Survive Subtlety with Simplicity
All of us have ‘low’ moments in our lives. The times when you may feel that all is lost, or perhaps you have failed someone you love or care for deeply. It can be a damning experience if we aren’t careful, because it seems to be human nature to brand ourselves through a clouded filter of life and self-reflection.
Let me use myself as the guinea pig here. I’m married to a wonderful woman and have 11 amazing children, 3 incredible grandchildren and a job most people can only dream of. Yet with all that comes a world of responsibility, a world you have to flow with, be aware of and maintain a level of honor, integrity and in all cases accountability.
Well guess what? I screw up a lot. In so many aspects of life, I find myself unable to stay focused on more than the most narrow of subjects. My memory is constantly taxed in each and every endeavor to the point that I rely on others to remember birthdays, holidays, doctors appointments, meetings and all other social engagements. Heck, I even forgot how old I was….twice, and had to ask my wife for confirmation.
This is a mild version of what my point is, and that is: sometimes we let others down.
No matter how hard we try, there’s not a perfect soul among us and sooner or later we will fall short. That’s when we feel the guilt, the shame and frustration, especially when we are giving our lives everything we have. Personally, I try and reinvent myself every day, to do better today than I did yesterday…but try as I might, sometimes the universe makes me out to be a liar.
That’s when simplicity comes into play. Keeping communications clear and concise. Hold a soft heart and an open mind while standing your ground against life. The trick is to clean that perception filter before you find yourself convinced that all is lost, you’re unfit or unworthy to be loved, appreciated or even tolerated. I’ve been there dozens of times and it’s all a lie.
The subtle effects of your environment can cloud your judgment. The key is to fill your heart with love, gratitude and appreciation for others, including yourself. Believe it or not, you’re worth the effort and it can’t rain forever. Hold your ground and wait for a new day while being ready to say ‘I’m sorry’ to those around you.
Read MoreAdventures in the Impossible
Wondering what happened to Wanted Hero? Wondering why the novels haven’t come to pass?
It’s nothing more than life.
The baby was born, I got a new job and opportunities opened up to use every skill and talent I had to improve the lives of others around the world. Truly. It has been a whirlwind of a ride and it has taken all of my strength to hang on.
Working for Crocodiles International and Roger Anthony is wonderful and the relationships formed have opened doors to publication resources unavailable before. That means Wanted Hero is MORE of a probability now than ever. It does mean Kathi and I need to get back to completing the editing of the first book, but that was only put off due to the new baby and the wedding. Those are past and complete now. We are settling in with the papers before us, so know that Wendell, Dax and Chuck are soon going to be on your doorstep once more.
What is the current project at work? The CROCademy. What one of our programmers says will be the very first TRUE social network on the planet. He explained the comparisons, but I think that when they rushed me to the hospital with blood flowing form my ears. I don’t understand the technical definitions, but it sounded cool.
So life moves on, we are getting back on track and the big hopes and dreams of this author are soon to come to fruition.
Read MoreStealing Moments
I had to change the blog. It started to look too much like my life.
Self inflicted crap and confusion. Too complicated when what I want (and need) is simplification and peace. For crying out loud, I’m the father of 11 children now…peace has suddenly become a Holy Grail in my life.
So I hurt the feelings of my sweet wife, who wants me to come to bed and get some rest, so I can sit here and type out my thoughts to you nut jobs. Casting my thoughts into the blogsphere for someone to catch.
Then again, I’m not sure there’s anything unique about an artistic father of 11 who talks to himself and believes in Gnomes, Elves and senile old wizards afraid of fat women in spandex.
Read MoreDaughter #8
Being apparent is one of the greatest blessings of life. To have best friends born to you as children, to have the opportunity to teach, care for, protect and rear the next generation of the world is a daunting task. However, nothing compares to the new arrival of a child.
My daughter Wynnie arrived this week, daughter number eight. The children were all hoping for another brother, but I watched that perfect little infant turn the hearts of her brothers in moments. They couldn’t be more proud and Simon was beside himself with glee, especially when Wynnie popped him a sweet smile with wide open eyes.
God Bless all of you parents out there, especially if you’re about to have your first child. It’s a challenge, it’s a ride you won’t forget and if you do it right, it’ll be the best experience of your life.
Read MoreDon’t Give Up, You Matter.
Take a moment and listen to me.
It might sound crazy, but this feeling in my heart keeps pounding to share this with you, so I need your attention.
Over the past year I have had quite a few heart to heart discussion with some amazing people. People who I look up to and admire for their integrity and unwavering morals. These are the people I honestly started to think were invulnerable to bad times. The super beings who shrugged off challenges while the rest of shriveled up crying on the floor. It made my heart ache to find so many of them in pain, in anguish and a few even in deep despair due to ongoing financial circumstances.
I want to tell each of them, you and anyone else who reads this blog that the rain will not last forever.
Circumstances may test you to the very core, you may feel the world is personally against you, but hang on. Endure and make the most of those circumstances until the sun comes out once more, even if it’s nothing more than covering your head until the kicking stops. I promise you, it will eventually stop.
There’s something else you need to keep in mind.
Someone, somewhere, looks up to you. They use you as a beacon of hope when things fail them in their own life. You may never know about the life you saved, improved or inspired just because you made it through one more day and were that example of strength.
I just wanted to get on today and tell you that you matter.
You do.
Read MoreMy Latest Book
