Long Time Coming!

Wow! I looked back at my blog and it’s been almost 3 years since I have posted. In fact my last post was January 21, 2009! My how times have changed since then. Looking back at that post was eye opening! It was a only few days after President Obama was sworn in. There was a certain charge in the air…the sense around the country was that of Hope and of Change! The grassroots campaign had paid off. Young people and minorities and obviously the majority of America of the Electoral College was ecstatic about what was going to happen. Finally, there was a President that was listening to the people, someone who could relate to so many people and on so many different levels. So much was expected from the newly elected President

Boy were we duped! Hope and Change did happen, but not in the way everyone had thought. The feeling of “Hope” turned into a feeling of “Hopelessness”. The “Change” that many people were hoping for turned out to be “More of the same”…the same politics, the same people in the same seats making the same decisions.

One of the areas that has been under constant scrutiny is unemployment. Unemployment was reported at8.6 % in November 2011  (http://tinyurl.com/t68g) compare that to 5.8% for all of 2008! In the two years and eleven months that President Obama has been in office unemployment has been 9.3% (2009 Average), 9.6% (2010 Average) and 9.0% (Average January – November 2011) respectfully. (http://tinyurl.com/3gss8qd) These numbers just add to the feeling of hopelessness around the nation.

I also look at the National Debt as a another factor that has lead to the feeling of hopelessness. As of December 28, 2011 the National Debt is at a staggering $15.1 TRILLION Dollars! (http://tinyurl.com/yrxrsh) That equates to roughly $30,000 of debt tied to every man, woman and child. A family of four has a weight or debt of $120,000 saddled upon them and it’s growing larger by the minute. With that much debt and sky high unemployment it’s no wonder people are once again looking for a NEW Hope and Change! The elixir that many people bought into in November 2008 seems to just be a placebo!

So where does that leave us now? I believe we stand at a crossroad. As George Santayana once said,

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

We as Americans must learn from our past, we must learn to elect people to office that not only talk the talk but that have real and actionable plans. We must not fall for smooth talking politicians whether they be Democrat, Republican, Independent, etc.  We need to hold all our politicians and ourselves accountable for the actions taken or not taken.

I believe that the best days for America are ahead, but we have some hard decisions to make. We need to look inside and find the tenacity and resiliency that has made America great in the past. We need to dig deep and decide if we are willing to let another nation (China) take over OUR title of the #1 Economy in the world. Are we willing to continue sending aid to other countries at the expense of our own citizens?

Over the next few days and weeks my goal is to put down some of my thoughts and ideas of what we can do to keep America #1. Some of the ideas will come from others in which I will give full credit to, and some of the ideas will be mine. I will touch on things like unemployment, our National Debit and Deficit, foreign policy and our National Defense and a whole host of other topics. I look forward to any and all feedback both positive and negative.

Thanks in advance for your time!

SHH

Notable Quotes #64

January 21, 2009
Notable Quotes #64

Happy Wednesday!

DISCLAIMER:  This week’s Notable Quotes is politically based.  Please read this post with an open heart and open mind. 

Now for the quotes!

 “A leader is a dealer in hope” 
Napoleon

 “People want to be part of something larger than themselves.
They want to be part of something they’re really proud of, that they’ll fight for, sacrifice for, that they trust.”
Howard Schultz, Starbucks

 “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
Albert Einstein

Wow…What a past couple of days!  I was unable to watch the inauguration live yesterday, but thanks to Dish Network I was able to record and watch it last night.  These quotes just stuck out to me as I was thinking about what to discuss.  I am a person who will always try to give credit where credit is due.  With that being said I must give our President Barack Obama credit.  In my humble opinion he has given hope to this nation.  He has provided many citizens the opportunity to be a part of something larger than themselves.  Not that approval ratings equal success, but not since Reagan has a President entered office with a higher approval rating. 

There are a lot of high expectations being pinned to this man.  Not since FDR and possibly Reagan has a President entered office in the midst of a recession.  Whether or not you voted for President Obama, now is not the time for us to be divided along party lines.  It is a time for us to come together as Americans and find a solution to the situation we find ourselves in.  There will be a time, most likely in the near future, where we will be able to debate our convictions and beliefs, but for the sake of our nation, let’s put aside our differences and work together for a common good.

Until Next Time,
Heath

Notable Quotes #63

January 14, 2009
Notable Quotes #63

Good Afternoon!

It has been a couple of weeks since the last installment of Notable Quotes and I have been asked by various people as to when they are going to start up again…  Well, here they are!  I want to hopefully be the last to wish you all a Happy New Year (2009)!  I have been thinking about what direction these quotes should be headed…I have yet to determine that outcome.  However, my goal(s) for the quotes remain the same; to promote thought and reflection both on an individual level as well as a societal level.  My hope is that the quotes and insights presented stir in you a call for action, whether it be physical action or thought provoking actions.  While the quotes may not always pertain to you or your current situation, my goal is to plant that seed of thought and to nurture it to fruition. 

Now for the quotes!!

 First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
Epictetus

 When you determine what you want, you have made the most important decision in your life.  You have to know what you want in order to attain it.
Douglas Lurtan

With the start of a new year it gives us a chance for a fresh start.  Many of us may like the idea of having a fresh start but don’t really know what that entails or even where to start.  This is where these quotes some into play.  In order to achieve anything in life we must first decide what it is we want to achieve!  That does sound pretty elementary in thought, but this is an area I struggle with almost on a daily basis.  We often just go through a daily routine, something like this:

• Hit the snooze 3 times, (hoping that we are tricking ourselves into thinking we are stealing a few extra minutes of sleep!)
  Crawl out of bed and make a pot of GO JUICE (Java Roastin’ Coffee!)
• Take a shower
• Down 1st cup of coffee
• Dress for work
• Tell family and/or pets “bye”
• Commute to the office
• Work through the morning
• LUNCH!
• Work through the afternoon
• Commute home
• DINNER!
• Spend time with family
• Watch t.v.
• Go to bed

Do everything the same tomorrow…

Here is a question…WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?  WHAT ARE WE DOING?!?  As a nation it has been instilled in us that this is the typical day of a working individual.  If you are a stay-at-home parent the list is different, yet it is the same day in and day out.  In order for us to break free and have a fresh start we need to make sure that everything we do is working toward an ultimate purpose or goal!  We need to first determine what we want before we set out to attain it.  Does a lion wonder aimlessly in the jungle until he is hungry?  NO!  He is always aware of his surroundings and where his food source is so when the time is right he can dine on whatever he desires.  We need to be more like a lion and have a purpose in play at all times. 

Take time this week and weekend and determine what it is that you want.  Verbalize it…Write it down (someplace where you can see it on a daily basis)…Create a POA (Plan of Action) on how to attain it and then…GO AFTER IT!  Don’t go through life like a robot, make each day count!

Until Next Time,
Heath

Notable Quotes #62

Notable Quotes #62
December 30, 2008

Happy New Year’s Eve Eve?!?

I know that sounds a little odd, but hey it works!

“Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page.   Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.”
Henry Ward Beecher 

“You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.”
Mary Pickford 

With the New Year approaching very quickly I just wanted to give two quotes about starting fresh. No matter what happened in 2008 or how the year ends, remember that there is a fresh start and it’s just around the corner.  As I have said in the past I am not big on resolutions, but I will and have set goals for myself for 2009.  Take time to reflect on 2008, what went well, what didn’t…what can I learn from my past.  Make a list if you like and then face the New Year with gusto, vigor and zest!  Let’s go and make 2009 the BEST YEAR YET!!!

Until Next Time,
Heath

Notable Quotes #61

December 23, 2008
Notable Quotes #61

Good Afternoon!

Can you believe it?!?!  Only 2 more days until Christmas!!!  I can’t wait…One reason is this will be Myla’s 1st Christmas that she can actively participate it.  (Last year she was 2 weeks old)  There is nothing more satisfying that seeing the joy on children’s faces as they unwrap gifts.  She likes the bags more than the toys sometimes but I was over-ruled when I mentioned getting her a bag of bags.  Go figure!  Here are the quotes:

A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm.
Bill Vaughan

Children find everything in nothing; men find nothing in everything.
Giacomo Leopardi

I don’t know about you, but Christmas brings out the kid(s) in almost all of us.  My two nephews have such a passion for Christmas that it almost seems unreal.  Not only do they have a passion for Christmas, but they both have a passion and zeal for life like nothing else.  Most kids have that same fearless, determined, raw passion that helps to shape and mold them to the individuals that they become.  I have often wished for just a portion of that passion and zeal!  Kids are not afraid of failing; if it doesn’t work out they try again until it does.  Many times to the disdain of the parents or adults, they don’t take “NO” for an answer.  They know just how far they can push the envelope…and then go just a little bit farther!  Just think of what “adults” could accomplish if we had the attitude/mindset of a child.  We wouldn’t be afraid to make a mistake or even to fail.  We would take our bumps and bruises…get up and go again even harder!  Think about when you first learned to ride a bike or swim…You were determined to conquer the bike or the pool.  Maybe you had friends that were already riding without training wheels; maybe you wanted to play with the big kids in the deep end, but you were confined to kiddie pool!  Life is like that in numerous ways.  We may want different things but our fears and mental road blocks keep us from achieving what we desire and want. 

This Christmas season take note of the children all around and watch them as they tear the presents open.  If they get a bike, watch at how long it takes them to beg and plead with the adults to go outside and help them ride; then take what you have seen and ask yourself how you can apply that to your life and your goals.  Don’t let fear knock you out of the game before it even starts, rather take hold of your fears, face them head on and have the passion and zeal for life as a child does and go a reach your dream!

Until Next Time,
Heath

Notable Quotes #60

December 17, 2008
Notable Quotes #60

Happy Wednesday!

No ramblings today, just straight to the quotes…

 “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
Charles Darwin

 “As human beings, our greatness lays not so much in being able to remake the world … as in being able to remake ourselves.”
Mahatma Gandhi

I was listening to the radio this morning on the way into work and heard a report on how the smaller Credit Unions were doing far better than the rest of the financial institutions.  I also heard an amazing statistic that over 90 million Americans use credit unions on a daily basis.  That’s a TON of people.  The story went on to say that these credit unions (cu’s) were also succeeding WITHOUT the T.A.R.P. bailout monies from the government.  When the reporter asked why the cu’s were doing so much better he said it was simple…they were aware of the markets around them and they had be responsive to the changes prior to the economic downturn.  They were able to adapt and change their lending habits, their interest rates, the way to obtain deposits, etc.

That really struck me as revolutionary.  It may not seem like it to some but think with me here…we can easily apply this to our lives as well.  If we take what Darwin says above it’s not the strongest or the most intelligent that survives, it’s the one most responsive to change.  In today’s economy that could not be more true.  I have interviewed for various positions within my company and there has been a theme from all that I have talked with.  If you are able to change and adapt to change you will succeed.  If you don’t like change or are not able to adapt, you will fail.  Pretty blunt I know, but it’s true.  The world is changing on a daily basis.  What about us?  Instead of trying to change or remake the world to be like us, why not take a different approach.  Being true to your convictions and your personal and social morals, why not change?  Why not be the conduit or catalyst of change?  Changes typically don’t happen overnight, so don’t expect this to be a quick thing, rather work on this daily.  Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and our habits, and ways of doing things weren’t created in a bang; change takes time.  Take small steps and don’t try to change all at once.

Until Next Time,
Heath

Notable Quotes #59

December 12, 2008
Notable Quotes #59

Good Afternoon!

I hope everyone is doing well.  I know that people are extremely busy this time of year and I hope that these quotes and musings help bring a positive outlook for the days ahead!  One more thing.  I just counted and excluding today, there are 12 more shopping days before Christmas!!!  Now that everyone is depressed and stressed here are the quotes!

I’m not afraid of failing. I don’t like to fail. I hate to fail. But I’m not afraid of it.
Vince McMahon

You can never give up because quitting is not an option.
No matter how dark it is or how weak you get, until you take that last breath, you must fight. 
Wayman Tisdale

I know I have talked about failing in the past posts, but it has been a topic in the news quite a bit lately.  “What companies are failing now…will the Big 3 auto companies fail, will I fail?”  Failure is all around us and can often times seem like it is closing in on us.  This time of year can also bring to light many of our failures and depression will often run rampant in the lives of many.  However I choose to look at failure different than most.  I look at it much like Vince McMahon does…I’m not afraid of failing…I don’t like to fail…but I’m not afraid of failing.  Failure or the sense of failing can grip and seize us like nothing else; it will often paralyze the greatest of individuals.  Instead of looking at failure as a bad thing, look at failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.  Take the failure, embrace it, learn from it and then move on.  DON’T DWELL ON IT!

For those of you who do not know who Wayman Tisdale is or his story may not find his quote to be a big deal, but here is an extremely brief look at a remarkable individual.  Wayman Tisdale was a member of the 1984 Gold Medalist Basketball team.  He was an All-American basketball player at Oklahoma and averaged over 15 points and 6 rebounds per year spanning a 12 year NBA career.  In February of 2007 he fell and broke his leg…this led to the discovery of cancer in his right knee.  In March of 2007 he underwent surgery to remove the cancer and begin chemo for the cancer.  It didn’t stop there.  In August of 2008 Wayman decided that the best way to ensure the cancer wouldn’t return was to have a portion of his right leg amputated.  Think about that for a minute…here is a man who made a living off the ability to use his legs, and now he was having it amputated.  Talk about failure creeping into one’s mind.  He didn’t let this stop him.  He fought through all the adversity and drew upon everything he learned growing up and his faith and learned to walk with a prosthesis.  This is what his physical therapist (Sabolich) said…”Sabolich noted that it typically takes a new amputee from three to six months to acclimate to a prosthesis, while it took Tisdale a month. He proved to be equally quick in learning to walk on his new limb; a physical therapist Tisdale has been working with in Tulsa said that he was months ahead of a typical patient in that respect.”

Wayman didn’t take cancer as a death sentence…he didn’t let failure enter his mind…he fought and fought and is determined to defeat cancer and not let failure win.  “Tisdale’s experience has led him to create a foundation to raise funds to help amputees with the prosthetic process, which is not always covered by health insurance.”  [Clemmons, Anna K. (2008-12-03)]

His story is amazing and I did not do it justice.  Check out his website http://www.waymantisdale.com/ for the entire story and be prepared to be motivated.  Tisdale is now an accomplished jazz artist.  We can learn from Mr. McMahon and Mr. Tisdale in the sense that we cannot and should not let failure overcome us.  Learn from our failures and become stronger and stronger and help others learn from our mistakes/failures.  Take this inspirational story and see how you can apply it to your life.  Failure is not the end…it is just the beginning!!!

Until Next Time,
Heath

Notable Quotes #58

December 3, 2008
Notable Quotes #58

Good Afternoon!

I trust that everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday and that you are preparing for the Christmas season!  This is a great time of year…The weather is turning colder, AND we had our first snow on Sunday!!! (2.4″ officially in St. Louis)  We will be celebrating our daughter’s 1st birthday in just under 2 weeks!  My how time flies…Anyways, enough of the babble already, here’s the quotes.

There are those who work all day. Those who dream all day. And those who spend an hour dreaming before setting to work to fulfill those dreams.
Go into the third category because there’s virtually no competition.
Steven J. Ross

All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney

If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.
Walt Disney

How much do you dream?  I’m not talking about while you sleep!!  I mean, how often do you dream about where you want to be next year, in 5 years, in 10 years?  Are you like many others who often dream but disregard your dreams as just that, DREAMS?!  I believe that dreaming is extremely under emphasized in today’s society.  I know I have said this before, but how often have we heard kids say that they dream of being an astronaut!  Or a policeman or fireman or a professional athlete!!!  I have never heard anyone say that they want to be trapped in a dead-end job while sitting in a cubicle!  We need our dreams to keep us focused!  I can’t think of a better “dreamer” than Walt Disney.  He created the Disney Parks with the motto of “Where dreams come true and memories are made!” 

Walt Disney had a dream, he believed he could have that dream, and he worked and pursued those dreams until they became a reality!  Throughout his life he had struggles, and it wasn’t always easy, but he held strong to his dreams and never let them go.  Our dreams I believe are there to challenge us, to be a better person or to make the world a better place.  Going back to my original question, how much do you dream?  What are your dreams?  How can we continue to grow if we don’t dream?  We need to keep dreaming in order to keep living!  Dream BIG, work BIG and BIG things will happen!

Until Next Time,
Heath

Notable Quotes #57

November 25, 2008
Notable Quotes #57

Good Afternoon!

It has been a while since the last Notable Quotes and for that I apologize.  However I am back today and ready to share my thoughts.  Here are the quotes:

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light,
and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. 
Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.
Mahatma Gandhi 

True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.
William Penn

Interesting quotes huh!?!  This week often marks the beginning of one of the most stressful times in our lives…the Holidays!  We have Thanksgiving, Christmas and wrapping things up with New Years.  It may not seem like many items, but throw in multiple dinners with family, work parties, decorating for Thanksgiving, and then decorating for Christmas…gift buying, gift giving, Christmas dinner or dinners, cleaning prior to and after all the parties, and how does Santa really know where to drop off the gifts for all the kids?!?  The holidays can quickly become a time of stress, anger, fear and loneliness.  This is where “SILENCE” comes into play.

When was the last time you just sat in complete and utter silence?  By silence I mean no noise, no music (even smooth jazz), your mind and your thoughts.  This past weekend I spent four days in the woods being an unsuccessful deer hunter, but I was able to spend hours in the silence of nature.  It was difficult at first only because as humans we are not accustomed to silence, but as the time went by, the silence became sweeter and sweeter.  I don’t believe I was ever in complete silence because I had thoughts racing through my mind, but as the time went on I focused more and more on releasing those thoughts and becoming completely silent.  Even though I was tired from hunting, I felt more refreshed than ever and looked forward to what is to come! 

I am currently reading a book entitled “Finding the Still Point”.  It is a beginners guide to Zen mediation…some of you may think I have gone off the deep end, but being able to be still and silent in today’s society is a lost art; in turn we are running the rat race at an ever increasing speed and often feel like we are going nowhere.  Finding the “still point” allows us to recharge and renew our mind as well as enables us to be more focused and reduces our stress level(s).  Here is an interesting excerpt from the book:

“Every other creature on the face of the earth seems to know how to be quiet and still.  A, butterfly on a leaf; a cat in front of the fireplace; even a hummingbird comes to rest sometime.  But humans are constantly on the go.  We seem to have lost the ability to just be quiet, to simply be present in the stillness that is the foundation of our lives.  Yet if we never get in touch with that stillness, we never fully experience our lives.  All creatures on the earth are capable of manifesting this stillness.”

During this holiday season I encourage us all to take 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening and just be still and sit in silence.  When things get crazy (you know they will!!!) take a couple of minutes, remove yourself from the situation, be still and breathe!  I honestly believe that if we all take 20 minutes out of our day and be still, our holidays will be better than ever.  Don’t go so fast this season that you miss the season.  Enjoy this time of year and make it a season to remember!

Until Next Time,
Heath

Notable Quotes #56

November 11, 2008
Notable Quotes #56

Good Afternoon!

I hope that this set of Notable Quotes finds everyone doing well…I know I missed last week which happened to be Nov. 4th…(Election day)  Without any delay here are the quotes:

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life.”
James Allen 

“Beware of endeavoring to become a great man in a hurry. One such attempt in ten thousand may succeed. These are fearful odds.”
Benjamin Disraeli

I have been thinking a lot recently…that may come as a surprise to a few of you!  I have been thinking and re-reading some of the past Notable Quotes and it has dawned on me that much of what I am writing and conveying are things that are meant to bring instant or at least short term results.  I believe that these items are good and I believe that there is a place and a time for these items to be shared, but I also believe that changing one’s direction in life cannot be an over-night change.  It is more of a journey, which by definition is “a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time.” 

These two quotes have made a real impact on me.  While it is possible to become a “great man in a hurry”, the odds are against us, and while I firmly believe we need to stretch ourselves and beat the odds, we must not lose focus of what our ultimate goals are.  While we may want things to happen in 3, 6 or 9 months, the truth is, some things take notable longer to obtain and much more work than can ever be done in a short period of time.  Sacrifices will most likely have to be made and hard work will most definitely need to take place.  I think know I would be doing a great disservice not only to the readers of Notable Quotes but to myself if I give the impression that life change can happen in the blink of an eye.  I believe that there are foundational aspects that we must possess and continually work on in order to facilitate the change we desire.  I have written that our attitude is key…and I continue to believe that, however what goes into our attitude, how is our attitude shaped?  What else besides attitude is foundational?  These “foundational” aspects are what I am going to be working on over the next few weeks.  I will be sharing these thoughts with you in the coming months and I encourage your feedback.  If you have any ideas for Notable Quotes I would love to hear them. 

Here are some points to ponder…Are you looking at making any life altering change big or small?  What time frame have you set for yourself?  If you do not reach your goal(s) by the set date do you consider that a failure? (I hope not!)  Realize that change is a journey and not a destination and that while you are on the road of change things WILL come up, there WILL be bumps along the way and things WON’T always go as planned.  That’s OKAY!!!  Take solace and refuge in knowing that life itself is a journey and you are not traveling alone.  Also remember that there needs to be time set aside to recharge and rejuvenate yourself.  Even in my 5k race there was a water station at 1.5 miles.  Take advantage of those areas.  Don’t lose focus and most importantly have fun!

Until Next Time,
Heath