for us to confirm that predicament.  Part of the police department's procedure with this type of call was to take an inventory of valuables and to take possession of them for safe keeping for the next of kin.  Needless to say this is not a pleasant assignment for a police officer.  At least not for me.   It is somber and serious.  By this time several other officers arrived, a detective to clear the scene to confirm whether or not it was a suspicious or a natural  death and, a supervisor.    Everyone present had a responsibility.  My  partner and I, as aforementioned, were searching for valuables.  Suddenly I hear my partner yell, "I found the murder weapon!"  All present were startled by this discovery so we went to his location.  He was standing by a night table in the deceased's bedroom shaking a rubber dildo that he discovered in the course of his search.  I started laughing uncontrollably.  The supervisor also found his behavior humorous.  Now, the detective, not so.  He was not impressed.  The reason I mention the above experience is to inform you that in that stressful environment, humor softened up the stress to allow us to do our job.  I can adamantly tell you that if there were members of the deceased present or members of the public, my partner would not have responded the way he did.   My partner was not trying to be disrespectful.   He was using a defense mechanism in humor to soften things up.  I bet you all present, including the stiff detective, appreciated the ice breaker.  I know I did.  Humor, has a strong and memorable presence.  Obviously you do not want to be disrespectful but it has many benefits.  It has been known to trigger healthy physical and mental changes in the immune system.  It protects you from the damaging effects of stress and negativity.  I find that humor keeps me alert and happier as I move through life.  And the best part of humor is that it is free.  We can learn so much from children.  Children seem to laugh most of the time.  They always seem happier.  But as we grow older, it seems that we laugh less.  It doesn't have to be that way.  I am told at times that I should grow up when I use humor in stressful situations.  As if some are jealous that I prefer laughter over stress.  I do not remember a requirement that in adulthood,  I am supposed to laugh less.  But, quite frankly, I choose the way I live my life and someone else's  opinion of me means nothing to me.  
 Humor and the subsequent laughter, can trigger many benefits for the physical body and your mental health.  Benefits from boosting your immune system to hearth health, to living a long healthy life.  So there you have it, you can live an angry, negative stressful life or you can choose a happy, positive energized, relaxed life.  The choice is yours alone.  I leave you with the following poem hoping that it will bring you laughter, titled, "Smart Phone-Dumb User."
  "My new phone is "smart,"  I guess that I'm not.  Amazing what all this here smart phone has got.  TV and weather and internet too.  There's just no limits of what it can do.  Check my blood pressure and my temperature.  Without even probing all my apertures.  I now know the time in Paris or Greece.  I can track the migration of thousands of geese.  Or find Chinese food, it's here on this map.  Oops, my finger just slipped, now where was that at?  A camera, a camera!  Now I can take shots.  Of everyone I know.  Push this here button and take me a selfie.  If it had a nose would this thing take a smellfie?  Email to pester with a video to shoot.  Maps to drive round with, wow that's a hoot!  A compass to guide me home if I'm lost.  Thank god work paid for this thing, what it costs!  The thing that it does would amaze Mr. Bell.  What he would have thought of it no one can tell.  But, one question's still in my middle aged craw.  Despite all the gizmos that strike me with awe, they're fun and they're useful and techy and all.  But, how do I just simply make a phone call?"
        Rick W. Cotton
  Just a thought 

Many individuals are unhappy with their jobs.  Consider for a moment that 53 percent of Americans are currently unhappy at work according to the conference board, a non-profit business research group.  The fact that less than half of Americans are satisfied with their work is troubling.  In addition, violence in the workforce accounted  for 9 percent of all workforce fatalities in 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  In 2016, the National Safety Council reported that 17 percent of workplace deaths were the result of violence.  Needless to say there are many unhappy individuals in the work force.  In 2019 there was 156.92 million individuals  working in the United States.  That is 83.17 million people that unhappy in the workforce.  That is an alarming number by any measure.  
 I believe the problem lies in that many individuals are not spiritually connected.  Regardless of what a person chooses to do whether it is in the arts, sciences, manufacturing, education, medicine, dentistry, lawyering etc..., the problem lies within, not with the type of work.  A person has to feel connected to a purpose regarding their employment.  If they feel that their work is for the benefit of society in general it would be satisfying.  But, there has to be a purpose and spiritual connection to your source.   This is key. We are spiritual beings.  We are creators.  If who you are as a spiritual being and creator is not fed then, there is a serious disconnect.  This seems to be very common in the workforce.  Where workers are treated like robots instead of who they really are.  Until animation takes over the workforce, employers should do everything in their power to stimulate employees needs in a spiritual way.  I do not think it is possible to lower the work place violence until we as spiritual beings understand that there is a deeper purpose than who we physically are.  This is everyone's responsibility not just the employees.  I believe that companies are so caught up in the financial aspects of their business that they are losing a lot more than employees.  The way I see it, an investment in the needs of the spiritual aspects of a person will bring them a larger profit in the long run.  Corporate America should focus on inspiring workers to become successful and to grow instead of  looking at them as just a number filling a position.   
 Moreover, individuals have a personal responsibility to find their calling or their bliss.  And, instead of worrying about what they are getting focus more on what they are becoming.  If you really think about it, it's all connected.  Companies, employees, it is all about people.  Individuals have to feel that their spirituality and creative needs are being inspired.  It is more than just a paycheck.  We all need money to survive but, the money will come if the aforementioned needs are addressed.  Ironically, many seem to think that you must find your purpose or bliss in life in order to be happy.  I am not so sure that is the case.  I believe you can find your purpose and happiness in whatever you choose to do as long as you feel, through your creativity and spirituality, that you are contributing to the common good of society. You can be flipping burgers but as long as you feel you are making a difference you have found your bliss or purpose in life.  Happiness starts from the inside.  You first need to be happy with yourself in order to be successful.  Anyone who has young children understands that if your children are real hungry and you stop  on your road trip at McDonald's for a burger, the servers are making a difference for the common good of society.  That is why I always thank them profusely.  Now, I am not saying that you need to retire as a McDonald's employee because we all evolve and our dreams and aspirations change as part of our creative needs but, that would be your choice.  The mistake that many make is that they think that by looking for another job they will be happy because they are miserable in their current position.  Remember you still have to take "you" to the next job.  Therefore, start working on yourself.  Look at yourself every morning in the mirror and see how special you are.  Understand that what you see is not who you really are.  The real you is your perfect soul that never changes.  The soul that is your divinity.  Your god within.  I leave you with a quote on point; "Even if you are a small forest surviving off of moon alone, your light is extraordinary."
         Author unknown
   Just a thought

Words are cheap.  It is used to possibly communicate an individual's intentions.  But, words alone with no coinciding action is meaningless.  There are countless examples of individuals saying many things but, their words mean absolutely nothing.  An individual can tell his wife he loves her but if  he has a habit of coming home late from work, his breath smelling like alcohol, and appears  like he rather be somewhere else, his words, telling his wife that he loves her mean absolutely nothing.  Flip the aforementioned example to a husband who rarely tells his wife that he loves her but he can not wait to get home from work, enjoys her company, if the wife loves flowers he brings her an occasional assembly of flowers.  His behavior rather than words, show that he loves his wife.  I remember a statement in some article that I read that stated, "when all is said and done, more is always said than done."  
 Words have no power.  Sometimes individuals say mean things but they truly have no power.  The illusion of power when I hear some say that words have consequences, really comes from the recipient of the words.  Words mean nothing.  If someone calls you an idiot and you get angry, then maybe you need to look at yourself to question why you are angry.  That person, through his words can not possibly get you angry.  You got yourself angry.  Maybe, you think you are an idiot and that person calling you an idiot hit a chord.  There is no better example than in politics.  Politicians are known to say whatever it is they think you want to hear to get elected.  Once they get elected they do as little as possible.  Subliminally we have been groomed to accept their behavior without even knowing it.  I think the reason for this is that politicians have to please a majority of the people to get elected.  We are so polarized in American politics that, you have to appeal to the other side to get elected.  That is why I think their words mean nothing. Since I see things differently than many, it does not matter what anyone or politicians say because they are not going to have an impact on my life, unless I let them.  I am the only person who will have an impact on my life.  I am my commander in chief.  If you see your life from that perspective, words mean absolutely nothing.  And, your life will be less stressful.  I leave you with the following poem; titles,"Word Mean Nothing."
  "When I am with you
  I am short of words
  and then I realize
  we don't need words to speak
  and when I talk to you
  I even forgot just what I said."
         Jibin Joseph
    Just a thought

In our current world, with all the distractions constantly surrounding us, silence seems to be a missing commodity.  We have all sorts of equipment to connect to and distract us twenty four hours a day seven days a week.  We have desk top computers, lap tops, cell phones, I-pads, flat screen televisions, social media, traditional media, satellite radios, all sorts of apps to keep us all connected.  Or should I say disconnected.  Disconnected from ourselves.  Think for a moment about all the unintended consequences.  Because, we have all these advancements in technology, we do not really have to socialize in person or by phone with anyone.  So in essence, we have become disconnected not only from ourselves but from everyone else.  It has created an increase level of stress that was unexpected.  It has lead to an increase in individual using external means for relief such as  medication, alcohol, illicit drugs or therapy for relief.  This can be a dangerous road.  I propose looking internally for relief.  
 Silence is extremely helpful in re-booting your system.  We turn off our computers and cell phones to re-boot them.  Our brains are no different.  This is why I am suggesting using silence to re-boot and connect you to yourself.  For me I enjoy silent time in conjunction with meditation.  For beginners, meditation can be difficult without complete silence but, silence alone is helpful.  They both can be done together or separately.  Myself, being born and raised in New York City, I can meditate and find silence in the middle of times square with thousands of individuals all around.  However, I do not recommend that environment for beginners.  There are many ways to use silence for your benefit.  You  can find a place in the middle of the day were go can go for quiet time and just sit with your eyes closed for awhile.  And, when I say for awhile, I am not saying taking a nap.  Just to be clear.  Other times, which I personally find more beneficial because I combine silence with meditation, is either right before I fall asleep or, in the morning before everyone gets up.  I also sometimes get up in the middle of the night and meditate.  
 I find tremendous benefit in silence because it connects me to my source.  To the spirit within that we all have.  It is a time for me to be able to have a conversation, not a verbal conversation, but a  conversation with this all powerful universal source.  Beware of a common mistake that many make.  That is, that if you are using silent time to think about your problems then, you are wasting your time and,  it can be worse for you.  If you use your silent time correctly it can make you aware that you are not just your body but that you are something deeper.  One other benefit is that you are going from a conscious state of mind to a subconscious state.  In essence, it makes you aware that we are all connected.  And, because of this it will transform you into a better person.  This is so important because of the advances in technology which have contributed to our disconnection from ourselves and isolation in society.  In silence, you are made aware of who you really are.  I leave you with a poem on point: titled, "Silence."
  "I catch the pattern of your silence
  before you speak.  
  I do not need to hear a word.
  In your silence, every tone I seek
  is heard."            
        Langston Hughes
      Just a thought.

Ockham's razor or Occam's razor, is a principle from philosophy.  Suppose there exist two explanations for an occurrence.  In this case the one that requires the smallest number of assumptions is usually correct.  Another way of saying it is that the more assumptions you have to make, the more unlikely an explanation.  This idea is attributed to English Franciscan friar William of Ockham, a scholastic philosopher and theologian who used a preference for simplicity to defend the idea of divine miracles.  The one possibility with the least assumptions is not always the correct answer.  It merely suggest that, among all possible answers to a question, one's best bet is generally the one that requires the fewest assumptions.  As I attempt to reason our current situation with the pandemic that is currently in full force around the world, I think it would be a great way to put Ockham's razor to use.  It has been established by  the United Stated Government that the virus, referred to as COVID-19, originated in Wujan, China.  There are two possibilities on how this virus originated.  One possibility is that it escaped from a wet market in Wuhan, China.  Another possibility is that it escaped from a virology lab in Wujan, China.  With the first possibility there has to be other assumptions that need to be made.  That, it started from an animal source.  That the animal was infected.  That the infected animal had to be alive at the wet market, or else the virus would have died  with the animal.  That the animal had to be slaughtered at the wet market.  That the animal then infected a worker and, that worker infected others.  Or, that the infected, slaughtered animal infected the consumer and the consumer spread the virus.  The second possibility is the virus accidentally escaped into the general population when a lab worker in a virology lab in Wujan got infected and then infected the general population.  
 If we apply Ockham's razor, the second possibility with the least assumptions is the correct one.  I started wondering why not use Ockham's razor to answer occurrences in the world of the unknown instead of  relying on religion as so many people do for answers.  Many who know me know that I am not a religious person although, I am a spiritual person.  Moreover, I respect people's faith.  I am not attempting to convert anyone regarding any of my belief's.  My calling in life is to open up people's mind through my writings.  I believe  that religion started with a noble intentions but, through the years it has been watered down to serve the interest of a limited few.  Similar to politics.  Initially government was established at least here in the United States by the people, for the people.  All you need to do is read the preamble to the United States Constitution  But, through out the years it has been watered down to serve just a few.  
 In the spiritual realm, we all know we came from somewhere, and, when we have fulfilled our purpose, we are going somewhere.  Somethings are unanswerable because quite frankly there are no answers.  That is because we do not know.  Whoever tells you they know where you are going after you fulfill you time on the planet is not telling you the truth.  it is all based on faith.  In my opinion, that is the danger with politics and religion.  It seems that we rely on people with power to give us answers to fill our void.  That is the danger with these large institutions.  As I see it, this is a huge self inflicted problem.  We can change the system but it takes work.  Because we have relied so much on technology for quick results we have created a complacent society.  Because of this laisse fair attitude, we have seeded our power and potential to a few very powerful institutions.  Although, I see great changes in the horizon.  That is because I rather see the world through a positive prism.  I see the next phase of human evolution, where individuals will become enlightened.  A time where individuals collectively understand that they are in total control of their lives.  A world where reliance on institutions will be something of the past.  Where individuals will understand that they are all powerful and that everything they want or need is within.  So, in applying Ockham's razor to each and everyone of us, are we  spiritual beings created in god's image or are we complicated species with countless possibilities of who we are and why are we here?  The answer seems clear.  I leave you with the following quote on point. 
  "And the world hated here because they 
  couldn't understand the science that made
  her all that she was." 
          R.M. Drake
     Just a thought

A placebo is a harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect.  Most medical doctors, if not all have a disbelief on the potential of a positive effect of a placebo.  And, why would you think they would feel otherwise?  After all they are scientists.  They want hard core science with data to prove or dis-prove a theory.  That is how they were trained.  I think otherwise.  I believe that there is a strong movement towards the power and benefits of mental healing that medical doctors and big pharma would rather you not know.  This will have a huge impact on the medical and pharmaceutical industries where it truly matters to them in the pocketbook.  Take medical doctors, according to, Terry Nyykiel, in an article dated December 17, 2019, the average medical student graduated with $196,520 in student loans in 2018.  That is just medical school student loans.  That figure did not account for undergraduate loans or living expenses for the student.  So, we can see why these young doctors, would not want to consider other non-traditional forms of treating a patient.  
 I do not want to seem that I am picking on medical doctors because this is an attitude common throughout other professions.  Look at my profession as an attorney.  Attorneys also have large  debt in student loans upon graduation.  They too may get offended if clients are empowered with other options to settle their legal problems instead of using a licensed attorneys who can be very expensive.  The same is true for most professions.  Professionals arrogantly, especially in the area of medicine, believe that the study of  metaphysical, or beyond the physical, is junk science.  They do not really care about the possibility that your mind is very powerful and the most important component in the healing process.  I remember shortly after I got enlightened taking a trip and suffering a serious migraine headache in my hotel room.  The type of headache where you lose your sense of  smell, taste and your peripheral vision.  Any form of light would aggravate the symptoms and contribute to my nausea.  I remember  laying face down on my bed and putting a pillow over my head.  I started  meditating and concentrated in the power to heal myself of this migraine headache.  About ten minutes into this process, I envisioned a syringe inserted into my head and felt the migraine being sucked out of my brain.  I know it sounds surreal but,  in that state, I can hear the squeaky  sound of a syringe sucking the migraine out.  It was an ironic description, because in my past, I experienced in my youth as an athlete, doctors inserted a large needle into the joint of my knee to drain fluids that had accumulated from an injury.
 I am not advocating to disregard medical advise or treatment as is customary in our Western culture.  You would be a fool to do so.  However, you should never dismiss the power and importance of your mind in the healing process.  If you think about it, as long as you follow traditional medicine and add the power of the mind to the equation, what do you have to lose?  You certainly are not going to lose your mind!  No pun intended.  And in fact, you may accelerate your wellness.  In a related topic, I believe in the healing power of crystals.  I wear a crystal around my neck.  Does it really matter what others think about their healing powers?  The only opinion that matters, is what I think.  And, if I think it is helpful, then it is helpful.  We all know of stories of individuals doing super human things in times of great stress.  It is all related to the infinite  power of the mind where everything is possible.  Do not sell  yourself short.  Many individuals treat their cars better than they treat their own physical and mental health.  Use all possibilities available to live an amazing, loving, abundant, healthy physical and mental life, to include the power of your mind.  I leave you with a poem on point;
   "Mind is the exclusive controller
   of the body.  When the mind is clear,
   the route is near.
   When the mind is broken, 
   your life is shaken.
   Strong mind is the base 
   for strong body.
   Courage and boldness enriches the 
   mind.  When your mind is good,
   you have good food.
   When your mind is dirty, 
   you become filthy.
   Physical exercise and walking strengthen 
   the body.
   Meditation and Pranayama strengthen
   the mind."
        Thilagavathy Swamy
     Just a thought

Most individuals work, pay taxes, support a family and die.  That is what I call the average class.  Average never interested me.  I think, I prefer to be dead than average.  When you pay to see a Broadway show,  do you expect to see an average performance?  When you pay to see a professional sports team, do you expect to see an average game?  When you visit a five star steak house, do you expect to have an average meal, served with average servers?  When you embed character in your children's lives, do you advise them to be average?  You get my point.  Average is a terrible way to describe someone, something, someplace or some event.  It is not a memorable experience.  That is why the best individuals in any field get the most recognition, which usually leads to an abundant lifestyle.  We do not like paying to see average, but many do it regardless.  So would you want to live an average life? I believe that many individuals chose average because it's easier.  They do not have to work as hard.  William James, Psychologist once wrote, "If you only care enough for a result, you will almost certainly attain it.  If you wish to be rich, you will be rich.  If you wish to be learned, you will be learned.  If you wish to be good, you will be good.  Only you must then really wish these things and, wish them exclusively.  And, not wish at the same time a hundred other incompatible things just as strongly."
 That was well put but, I would add that you need not just the wish but a commitment to whatever it is that interests you.  A commitment so powerful that you are willing to give anything up for it.  Almost like an addiction.  You need a commitment to be focused and consumed with accomplishing your goal.  The problem as I see it, is that many individuals have wishes but no commitment to follow it up with.  I remember when I committed to going to law school, I was willing to pay the price to accomplish by goal of becoming an attorney.  It was not easy but I could care less about how difficult it was because I was 100% committed.  Socially, I was paralyzed for three and a half years while I was in law school but, that did not deter me.  If it did, then maybe I did not want it bad enough.  I remember listening to an interview once of the great hall of fame baseball player Reggie Jackson and he was asked " do you regret not marrying and raising a family while you were playing baseball?" And his response was "No,  I was committed to my career."  The price that he was willing to pay was not marrying and having children.  And, that is exactly what he paid in exchange for his hall of fame career.  You have to be clear of what you want.  Stay focused and committed and Just do it. 
 Anybody can do this.  But, not many have that type of commitment and willingness to forgo all the temptations that life has to offer on the climb up the ladder of success.  In addition,  most  individuals are what I call dilettante.  A dilettante is defined as a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge.  Most people dabble in this or that but in reality they have no real commitment.  As long as they have a roof over their heads, and they can support their families, that is enough for them.  That sounds to me to be an average life.  If that is what they chose, and they are happy, then they are successful.  That is not the type of lifestyle for me.  I leave you with a poem on point;
  Until one is committed there is hesitancy,
  the chance to draw back, always 
  ineffectiveness.  Concerning all acts of
  initiative and creation.  There is one
  elementary truth, the ignorance of which 
  kills countless ideas and splendid plans.
  That the moment one definitely 
  commits oneself, then providence moves 
  too.  All sorts of things occur to help
  one that would never otherwise
  have occurred.  A whole stream of
  events issues from the decision, raising
  in one's favour all manner of unforeseen
  incidents and meeting and material
  assistance, which no man could have 
  dreamt would have come his way.
  I have learned a deep respect for one of
  Goethe's couplets, whatever you can do
  or dream you can begin it.  Boldness 
  has genius, power and magic in it.
         W.N. Murray 1951
      Just a thought
  

Besides being a very spiritual person, I always felt there was something else that is part of me.  As a little kid, I remember hanging out with my friends and having a great time whether it was playing a pick up game  of basketball or a concert at the world famous Madison Square Garden to  see one of my favorite artists, Bruce Springsteen.  Or, to see my beloved New York Rangers or New York Knicks.  I was more than just in the moment at these activities.  I would see the whole picture.  By this I mean that I had and still do this ability to not just see but feel the moment.  It is similar to being on auto pilot as you are driving your vehicle to a location that you have driven to many times.  You are aware of your surrounding and you are cautious and  in the present but you are in another zone.  Then, as I grew older and was involved in high school and collegiate sports, the same would apply.  My heightened level of awareness, if you may, was more intense during increased pressure situations.  For example, for the baseball enthusiast, if the bases were loaded and it is late in the game and my team was losing and it just so happened that I was the batter at the plate.  It was not the usual situation where you hear coaches preach to their player to step out of the batters box, take a few deep breaths and relax.  It was as if I could literally feel the crowd's energy and hear some of their thinking.  
 Later in life, when I was a police officer on the New York City Police Department, the same was true.  Whether is was road patrol or later in my career when I was an undercover narcotics agent.  I was in countless perilous situations and I had this immense ability to feel and, in many cases, I explain it as aforementioned, to hear the individuals thoughts prior to something happening.  I truly believe that ability has saved my life in several situations where I can assure you death was imminent.  Moreover, in my current career as an attorney, the exact same is true.  I seem to have this ability to predict outcomes which in turn benefit's my client more often then not.  As a parent, I have given my son advise that 100% of the time, if he did not listen, the results were to his detriment.  I remember a conversation my son had with my wife, his step mom where he told her, "yea, no one could have predicted that one except dad."  So then, I was on a mission to discover what exactly is going on with me.  
 My research has led me to believe that I am an empath.  An empath is someone who is highly aware of the emotions of those around them, to the point of feeling those emotions themselves.  Empaths see the world different than other people.  They are keenly aware of others, their pain points, and what they need emotionally.  The feeling and emotions that an empath picks up is both positive and negative.  However, since I have chosen to live my life in a positive way and concentrate in the good in individuals, I usually only pick up the good emotions.  But, on occasion when I do not meditate or separate from my source,  I am not immune from painful or negative thoughts from individuals around me.  Being born and raised in New York City, and presently residing in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, I find myself, the most at peace when I am back in New York City amongst thousands of people walking around the City at any particular time.  I usually sleep better in that setting regardless of the noise in the middle of the night.  And, when I say noise, I mean sirens blasting, the sound of traffic and people having conversations.  I also seem to have my best and productive ideas under those conditions.  So there you have it,  If you are an empath, there is no need to think that you are weird.  I like to think that we are gifted and special.  You will certainly beat to the beat of a different drum but, it is a beautiful beat which will create a rhythm in your life that will motivate others to move towards success. I leave you with the following quote by, "Rumi."
    "When will you begin that long 
    journey into yourself?"  
      Just a though

Socialism is defined as a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.  I am not a political person and, this article is not meant to offend anyone.  However, this theory that advocates the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole seems to be contrary to the natural law of creation.  The seed that is endowed in each and every one of us.  The creativity of the god inside all of us that inspires us to create.  With socialism, there is nothing more contrary to the law of love.  It seems to be advocating the most extreme level of selfishness humanity could ever conceive.  As I write this article, our world is going through a pandemic.  It breaks my heart to see Americans lined up by the thousands in food banks.  
 We, by all accounts live in the greatest country on the planet.  Pandemic or no pandemic, this should never happened.  This experience is teaching me that many individuals are separated from their source.  The god inside.  We are all very powerful and have total control of our lives.  When a society allows government or anyone to take control, it's not a pandemic or a natural catastrophe that will lead to your demise, it is ourselves.  Government is supposed to have its power from the people.  But it seems that the opposite is true.  That the government is granting us our rights and powers.  This may upset our elected politicians, but, these men and women who we elect have it all wrong.  It is like you hire a business manager to handle your business.  You pay him and give him an assignment and duties while under your employment.  But, after awhile, your manger tells you that he needs to control your checking account and your business in order for you to succeed.  Then after some time you find yourself losing complete control over your business.  And, as if this is not bad enough, you find yourself working for him.  Politicians seem to think that the people work for them.  It should be the other way around.  See the picture?  Politicians are public servants.  They are the people's employees.  
 Our soul is not meant to be controlled.  It is human nature.  We want to be free and create whatever our heart feels.  Patrick Henry from a speech he made to the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775 stated, "Give me liberty or give me death."  That statement is what our soul is all about.  We are all here to be free to create and make the planet a better place.  That is our mission.  No one can ever take that away from us, unless we allow it.  No government or, person can ever take that away from us.  Now, some have chosen to relinquish their freedoms.  Individuals that have chosen to commit crimes and are sent to prison is an example.  But, that was their choice.  After all we all have to follow laws.  We are all part of society.  My concern as I see this from an enlightened perspective is that many have taken the herd mentality and just go along with life.  We have been programed to accept the way things are.  We are taught from a young age not to question authority.  To me that mentality is a pandemic in itself.  It creates a complacent society where we relinquish all our god given talents and powers.  We are far more better than that.  If we are all created in the image of god, that tells me we are all god.  Let's remember this and not forget where we came from and where we are going.  Use you talent and power to accomplish you dreams.  I leave you with the following poem, titles, "Love is Freedom."
  "I can't live without loving you.
  But, I can't live without my freedom also.
  When your love became a cage, tying my
  wings, I chose my freedom over your
  love to fly.  If you miss me, if you wish
  to meet me, meet me in the sky flying with
  the freedom.  Meet me if you also love
  the freedom.  Meet me if you also want
  to fly.  But, this time holding my hand.
  Never try to make a cage for your love.
  You forgot, love is freedom.
  It can't breath in a suffocating cage.
         Mohini Puranik
     Just a thought

I ran for judge several years ago.  My wife and I were campaigning in downtown Columbus, Ohio and, an individual asked me if I was Judge Mental.  I said no I am not Judge Mental and, left it at that.  I need to fill you in on some information.  At that time there was a political figure well known in Columbus with the last name Mentel.  So, I assumed that he was referring to me being related to that political figure.  Hence my quick response to him.  However, my wife heard his question in a different way.  She assumed he asked me if I was judgmental.  When she told me about her assumption in a laughing manner, she followed it up with "of course you are judgmental, your running for judge!"  That is  what judges do, they pass judgment. It was funny and ironic looking back at the experience several years later.  And, I was not elected in case you were wondering although,  it was pretty close.  But, no regrets because, I truly avoid being judgmental or Judge Mental.  No pun intended.  
 Judgmental is a negative word to describe someone who often rushes to judgment without reason.  It is someone who forms many opinions.  Usually harsh or critical ones.  Wayne Dyer stated about opinions, "One of the highest places to get is being independent of the good opinions of other people."  I have learned in life that many who are quick to form an opinion or cast harsh judgment are individuals who wish they were in your shoes.  You see, when you get to a point in your life where you know that opinions are just that an opinion, then you have made it - you are on the road to success in any endeavor of your choosing.  What others think about you is really none of your business.  The only opinion that matters is what you think about yourself.  If you lose sleep over the opinion of others, then perhaps, the problem lies with you, not the opinionated.  By worrying about what others think about you, you are giving "others" power over you.  I read a quote once where it said, "I used to care about what people thought about me until one day I tried to pay my bills with their opinion."  Very funny but absolutely true.  
 Many individuals from family and friends ask me for my opinion on certain things.  I believe that if you need someone else's approval, because that is what you are asking for when you ask for an opinion before making a decision, then, you should not do what ever it is you're contemplating.  You are obviously not sure.  So, the best thing to do is, not to do!  You are not ready or it is not for you.  Internally you know it is not your thing.  That is why you need someone else's approval or opinion.  If it is your bliss, you will know it.  It can be selling ice cubes in a desert.  If it is your calling, you'll know it.  Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in 1964, when trying to explain hard core pornography or what is obscene material stated, "...I know it when I see it..."  The same is true about your calling in life, with a slightly different spin, you'll know it when you feel it!! Independent of other's opinions.  Just follow your heart.  If your bliss is selling t-shirts on Fort Lauderdale beach, while wearing Birkenstock sandals and shorts or wearing thousand dollar suits working on Wall Street, just go for it.  Growing up in government subsidized housing in New York City with the bare bone minimums in life that my parents provided would not have led me to be an attorney if I would have listened to the "so called good opinions of other."  Unfortunately, that would also include the opinion of family members.  And not because they did not love me.  But, because they were not enlightened and had fears and doubts themselves.  I believe, the best advise, you can give someone is very simple.  Advise them to just do it!  And, when they ask you, yes, but what do you think?  My response is the same, Just do it.  That is the only way to really know if it is the right decision.  And, if it does not work out the way you planned it, you would have learned from the experience and you will never wonder or ask that horrible question in the future which is "I should have done..."  The measure of success in life is what you define what success is.  Not what others define for you.  I leave you with the following poem;
  "The moment you move into judgment
  about something, all learning stops.  
  The moment you've made a judgment
  you've locked yourself into a particular
  position and you can't move beyond it.    And when you can't move you can't grow." 
           Lynda Austin
     Just a thought

Desire is one of the most important ingredients in your quest to success.  It is what we call the , "fire in your belly."  Or the will to kill!! Metaphorically, of course!!  Without desire, there can be no starting point.  If there is no starting point, there is not action.  Without any action, there is no beginning and therefore, no accomplishment.  This makes a lot of sense if you think about it.  Without desire, you are paralyzed mentally;  akin to being in a vegetative state.  Without desire, you will not write the book you were thinking about writing.  Without desire, you will not learn to play the piano.  Without desire, you will not learn to horseback ride.  Without desire, you will not open up the pizza shop, or ice cream shop, or any other shop that you were thinking about.  Many individuals erroneously confuse hope with desire but, it is not the same.  Hope is just a wish with no action.  Hope is cheap because you do not need any action or effort.  
 With a strong desire, you will take action to accomplish whatever it is that you want to.  Strong desire will attract to you a direct pathway to succeed.  It will bring you opportunities related to your desires through the law of attraction.  A great example of this is when you desire a certain make and model for a vehicle and all of a sudden you start to see that exact make and model constantly on the road.  This law of attraction is a universal law.  It does not know the difference between good or bad, positive or negative.  It is at work whether you believe in it or not or whether you understand it or not.  I enjoy researching, reading and writing about motivational and spiritual topics.  And, because that is my bliss and where I focus my desire, I always, without failing, am directed to those topics to feed my desire -  the fire in my belly.  I describe it as a two way street.  I put my energy and desire in a specific area, (going out) and, I then receive, (coming back) people, research or things in that area.  It attracts back to me  through the law of attraction what I desire.  The amazing thing about this is you can do this with anything you desire, as long as it is for the common good.  
 Some may describe this as luck or chance.  But, isn't it a coincidence that luck or chance always seem to happen to the individuals that have a strong desire to succeed.  If you evaluate your life and connect the dots, you will conclude that  everything that you have accomplished up to now started with a desire.  Individuals will not do or truly accomplish anything if they have no desire to do so.  I am not referring to things that we do not desire but we do anyway like cleaning your cat's litter box or picking up after your dog.  Although, I can argue that you did desire to have a cat or a dog.  That is just my positive way at looking at my life.  However, the desire I am referring to is an intense spiritual desire that will activate and fertilize your inner seed to succeed.  I leave you with a poem on point titled, "Desire."
   Where true love burns, desire is love's 
   pure flame, that takes its meaning from 
   from the nobler part, and translates 
   the language of the heart.
        Samuel Taylor Coleridge
       Just a thought

Illusion is defined as a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses.  Or it can also be a deceptive appearance or impression.  If we only rely on our senses, we are selling ourselves short.  When we are sleeping for example, all our senses are shut down.  The deeper question that should be asked is what is consciousness?  Is consciousness only perceived through the sense as we are led to believe?  The real issue is not necessarily do we need out senses because I am sure we would all agree that losing a sense or two would be horrible but, is it truly necessary to have all our senses while we are conscious?  Think about this for a moment. We can go into a dark soundproof room and close our eyes and mediate.  In that state we can still see images in our mind.  We can also still have memories of how things taste and smell.  We can also hear through our minds sounds and other things like music.  My point is that although, we do not want to lose any of our senses, your mind is very powerful.  It is the controller of your body.  What you allow in your mind is crucial to the standard of life.  If you fill it with positive thoughts and pleasantries then, that will be your life blue print.  If you fill it with negativity then, you will breed what you sow.  
 From a spiritual perspective, your subconscious mind is very impressionable.  By this I mean that in your conscious state, we need to be alert in what you put in your mind because the subconscious will pick up the thoughts or ideas and eventually bring them to fruition.  A  person's perception through their senses becomes their reality.  That is the beauty of having the free will to choose the type of life you want to live.  I remember having a conversation once at my son's school with an individual about a negative topic that she had an interest in discussing.  I advised her to look at her problem through a more positive prism.  Her response was something that has always stayed with me but, it is very common with the majority of individuals.  She said, "Oh then you're living in denial."  My response to her was, "I just rather think positive."  Not only did our conversation terminate, but I never heard from her again.
 I have learned through life that most individuals like to talk about negative topics and,  subjects  that make them angry.  Anger is a very powerful emotion.  It triggers in individuals a response.  Mostly negative but not always.  I know many individual, myself included, that have verbally said thing when angry that we wish we can take back.  What I have also learned in life is that if you live in a state  of negativity or anger, it can have dire consequences on your physical and mental health.  If you are in that state for long periods of time it would seem that your perception of life starts to be an illusion.  Wayne Dyer stated, "it's not the snake bite that kills you, it's the venom that stays in your system that will kill you."  This could not be stated any better.   So why live a negative life?  It makes absolutely no sense to me.  We are all here for a short period of time.  Lets take advantage of this time to be creative and accomplish whatever it is you want to accomplish.  This is how you leave this world a better place.  I have made my choice! I pray to the  powers to be that you join me on this journey.  You will never regret it.  I leave you with the following poem titles, "An Illusion."
   "Life is just a dream,
   there is no reality,
   life is only an illusion,
   nothing real you see,
   We're living in a time warp,
   a different space and time,
   everything you see around you,
   it's just a figment of your mind.
   Each second that ticks by is your past,
   the future is only a dream,
   life is only a fleeting moment,
   the rest is history.
   Yes life is just an illusion,
   never take it seriously.
   Nothing you see is real,
   there is no reality. "
          John Read
        Just a though

Your face says a lot about you.  According to Jean Haner, an expert in face reading and author of the wisdom of your face.  Your face can determine your diet, mood, pain, lifestyle and your happiness.  In our face we carry messages wittingly or not, for the public to see.  I have been studying faces my whole adult career in my work.  And I can tell you that more often then not I can correctly reveal much about a person without ever having a verbal conversation.  As a police officer, whenever I made contact with an individual, I had a pretty good idea what the answers were going to be to the questions I asked prior to their answers.  Later in my undercover narcotics work the same was true.  Just by looking at a person's face I can say with a high degree of certainty whether everything was going as planned.  In my current career as an attorney, the same is true.  As a parent, husband, friend the same applies.  Therefore, your face is a window into your life and whether you like it or not, it is a public exposure of all your yesterdays.  Regardless of how one may try to change their face with make-up or facial hair, it is unavoidable.  
 This is all basic public information.  You do not need a college degree to understand this.  Ever since Charles Darwin first compared the emotional displays of humans and animals, it has been argued by many so called experts that humans exhibit six basic emotions via six core facial expressions: happiness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger and sadness.  Even in our current world situation where many are wearing  masks due to a pandemic, information can still be obtained.  In this situation the eyes, eyebrows and forehead become the focus of attention.  I am not here to give you a lesson on facial expressions.  My interest is using a person's face as a window into their life.  If a person walks around signally to the world through there facial expressions that they are a victim, fearful, doubtful, unsure, unambitious, clueless etc..., they will attract into their lives exactly that.  We have all heard the phrase "birds of a feather flock together."  This proverb dates back hundreds of years meaning that people of similar interests, background, ideas or characteristics will often congregate or hang out with each other.  
 There is a law of attraction.  Simply put, the law of attraction is the ability to attract into our lives whatever it is we are focusing on.  If we look at ourselves as victims, then through your face, which is the window of your world for the public to see, will attract exactly that into our lives.  You will just keep getting more of the same to reinforce that you are a victim.  Your face is an indication of who you are based on your past or your many yesterdays.  However, the good news is that, that is your past.  You can change your tomorrow by what you do today.  Your past is done.  It is your history.  Accept it and move on.  It has no bearing on your tomorrow.  If you and only you decide to change.  Start today to walk through life with your chin up, shoulders back and an awe of confidence and suddenly your life will completely change for the better.  Just like turning on a light switch in a dark room.  You will start attracting only the best things in your life that you want.  Whether it's health, wealth, love or anything else, it's allwaiting for you.  You just need to understand that you are a magnet and once you open up all that is positive you will attract the same in kind. I leave you with two quotes on point.    
  "A face painted in a picture gives a pitifulparody of life.  But, a painted surface lives."             Kazimir Malevich
  "Are we to paint what's on the face, what's inside the face, or what's behind it?"
           Pablo Picasso
       Just a thought

I have always had an interest in the  unknown.  The study of beyond the physical world.  Many believe what they can only see with their eyes.  I believe there is so much more than just the physical plane.  Everything you need, you already have inside of you.  I read once where a common cold takes about a week to go away if you go to  a doctor and get a prescription.  But, ironically, it takes a week to heal from a cold if you do nothing.  Dr. Richard C. Cabot, of Harvard told a gathering of his Harvard doctors, "the body has a super wisdom force which is biased in favor of life rather than death."  What is that "super wisdom force?"  In that question, I believe is the answer to life.  I have yet to have found any literature on a surgeon who after a surgery found the thing that keeps a physical body alive.  I am referring to your essence or your soul.  That thing that we all have inside of us that keeps us alive.  The commander within.  We all have it, the homeless, inmate, doctor, lawyer, professor etc...  This thing inside us is odorless, formless, weightless.  It does not discriminate.  And I know this because we all have it regardless of color, creed, sexual orientation, country of origin, religion etc... From  my experience as a New York City police officer, I have seen several individuals die at the scene of a crime or accident and at the time when they transition into the so called after life, nothing happens.  I once had a person in such setting die in my arms and he didn't weigh any less in life as in the moment of death. 
 That is the secret of life.  The secret of great success.  That is the means by which all of  life exist.  And, we all have that.  It is a necessary component of life.  The all powerful commander in us that leads us to our bliss in the physical world and in the afterlife when we go back to our source.  This is the god in each and everyone of us.  We are more than just bodies.  There is a reason for each and everyone of us on why we are here at this time on earth.  This god in us is the universal subconscious mind.  God is not your body but your sense of being.  I believe that once we transform into the afterlife we reunite with our source.  I do not believe, as many religions want you to believe that you will reunite with family and friends in paradise or heaven.  I believe we all become one.  We go back to this source where our souls all come together and we are all one with the all powerful source.  This source is in everything.  It will be the ultimate pure,  unconditional love.  That is why we never die.  Our physical bodies will die but not the "I" which is in all of us.  I leave you with a quote on point.
  "Not how long, but how well you have 
   lived is the main thing."
              Seneca
        Just a thought

In general, we are all concerned about foods that are needed to nourish and sustain our bodies.  Without eating food, the body will weaken and ultimately die.  We can look at countless articles about nutrition and what foods to eat for any type of condition.  There are so many nutritional articles that it is similar to the countless different types of drugs that are made available by pharmaceutical companies.  Articles from fasting to the type of water we drink and everything else in-between.  Every time a new year arrives, millions set a New Year's resolution related to nutrition.  Usually this involves some sort of promise to change what they perceive to be bad foods or eating habits into moral categories.  Individuals like to blame food for many of their problems.  Problems from relationship failures, weight, appearance, physical health, mental health, violent behavior etc…  These are all excuses used for unacceptable choices that individuals make.  Food is not the problem!!  I am not saying you should eat potato chips and donuts everyday and wash it down with a six pack of beer.  If that is the way you are interpreting this article then, that is just another excuse in your arsenal for bad choices.  I believe that your attitude toward food and balance is the key.  
 Mental attitude towards food is a huge component in nutrition that is usually not addressed.  Similar to a sugar pill.  If in my mind I believe that this grilled filet mignon that I am about to devour is going to be a good choice, at that particular time for me, then it will have great nutritional value.  If on the other hand, I think it will not be a good choice, then it will not have nutritional value to me and in fact, it may even get me sick.  Your mind is a very powerful component regarding your nutrition.  You also need balance in your diet.  Mixing up the different proteins and adding a blend of fruits and vegetables will also be very helpful.  However, to me, the most important component for a healthy lifestyle, which you can incorporate everyday,  is a diet of soul food.
 I am not referring to the traditional ethnic cuisine traditionally prepared and eaten by African Americans in the Southern part of the United States.  I am referring to food for your soul.  As important to the food we eat is the thoughts we put in our minds.  Healthy food for our souls are thoughts of love, gratitude, service to others, laughter, joy, happiness, etc... Unhealthy foods for the souls are thoughts of hatred, fear, doubt, jealousy, anger, selfishness, etc...Gratitude and love are very powerful emotional activators.  "When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity." Elie Wiesel.  In order to show a path for success, you must show gratitude for all you have, past, present and future.  Regardless of how little you perceive to have.  
 With respect to love, "Love is life.  And if you miss love, you miss life."  Leo Buscaglia.  This type of love is not to be confused with lust.  I am alluding to a deep unconditional spiritual love towards everyone.  The love that only sees the best in people.  A heart that forgives.  A mind that forgets the unpleasant, and a soul that never looses faith in the universe and the god that is within each and every one of us.  In order to reach this stage of love in your life, you must first love yourself.  If you don't love yourself, then unfortunately, you will not get to the aforementioned unconditional love.  It may sound selfish and arrogant to say, you must love yourself, but, it is not.  Those are just barriers that were put in our minds by unenlightened people in our lives.  This type of love I am referring to is in every single soul.  It has no limits.  It is boundless and divine.  You can not give love, if you feel, erroneously, that you don't have this type of love internally to give.  Therefore, look deep into your soul by meditating and I will guarantee you, you will connect to this most powerful element of your existence that is pure love.  Hopefully you will start your new soul food diet and accomplish your every desire in life.  I leave you with a quote on point.
  " When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out, and the tide of love rushes in." 
        Kirsten Armstrong
       Just  a thought

Water is the most powerful and necessary element for existence.  It is defined as a colorless, transparent, odorless, liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.  All living things, from tiny cyanobacteria to a giant blue whale, need water to survive.  Without water, life as we know it would not exist.  And, life exist wherever there is water.  All organisms like animals and plants, use water.  "Water Ology."  In addition, about 71 percent of the earth's surface is water covered and, the oceans hold about 95.5 percent of all the earth's water.  "USGS Science for a changing world."  Moreover, water is stronger than rock.  Not in density but in fluidity.  By this I mean that a constant dripping of water on a rock will eventually cause the rock to wear down and fall apart.  From a physical perspective, water is very powerful.
 Spiritually, water is used as part of nature to connect you to your source.  And why wouldn't it?  Up to 60 percent of the human body is water, with specific organs having a higher percentage of water.  "HH Mitchel journal of biological chemistry."  Many religions use water signifying divine life as well as a sign of purity and cleansing from a spiritual perspective.  It also, has a therapeutic value.  It relaxes the body.  Simply soaking in warm water encourages relaxation.  If you ever had the experience of  entering a steam room, it is totally relaxing.  And, the warm water rolling off my body gives me a feeling that my body is releasing toxins.  In fact, some of my intense meditation has occurred while in a steam room.  For me, it truly is a mesmerizing and rejuvenating experience.  
 For our family vacations we seem to gravitate towards areas that are surrounded by water.  I can declare that just sitting on a pier or beach and looking out onto the ocean is truly a spiritual experience for me.  I enjoy meditating surrounded by water.  I can feel the energy and power of the water entering my body.  When I am in this state, I envision myself standing on the edge of the beach on the sand where the ocean water starts to break onto the sand.  I am stretching my arms out gently falling into the water face down.  I then start to painlessly feel my body filling with water, stretching out like a giant and becoming part of the ocean.  But, instead of drowning and dying,  I am invigorated  with life and the power of the ocean is within me.  For me it is when I truly connect to my source and barriers like doubt, worries or fear disappear.  No physical or mental distress.  Just pure love.  A total feeling of connection to the universe and God.  At this stage, it is like I have become something other than human.  There is absolutely nothing that I can not accomplish or resolve at this stage.  Eventually, I understand that I have to come back to the physical plane.  And, obviously I do or I would not be here at this time writing this article.  However, I totally come back a new and energized person.  So there you have it, my experience with the power of water in conjunction with mediation.  I leave you with the following quote.  
  "For whatever you lose like a you or a me. 
  It's always ourself we find in the sea."
           EE Cummings
      Just a thought

Ultimately isn't service why we are all here.  Service means being unselfish.  It means doing something for someone without any expectations of anything in return.  It is also an expression of  love.  Our parents served us. And, because they served us and loved us unconditionally, we are who we are today.  We all serve one way or another.  The majority of individuals that serve do not get acknowledged.  Individuals in public service, or the military may get acknowledgment  because of the nature of their service but, there are countless examples of everyday mundane activities that individuals do that we will never know about.  They are the unsung heroes of society.    In the lyrics of a song titled "Hero," it could not be stated any better.
 "...Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size, making special sacrifices for others in their lives, no one gives them medals, the world doesn't  know their names, but in someone's eyes they're heroes just the same."  Paul Overstreet.  As I am writing this article, the world is going through a pandemic, COVID-19.  I see first hand individuals unselfishly serving others.  From the first responders, doctors, and nurses to individuals delivering food, drive through window fast food clerks to shelve stockers and cashiers at gas stations and super markets.  These are the people referred to in the aforementioned lyrics.  And, there are many others serving us in every aspect of life that are taken for granted.  
 This is the type of service that opens up the road to your success.  Success comes in many ways.  But, service is a way of being.  A way to bring you closer to your essence.  A way to activate the law of being.  If you meet that calling, its a feeling like no other.  
  "Success is the sum of small efforts,
  repeated day in and day out,
  with never a thought of frustration,
  with never a moment of doubt.
  Whatever your cherished ambition,
  begin now to make it come true,
  through efforts, repeated, untiring,
  plus faith in the thing that you do."
         Florence Taylor
 Service is also an important ingredient  in manifesting your desires in life.  By putting out an idea or product that will better serve the people, it will benefit you in whatever it is you want to manifest.  Individuals  will pay for a service or product  that will benefit them.  If I publish a book, for example that benefit's the reader, the reader will pay me for it.  If it does not benefit the reader, they either, are not going to purchase it after reading the introduction or, purchase it and tell others not to if  they felt it was not worth it.  However, by me publishing a book on something that is helpful to the reader is a service I am doing and the act of  the consumer purchasing my book and telling others to do the same is, them rewarding me for my service.  Obviously, the better the book, the grander the service.  The bigger the reward.  
 Therefore, whether it is spiritual or material success you are looking for, you have to look within yourself.  Whatever it is that will nourish your internal seed of success that we are all endowed with by our creator, will reflect in your external success.  Just like in a acorn rests the potential of a beautiful, strong oak tree, so does it in our internal seed of success.  In both cases it just needs to be planted and nourished.  I leave you with the following poem.
  "As we go about our days, it is important to understand that we are solely accountable for the life that we are creating, cultivating and harvesting.  Those that mindfully plant the love seeds can help those that are watering seeds of suffering.  We are all gardeners and we are all here to grow love!  Let's make the gardens of our minds, hearts and souls be filled with beauty." 
        Thich Nhat Hanh
       Just a thought

Chances are, if you are reading this article, you are considering changes in your life.  Something is calling you.  There is a burning desire to do something.  You are feeling a force within you telling you it is time.  There is a calling, but you are scared to answer it.  Many have answered the call.  For example, when Arnold Schwarzenegger was asked how did he accomplish reaching the top of his bodybuilding and acting careers, he simply answered, "Drive."  Many individuals have ideas but very few put them into action.  You have to almost take a careless approach and let loose.  And, if you go for it and the results are not what you envisioned, so what!  Your experience will eventually get you closer to your goal.  There are so many individuals that over think an idea.  If you have to think about it that much, chances are, it is not what you really wanted in the first place.  The reason some over think is because they want to come up with reasons why they should not do what it is they are thinking of doing
 Accomplishers are willing to fail in order to accomplish.  That is exactly where you need to be.  Chances are if you ask any professional athlete if they want to be in a position to win the game for their team? Are they willing to take the chance that many will be disappointed in them if they were to fail?  The answer will be an emphatic YES!  And if that was not the answer, they have no business being a professional athlete.  They understand that just because you fail, it does not mean you are a failure.  They would never had made it that far in their careers if they were worried of failing.  This applies to any chosen career.  Ask any surgeon whether they are worried of failing, and, if the answer is yes, I would not want them operating on me.  Ask any lawyer, if they worried of failing, and if the answer is yes, they will not have much of a practice.  Ask any restauranteur, janitor, police officer, speaker the same question about failing and if the answer is yes, chances are they are unsuccessful in their chosen careers.
 Physically, individuals do not like to be confined.  They prefer to be able to move around freely.  No difference with your spirit or soul or your essence.  Call it whatever you want to call it.  It wants to be able to expand.  Once our bodies physically leave this plane, our souls will reconnect with our source and be free from the confines of the human body.  But, I am presently, as we all should be, focused on expanding while we are here at this time and at this place.  This burning desire that we get about doing somethin g, I believe is our souls talking to us about the importance of  doing whatever it is that will satisfy that burning desire.  Just one little caveat.  This desire, has to be for the betterment of society as a whole.  I am obviously not referring to a desire towards a vice or any other destructive behavior.  We do not have to wait until physical death for expanding our desires to be free.  We can expand and be free while alive by feeding our burning desire to accomplish what we want to accomplish.  We should listen to our soul.  Chances are you will be successful and happy.
 I leave you with a poem on point titled, "The Voice."
  "There is a voice inside of you that whispers all day long, "I feel that this is right for me,
  I know that this is wrong."
  No teacher, preacher, parent, friend or
  wise man can decide what's right for you-
  just listen to the voice that speaks inside."
        Just a thought 
   

The difference between old and young is not your physical age.  If fact, I know individuals that are up there in age but are useful, energetic and the type that radiate positive energy.  On the flip side, I know individuals that are physically young in age but are a mess, over weight, inactive, unhealthy and not the type of energy you want to be a part of.  But the real difference between old and young is that young individuals are always looking forward.  They are looking forward to something to feel happy and excited about.  They anticipate, and are excited about something that is going to happen.  The best is yet to come.  
 Old is a totally different lifestyle.  Old looking individuals, and, by old looking I am referring to a mental state, not necessarily your appearance, are usually looking in their rear view mirror.  They feel their best days are gone.  Their thought process is usually retirement and whether they are going to have enough in their golden years.  Retirement is an atrocious word in the dictionary.  There is a negative connotation attached to it.  To me it means you are done growing.  And, I hate to inform you but if you are done growing, the next stage of your life is death.  If you are done growing, you become useless.  That is the stage where you become a burden on your loved ones.  
 The question is how do you want to live your life, regardless of age?  I remember leaving a grocery store once with my wife and our two young daughters and as I was pushing the cart to our vehicle, I started picking up speed and jumping on the cart where your feet are off the ground and just enjoying the ride.  My wife and daughters were laughing but my wife overheard a little girl asking her mom, "mom why can't I do that?"  And, her mom's response was " because grown ups should not do that, besides you can get hurt."  I was unaware, that grown ups could not do that activity or that I can get hurt!  I do not recall reading anywhere that as I get physically older, I have to forgo having fun in life.  
 Life brings you what you desire.  Whether it is good, bad, forward or backward looking.  So, why not always look forward?  I submit to you that maybe the retirement mindset should be changed with a "career change," way of looking at this specific time in your life.  If you look at your "retirement," more as a career change, it becomes forward looking.  It is similar to looking at it as a professional athlete moving on from his playing days to a career in the broadcast  booth or a career in a business venture.  Or a lawyer or doctor, moving on to a different career after their time of providing services terminate, either by choice or by nature.  I leave you with a poem on point titled "Staying Young"
  "I've something to say to you older folks,
  and you young folks listen too, 
  for what I'm about to say, will some day
  apply to you.
  I know that some of you older folks 
  are happily retired,
  and have no ties to bind you, and work
  is no longer required.
  So you're sitting around in idleness,
  each day becomes a bore.
  You're beginning to start thinking,
  there's nothing worth living for.
  You'd like to be in some business,
  but think it's too late to begin,
  well, I'll tell you about a business,
  that all of you can be in.
  Be in the business of staying young,
  make staying young a career,
  don't live in the past, plan a future,
  look forward to each added day.
  Don't sit around and sigh, and let
  the world pass you by.
  Get with it and stay with it, all you have
  to do is try. "
         Author Unknown"
      Just a thought
  

I would bet that most, if not all ideas, that materialize into making an impact for the better in the world originated in silence.  I can say unequivocally that my best ideas have always originated when I was in a state of silence.  I believe that is so, because silence takes us closer to our source.  Meaningful prayer or meditation is done in silence.  In silence, we block out all external distractions which helps us focus on what it is we are trying to accomplish.  If you think about it, any activity that requires your mind and  thought process to activate, is performed in silence.  Walk into any library and the first rule is to be silent.  Why is silence so important? Why is silence, which, in reality is literally nothing, so important?  Because in a spiritual  way it takes you to another dimension.  
 This nothingness which is odorless, weightless, and formless in essence is God.  God by all accounts is all love.  Anything that is good or loving is God.  When I refer to God, I am referring to a universal power that is all present.  I am not referring to a religious God.  I am not a religious person.  However, I am a spiritual person.  My purpose in life is to open the reader's mind to  a life of total abundance in all aspects, not to convert anyone into any religion or association.  There can only be good in the world because if god is all love then love can not create evil or bad.  The evil that does exist is created by individuals, not pure love.  Unfortunately, I have ample experience in dealing with evil in my past career as a New York City police officer.  I can only conclude from seeing and dealing with evil, that it is  all individually made.  
 In general,  a common denominator for individuals that do evil things is that they have this erroneous belief that they are walking alone in life.  That life has dealt them a bad hand.  That some are meant to be successful and others are not.  And, the ones that are not are supposed to work for the ones that are.  That is just the way they perceive life in their minds.  Nothing could be farther  from the truth!!  We were all created from the same source.  There is no easier way of saying it.  The problem as I see it, is that individuals that choose an undesirable life, have separated from their source.  From pure love or God.  No matter what the path ahead looks like we are never alone.  "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."  Psalm 23:4
 Silence is how to reconnect or stay connected to your source.  Silence is a very powerful tool.  If you look at successful individuals in all walks of life, they seem to find a way to reconnect with this all powerful source.  For me mediation is a way to accomplish this.  I usually meditate just before falling asleep at night.  But, it is also wise to meditate when an issue arises and you need answers.  More often then not, when I meditate, I find what I am looking for.  I leave you with a poem about silence.
 "Silence is profound.
 Silence is a conversation.
 Silence is an expression.
 One that can not be heard.
 Silence can not be spoken.
 Although it is a word.
 Silence is a presence of great nothingness.
 Silence can be something.
 And yet cease to exist.
 Silence can fill a room .
 And have no mass at all.
 Silence can not be dropped.
 Yet it can fall.
 Silence is a mystery.
 That will forever go unsolved.
 Silence is how every sound,
 can swiftly be dissolved.
 Silence is the sound of rest.
 The only sound that can sound best.
 While other sounds can cause great pain,
 silence is not the sound of blame.
 For silence is what silence is.
 Something that is nothing.
 Nothing that exist. 
      Author Unknown
     Just a thought

In essence, we are all  dots on the canvass of life.  Being born and raised in New York City has had a significant impact in how I view life.  I was always amazed and still am at how many people are concentrated in such a small geographical area such as New York City.  Manhattan, which is one of the boroughs of New York City, where I was born and raised, has an estimated population of 1.63 million people all living an area of just 23 square miles.  This gives Manhattan a population density of 70,826 people per square mile.  Manhattan is the most densely populated of the five New York City boroughs.  On weekends, the number of commuters pushes the Manhattan population to more than 3.9 million, or 170,000 people per square mile.  "World Population Review."
 Needless to say, growing up in New York City has had a tremendous impact on how  I view life.  As a kid I would just walk around amazed at the amount of people all heading in different directions.  It is more common than not to see thousands of people walking down any given street constantly at any given time of the day or night.    It truly is the City that never sleeps.  Similar to your soul or energy or your spirit or call it whatever you want to but one thing for sure, it never sleeps.  Think about it, what do you think keeps you alive and all your organs functioning when you are sleeping?  I always had questions about not just my existence, but our existence collectively.  My questions could never be answered.  I would approach my parents but they could not answer them.  They would advise me to go see our catholic priest.  I would approach our priest and He could not answer my questions.  He would bless me and tell me to recite the Holy Mary prayer 10 time so I can be forgiven for asking and, sent me on my way.  Looking back, he probably advised my parents to get me to a shrink as soon as possible because I was possessed by some negative force.  Just kidding!! But, the bottom line is that no one can answer my questions about life or who we are or what we are doing here?    Then, it finally hit me.  I was looking in all the wrong places.  It was not that they held the secrete from me but that they themselves did not know the answers.
 The only person that can answer the aforementioned questions was staring me in the face every time I looked in the mirror.  That is right!  The only person that can answer my questions is me.  I do not believe I possess any special powers.  Although, my parents named me at birth Jesus.  However, when I became an adult I had my birth name changed to Jay.  Maybe, they saw something special in me!! Just kidding, although they did name me Jesus. By all accounts, I was a "normal" kid, whatever that means.  I participated in sports and had a normal social life.  But, I always had this desire to go deeper into not just what we see with our eyes but what we do not see.  So the answers to my questions came from reading, research and just plain old common sense.  This journey has lead to my enlightenment.  It was a total feeling of euphoria!! I have always been told, I beat to the beat of a different drummer.  I used to think that was an insult but, after my enlightenment I realized it is a compliment.  
 It does not matter, where we live or how we were raised or any other obstacles or self imposed identifiers we want to use.   We are all a dot on a canvass.  That canvas is life.  We can be a shining dot or a dot that blends in.  That decision comes from our will to choose and be whoever we want.  I remember hearing Steve Jobs commencement speech at Stanford University where he stated, " … you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.  So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in the future.  You have to trust in something- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever..." June 14, 2004  
 There are approximately 8 billion people on the planet currently.  That is a lot of dots on the canvas of life.  The question you may want to ask is, do you want to be the shining dot connected to your source with all the powers that are rightfully yours from birth or would you rather be the dot that blends in with the other dots and just goes along like a waive in the ocean and gets send in any direction that the wind blows. I leave you with a quote on point by David Byrne.
 "Everything's intentional.  It's just filling in the dots."  
    Just a thought
     

As I go through life, I have decided that I would rather not be loved, than be loved for someone that I am not.  I have sometimes been told that I am bold, some times abrupt.  Opinions of others have never bothered me.  Someone's opinion of me is their problem.  How I react or change my ways because of their opinion is my problem.  Once you figure this out, your relationships with others become stronger.  This does come with some discord.  In fact, I have severed relationships because to me, they are just not worth it.  And, if it is not worth it for me, it would also be in the best  interest for the other party to part ways.  In a relationship, whether it is biological or non-biological, I ask, what is in it for me?  This may sound selfish but let me explain.  I am not asking this question for material gain, I ask what is in it for me, from a spiritual or psychological perspective.  In other words is this person going to contribute to my spiritual or psychological growth?
 I am not a marriage counselor but it appears to me that, that is why a majority of relationships and marriages fail.  I have had several failed relationships in my life.  And, every time, not sometimes, but, emphatically, every time a relationship has not worked out it has been all, 100% my fault.  So to all of my past relationships, a quick shout out apology.  You see, I have failed in my self imposed golden rule to inquire about the spiritual or psychological aspects of the relationship.  Once I applied my golden rule and met  my wife, the mother of my 2 daughters, It truly was a life changer for both of us as a team.  On a spiritual and psychological level it was perfect.  We have heard in the past that once a couple marries that they become one.  Absolutely wrong!! Who ever said that is probably divorced.  The way I see it,  when you find "the one," you both become individually stronger not weaker.  Think about it, if you become one, what does that mean? That you both become 1/2 a person?  And, if you become one, who chooses?  You get my point.   There is nothing that 2 individuals on the same page, with the same or similar goals can not accomplish.  
 This self imposed golden rule does come with a cost.  That is that it applies to every relationship.  I have distanced myself from family members because of it.  Regardless of who it is.  If I feel the relationship drains all my energy or puts me in a negative frame of mind, I start questioning it and, if I am true to my word and apply my golden rule, I either terminate it completely or limit considerably any contact with that person.  Understand that sometimes a family member truly loves you or wants the best for you but in essence they are the ones that hold you back.  Parents, for example seem to be the ones that hold back their children.  Not necessarily because they do not love them but the opposite.  Because they don't want you to fail.  But, the fear of failure is the parent's fear, not the child's.  Most people are not enlightened so they see the world through the prism of doubt and fear.  So ultimately, you are the one that needs to decide whether to terminate that relationship or limit your contact with that parent or family member.  Now , I am not saying that we should all terminate our relationships with family member.  But, beware of the pitfalls.  Maybe at the minimum, do not discuss your goals and aspirations with them if they are not similar to yours.
 When you add the power of two individuals to a common goal, chances double that you will succeed.  It is common sense.  When 2 individuals physically lift an object, it is much easier that 1 individual alone doing all the lifting.  No different when 2 or more individuals have a common goal, it is much easier to accomplish and materialize what they want.  I call it TEAM -
-Together
-Every
-Asking
-Materializes; 
 I leave you with a quote on point by Henry Ford. "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success." 
      Just a thought 

Remember back in time when we behaved in a way that was not suitable to a parent or adult and they would say to you "Grow UP!!"  Well, I am here to tell you that maybe that was not wise advise.  I understand what they were alluding to.  That one day we will get older and get a real job and in some cases support a family.  But, I believe you can accomplish the aforementioned rules that society has placed upon us but still never grow up in a spiritual sense.  Growing up to me has a negative connotation.  Growing up is supposed to tell us that we are established members of society.  That we have followed all the rules that were imposed upon us.  That we are part of a herd.  Followers of a preconceived plan.  If that is what growing up means, please count me out!
 There is no problem with living your life as a  dependent.  I am not saying dependent on your parents, family or government.  I am referring to a spiritual dependency.  A dependency on your source.  You see, we were all created from the same source regardless of what you call it.  We came from that source and we will one day go back to that source.  Think about it, when we were in our mother's womb, all our needs were taken care of.  This thing that I call source took care of us.  The fetus had no worries.  It was all nature doing the work.  I am not downplaying the roll of a mother because obviously we would not be here if it was not for our mothers.  But, in a spiritual way, things came out the way they were supposed to.  
 This child once born, has absolutely no fears.  They pull themselves up when they are ready and start walking.  If they fall and bumped their head, they would probably get up and try again.  It is only when a parent or adult in the room run frantically towards them to help them with a concerned look on their face that the infant starts to lose it and cry uncontrollably.  We put all these fears and subsequent limitations on our children as they "grow up." If we only trust in the source, everything would be better than fine.  In fact, it would be perfect.  Just like nature.  
 Can you imagine living a life understanding that we were all created from a source that only wants what is best for us?  A source that will provide for us if we let it.  As we get older, in the name of growing up,  we start separating from our source and because of this , we start running into problems.  We as adults then are trained to believe that part of growing up is to be able to take care of things ourselves.  The farther away we separate  from our source, the less likelihood of success in any endeavors in life that we choose.  I have chosen to live my life with an understanding that I was created to succeed.  We are all created to succeed.  That is in our creed.  This source that I allude to is pure love.  There are no obstacles to how far we want to go except the obstacles or limitations we put on ourselves.  "It is your attitude not you aptitude that determine your altitude." Zig Ziggler  
 Have faith that you will succeed.  Because it is a guarantee.  Extinguish any doubt.  Fear and doubt are killers.  Walk through life with unfractured faith.  Regress to the days when you were a child and you had no worries but all your needs were taken care of by your parents.  Remember that we are and always will be the children of our source which is pure love.  Think of this source as a parent that only wants what is best for us and will give us anything we desire for the common good.  Have genuine unfettered faith in your source and you will succeed in whatever it is you want to do in life.  I leave you with a quote on point by Albert Einstein.
  "Do not grow old, no matter how long you live.  Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born."    
    Just a thought

I have a real strong belief in my heart that the power of praise and thankfulness goes a long way.  It truly brings the best out of each and every one of us.  Regardless of  who you are or where you have been, it brings us closer to our source.  But, it has to be genuine.   "There is an inherent law of the mind," say Charles Fillmore, "that we increase whatever we praise."  If you think about it, when we want the best and quickest results when we train a dog, what do we do?  We praise them and reward them.  When we want children to perform and show enthusiasm, what do we do? We praise and reward them.  When superiors want the best performance out of you, what do they do?  They praise and reward you.  When corporations want their employees at peak performance, what do they do?  They hire Jay Perez as a motivational speaker! Just being humorous.  They praise and reward them.  People respond to praise and reward.  It is human nature.  And, the person that is doing the praising is also rewarded in a big way as long as it is genuine.  
 I believe that the way you see persons or  things has a tremendous impact in the outcome.  If I see a person who is unpleasant and lacking in manners on the street but I chose to greet them with a sincere smile or a pleasant "hello,"  that experience alone will change both our experiences and outcome.  And, it will bring you closer to your source which is pure love.  Whether you call it the Holy Spirit, Jesus, energy, universal power, Suzy, or Michael.  It really does not matter what you call it.  Many who know me, know that I am not a religious person but I am very spiritual.  I call my source, universal power.  
 Here's an example of a personal experience to help explain it.  Years ago, I was at Coney Island beach in Brooklyn, New York with my young children.  I was distracted checking my phone as I was walking into the entrance of the amusement park section of the beach.  At that time I was in top physical condition and a body builder.  Needless to say, I was pretty buffed.  As I was texting on my phone, I bumped into a male that looked to me to be pretty buffed himself.  He had what I believe to be an attitude problem because he apparently saw me walking straight ahead and could have easily stepped aside and avoided our collision but, he did not.  I say this because he did not have a phone in hand that may have distracted him.  I felt that he was actually looking for a confrontation based on his facial expression, body language and unpleasantries that he expressed.  I then completely controlled the situation by first apologizing then praising him in front of my children in how 2 grown men should handle the situation we were in.  I remember when I praised him, his facial expression went from very aggressive to shock and surprise in a loving and sincere way.   I always wonder what the outcome could have been if I was not an enlightened individual and have chosen a different response.  Perhaps I may not be here today writing this article.  Perhaps I may have done something that I would have truly regretted and it would have changed both our lives forever.  Either way, it drives my point regarding the importance of praising.  
 Praising also brings an increase in whatever you praise.  If it is more money you want, praise whatever you do have even if at this time it is very little.  If it is more love, happiness, respect from you children etc... praise whatever you have and the law of increase will go to work and bring you an increase in what you want.  But remember it has to be genuine.  This practice of gratefulness for what you have opens the flood gates to connecting you to your source which is pure love.  This will clear the pathway for whatever it is you want in life.  For me, the amazing part of this whole thing, is when I learned that I am in total control of my life.  That I have the power to do or be whoever or whatever.  And, we all have this same power.  It is free.  It came with birth.  We all came from the same source and we are all going back to the same source regardless of what you call it.  I finally understand the meaning of the phrase " the truth will set you free."  I leave you with a quote on point by Albert Einstein.
   "The Idea that have lighted my way have been kindness, beauty, and the Truth." 
      Just a thought

Courage is defined as the ability to do something that frightens one.  Remember back when you were a little kid and you feared the dark?  Then, eventually you learned that darkness does not really exist because it was just the absence of light.  So you flipped the light switch and your fear disappeared almost as fast as the light turned on.  When I see successful people, they are not successful because they have something we do not have or that they  possess a certain quality that only successful people possess.  When you break it down, all they have which is what we all have is courage.  They have the courage to start something.  We are all born with it.  If you do nor believe me look at an infant.  An infant can climb on a ledge and laugh while his parents run to the rescue yelling and screaming.  Watch a 3 year old holding on to the edge of a pool and eventually he lets go to reach the other side while his parents are practically having a heart attack.  What changed in the instance the child decided to let go?  Nothing, he just resorted to his inner given seed of courage.  
 We all have been endowed with the seed of courage.  It came free at birth, just as the air we breath is free.  That is all it takes to succeed in any endeavor we choose.  But, we have to get started.  I am not saying that everything you start is going to be a success.  But, it certainly will not succeed if you do not get started.  And, even if it did not result in what you expected, it will strengthen you toward inevitable success.  Unless you start something, the world will never see it.  It is akin to having a beautiful Rolls Royce in your garage but you do not want to start up the engine and drive it because of fear that it will get a chip.  If you study  the history of successful individuals in any industry or sport, the one thing they had in common is that they had no fear and, they got started.  In my opinion, the most severe tragic affecting mankind is an individual who never starts anything.  I read once where an unknown writer stated "every man has within him the making of a great saint and everyone of us has within him the making of a great success."  
 It really does not matter  how old you are or what race you are, or what gender you are or what ethnicity you are or what religion you practice or not.  These are all excuses that throughout time we have created to justify not getting started.  You see, it is easy to do nothing.  It takes no effort.  It takes no courage to do nothing.  There are many who prefer that.  There are many who fear and use every obstacle in the world as an excuse not to get started.  But, in the end, they are only cheating themselves.  We live in the best and most advance democracy on the planet.  But many do not take advantage of this.  This country is a democracy not necessarily of place but of opportunity.  As aforementioned, it does not matter where you came from or if you were born on 5th avenue in NYC  or in the ghetto's of Compton.  Those are all excuses.  We all have an equal opportunity to succeed.  I leave you with a quote by Vincent Van Gogh.  "What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything." 
        Just a thought

Most people look towards the future.  It is great to have future goals.  I have them.  But, I also understand that the future, although I expect it to arrive, may never arrive.  It is not a guarantee.  The past is history.  No matter how much you may want to change your past, I am here to inform you that you will never change it.  Obviously it was what it was and it will always be a part of who you presently are but that is it.  Acknowledge it and move on.  
 Time is NOW.  Most of us are too busy regretting the past or waiting for something in the future.  I had a sister who died not too long ago.  Her eager anticipation when she became a middle aged women was that she could not wait to reach her 65th birthday to collect her meager social security benefits.  She died at 63.  Her anticipation of her 65th birthday never arrived.  I also, have a dear friend who has a plan of someday starting his own business.  Years ago he informed me that once his only daughter goes to college, he will be in a better position to move forward with his dream of opening his own business.  His daughter recently left for college and he told me that once his daughter graduated college that he will pursue  his dream.  He has decided to continue to work his 60 hours a week job that he despises.  
 Whether the future does not arrive because of conditions beyond your control or by choice, it does not matter.  The end result is the same.  The way I see it, most people live on what I call "Someday Island."  Someday, I will do this.  Someday, I will do that.  Someday I will start to work out because I can not go to a gym because of our current pandemic.  Although, they do not have to go to a gym to stay fit.  Then once the pandemic is over, well I will start after the kids go back to school because they need me to spend time with them.  Then after the kids go back to school, well, I will start after I settle in because I have been so busy with them, that now I need a little time to take care of some house projects that I neglected because, I had no time while the kids were home.  Then, I will start as soon as my kid's fall sports activity ends, because I have all the associated activity with the PTO.  Then, after the fall activities end, I will start after the winter because this weather is just too crazy cold.  Then when spring comes, I will start after spring break because the kids are home.  Then after they go back to school, I will start after Spring sports season is over because I can not find the time.  Then after spring sports activities are over, I will start in the fall because school is out for the summer, the kids are home, and I have no time.  You get my point.
 Time is today.  Not what was or what it will be.  The only real time is today. Do what you want to do.  It really makes no difference whether you are a family person with the added responsibilities or a single person.  If you are done growing or creating you will wither away.  If you are not willing to take a chance on what your heart desires, you are either, exactly where you always wanted to be and there is nothing wrong with that or you are unhappy.  Look in the mirror and see the person you want to be and start your journey.  It is never too late.  If you are alive and breathing you have what it takes.  Do not leave this planet with your dreams unfulfilled.  Not only are you depriving yourself but, you are depriving your family and society in general.  We are all here to leave the world a better place.  I leave you with a quote from  John F. Kennedy.  "Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country."  Do for your country what you were put on this earth to do.  Follow your heart and it will lead you in the right direction.
     Just a thought

Do you believe in miracles? I do not.  Let me explain.  In order to believe in a miracle, you have to believe that it was by chance.   I believe, there is a higher power at work here.  You can call this higher power what ever you like.  Some call it Jesus.  Some call it Allah.  Some call it Yahweh etc..  I prefer to call this higher power a source.  Similar to energy.  As I experience life, I have, and continue to study and read about this topic.  I refuse to believe that my physical being is all there is.  There must be a universal source that we came from?  I have witnessed child birth and that experience has contributed to my beliefs.  A doctor with modern medicine assisting my wife with delivering my child, is just that - assisting.  There certainly must be another power or source that is really in control.  
 When you go to sleep at night, you ever wonder who or what keeps your heart beating?  Your other organs functioning?  There has to be something greater than us at work here.  And, this something has to be universal.  It is in every one of us.  It does not discriminate.  It is available to all of us equally.
   In this confusing time where we currently have a pandemic identified as COVID-19 around the world, it reinforces my understanding and necessity to connect with my source.  I do this through the power of  meditation.  Most who know me know that I am not a religious person although, I am very spiritual.  I am not attempting to sell or favor one faith over another.  My purpose is to open people's minds.  It does not have to be religion or else.  You do not have to choose one or the other.  You can be a spiritual person with or without religion.  You see religion needs spirituality whereas spirituality does not need religion.  
 You have the power within to change your life.  It is in all of us.  All you have to do is tap into your source.  I have  described this the following way.  Think about you as a drop of water.  A drop of water has no significant power alone.  However, if you merge that drop of water into the ocean, it has all the power of the ocean.  We are similar in that alone, we are powerless but, if we connect to our source, we are powerful.  For me, I find that I can connect to my source by meditating.  I encourage this practice.  It is extremely soothing and energizing.  Why I do not believe in miracles is because if you truly connect to your source you can achieve or accomplish any of your heart's desires and it becomes routine.  I leave you with a quote by Albert Einstein.
  "There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle."  
 
     Just a thought

Your imagination is very powerful.  I would argue it is the power that was given by our source with a purpose.  The purpose to live however we choose to live.  Who we are today, is the result of what we imagined many yesterdays ago.  Intentionally or unintentionally the net result is who we are today.  It all goes back to your thoughts.  Your thoughts are the seeds of tomorrow.  They create your imagination which in turn is who you are today.  "The world is a looking glass, and it gives back to man the reflection of his own thought."  Thackeray
 We can only do what we think we can do.  We can be only what we think we can be.  We can have only what we think we can have.  What we do, what we are, what we have all depend on what we think.  You can not expect to succeed in anything if you do not think you can.  It is like wanting to travel east but going west.  It makes no sense.  Do not allow distraction to stop you.  Stay focused.  See yourself  obtaining what it is you want.  Visualize it.  Be grateful for everything you have.  Believe in yourself!! Act as if you have already accomplished what you set out to do and you will be looking back, hopefully sooner than later, congratulating yourself for a job well done!!  I leave you with a quote on point by Stephen R. Covey.  "Live out of your imagination, not your history."
      Just a thought

Ambition is defined as, a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination or hard work.  As you read this article, ask yourself how come I am where I currently am?  If you're honest with yourself, the answer for every single person should be one of two possibilities.  Either you have ambition or, you lack ambition.  Either way  it is all on you.  If you have accomplished what you have desired, you have ambition.  If you feel like nothing has gone your way, you need to change your thinking.  All around us there is a universal mind of which it is very impressionable.  This is ours to use.  No strings attached.  Before you go to bed at night impress upon this universal mind what it really is that you want to accomplish.  It can be anything, small or large.  Right when you are dozing off before you fall asleep have that request or vision on your conscious mind.  Then once you are asleep, your subconscious takes over and starts molding your desires.
 The mistake many make is that they give up too soon if they do not see immediate results.  You need to have faith.  And, you need to put yourself out.  In other words, do something towards what ever it is you want.  You should not just sit around doing nothing and expecting to be a millionaire if that is what you wish.  You might ask, How is this possible when I am flipping burgers at McDonald's?  I am here to tell you it is possible.  In fact, not just possible but probable.  Let me show you how.  You are flipping burgers with a huge smile.  You are always on time.  You seldom call off.  You are a helpful teammate.  You ooze positive energy.  The owner takes notice.  You constantly get promoted.  You become the owner's right hand person.  Lo and behold you become a franchise owner.  And, you do not stop there.  You go on to own several other franchises.  Not bad for a hamburger flipper.  Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's wrote in his high school year book that he wanted to flip burgers.  He had a vision.  And look at what he accomplished. It all starts with your mind.  Ambition!!
  Another piece of this painting which is your life is that you need to have a goal or a target.  Quite frankly how can you hit a target or goal if you do not have one?  I bet any one that reads this article that I can make you a better free throw shooter than Lebron James in five minutes - as long as I blindfold Lebron and spin him around a few times.  Even a skilled basketball player needs to have a target to shoot at  or he will fail.  Therefore, set your goals and do something everyday towards your goals.  I am starting with the premise that your goal will serve others.  That is how you accomplish what ever it is you want.  If it is money, you get money from people.  How do you get money from people?  You provide a product or service that will benefit them.  That is how it works.  People will pay you for a "thing" that will benefit them.  This is common sense.  Look around at everything that you paid money for.  I guarantee you, it is something you needed or wanted.  You can not merely ask selfishly for money and expect to get it.  Those are the beggars on the street corner. There is no way to get around this.  Our prisons are full of scammers who have tried to circumvent the rule on how to obtain money.  
  Always remain focused on your goal.  Bumps will come but, they will only make you stronger.  Remain ambitious and never stop.  I am reminded of the "Acres of Diamond" article by Earl Nightingale.  In a nutshell, A farmer sold his farm in search of  diamond mines.  He gave up digging on his farm.  Only to find out that the person who purchased his farm continued digging and discovered one of the most productive diamond mines in the African continent.  Sometimes it is right in front of you but we fail to see it.  Stay focused.  Stay ambitious and you will discover your diamonds.  Regardless of what it is you set your sights on, you will get it.  Whatever the mind can conceive it will achieve.  This is why before you doze of at night you must impress upon you subconscious mind exactly what you desire.  I leave you with a quote on point by Yoshida Kenko.  "Ambition never comes to an end."
       Just a thought    

Just a thought. As I write this article, I am moved by what is currently going on in the world with the coronavirus or as it has been officially titled COVID-19. The response to this novel virus which is related to the influenza virus is of interest to me. First, let’s start with the premise that I am not a scientist. I am not an infectious disease expert. I am not an infectious disease doctor.   I am not a medical doctor. I am not a biochemist etc... You get the point. However, I am a middle age, healthy, happily married, enlightened, father of 6. All this, not because I am better than you but, because I see the world differently than the majority of the almost 8 billion inhabitants on our planet.  
 I truly believe that the way we look at things really contribute to the outcome. I will get back to COVID-19 but, I compare the public response to the so called environmentalists. Some have publicly stated that the world will come to an end really soon, like 12 years, if we do not do something immediately to address climate change. Can it be that nothing really last forever? That whether it is climate or carbon, that the planet is at some point coming to an end? I read once where an Indian Saint, Muktananda was asked "Master, what is real?" and his response was, "That which never changes is real." He was referring to your soul. But, based on that definition, anything other than your soul has an expiration date. We may be able to extend the expiration date of certain things, but it will all disintegrate eventually. Whether it is a steel skyscraper, or the physical body it will reach its expiration date. We can stay fit, eat healthy, rest, not pollute our body with drugs or alcohol and be positive, but we can't avoid the inevitable and that is that nothing will last forever other than your soul or energy as I prefer to label it. That is why in my opinion the environmentalist have it all wrong.  
 People in general are fearful. It is the way we are raised and trained since birth. Your parents kiss you to say goodbye but in the same breath tell you don't get hit by a car. You are on vacation with your family, on South Beach in Miami enjoying the waves and they tell you to be careful about the currents and the sharks. You are learning to ride your bike and are reminded to be careful not to fall off and get hurt or god forbid knock out your adult teeth. Which quite frankly are not supposed to last forever anyway. lol!!! You get the picture. Fear is not real. It is in our minds. Since we are responsible in some way or another for putting it in there, we can easily take it out. It is just a choice we need to make. It is that simple. Albert Einstein said, " The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe." That's it, it's that simple. So, we all have a choice. I have made mine. I know what type of universe I live in.  
 Back to COVID-19, people as aforementioned are fearful. I can't get a roll of toilet paper in the supermarket because of fear. We will get over this. We have control over how we want to respond. We should all be kind to our neighbors. Use this time to bond with your family. Live your life!!!! Do not let the fear of a virus take over not only your physical body but your mind. It will not happen if you do not allow it to happen. Live today!!! Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Yesterday is gone. Live in the now, today!!!! That is why they call it the present. It truly is a present that we are all here at this time. Enjoy life. I look at what is going on with COVID-19 as an opportunity to reflect on my life. To make sure that when my expiration date is called, I will be able to say that I lived my life to the fullest. My advise to all is don't be like Ivan Illyich in the 1886 novel by Leo Tolestoy when on his death bed he tells his accountant that maybe he lived his life all wrong. I know that if my expiration date was called today that I have lived my life to the fullest. And, you should too!!  I leave you with a quote on point by Kevin Welch.  "There'll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read 'em but all that's gonna matter is that little dash between 'em."
        Just a thought

I have pondered who am I? Do you really think that your parents created you?  I believe that we came through our parents.  They obviously had a role but, in the spiritual sphere of the more complex question of who we are or where we came from, they had an insignificant role.  I'm not here to offend any parents.  I'm one myself but it's more complex than what we were led to believe.  We all came from somewhere and we're all going somewhere after our relatively short stay her on earth.  I just need a  moment  to remind 
you that I am not a religious person. However, I am spiritual.  Sometimes I will quote passages from a religious doctrine or book but it is not my intention to sway you towards any religion.  It is universally understood that we are all created from a source.  call it what you want.  Some call it god.  Some call it Jesus.  Some call it universal source. Some religious doctrines reference that we are all created from water etc...  The bottom line is that we are all created from a source.  And, eventually we are all going back to that source.  So just think about this, since we are all created from the same source, that tells me that we all have the same makeup as an Einstein, a Picasso, a Beethoven, or any other genius this world has seen.  However, we are not taught this.  In fact, we are taught the opposite.  We are taught that  we are flawed or inept.  Can you imagine if  we were taught as youngsters that we have all the makings of the geniuses of yesteryear, where we would be presently?  And, in return, where would the world be at this present time?  Therefore, lets stop the cycle of failure and do our part to have an impact not only on our lives but the lives of generations to follow.  It all starts with thinking and how we see things.  It's never to late to use your endowed seeds of success to do your part.  We all have the capability to succeed.  I leave you with quote on point by Albert Einstein.  "The important thing is not to stop questioning.  Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
      Just a thought.