Do over!

The sun sets on another day…

It is coming up on a year since I reset the site and began writing each and every day. Each day a thought, a feeling, a word, and of course a picture. Usually about a little of everything, and usually a picture of the sunset.

What is missing and you do not see is the nearly 30 discarded posts that I decided were not to be because of a variety of reasons. Sometimes the darkness closed in and there was a treatise on problems: ick. Sometimes there was a start that just got too personal, either with me or someone else: could be scary. Sometimes I considered the people and thought it would point out one person or another: don’t need that. Tonight it was about silence and the interactions between so many people: I decided no. 

The point is, each and every day there is a positive we can grab onto and show the world and that positive is inside of us. I know there are things about me that would be like the episode of Tweety where he got so worked up and said “I scared meself”, it is part of me. I know that when I think of my father and so many other things that there could be despair that would consume the world if it was not held in check. I do not let those things and a myriad of others, control me, not now, not ever. I choose the beauty of the sunset, the edge of reason, the power of patience, and the strength of self each and every day. I hope you can as well and when you see that overwhelming whatever-it-is coming at you that you can pull back, overcome, and know the world is a better place because you are in it. Somewhere in that formula you have the power to change the world, each and every day. Somewhere inside, we all can be better than we ever thought we were.

So as the sun sets on another day, believe. Not just in the sunset, but believe in the happiness, the passion, the power of love, and mostly believe in you, no matter what you are special and no one can take that away from you. So as I do yet another do over, I hope I have found the high road, and found a way for you to smile for a moment, laugh for a moment more, and see a pretty picture.

Sleep sweet, love life, and have an amazing night that is a prelude to a more amazing sunrise tomorrow…

The sound of silence…

The sun sets on another day…

The thundering silence of the sunset can echo through your heart and soul like some impossible drum, beating deep within, and pressing to our hearts more than easily believed. Here we stand, alone yet not alone in that silence, deafened by its quiet roar.

A long time ago in a state far far away I heard a song by Simon and Garfunkel called “The Sound of Silence” and as I watched today in a gym I realized part of their lyrics had truly come to pass. I saw people lost in their headsets, alone but not alone, listening but not hearing, and I was sad for a moment. (Stay with me, this gets better).

So as I stood watching in the tenement halls (You can laugh if you know the song) I was interrupted by a few groups of people that actually began to communicate. They set down their phones and devices and truly started to have fun as people should. As I watched I knew people could still communicate they way we were meant to, and I smiled at the interactions, and at the sunset as I walked out into the cool breeze.

No limits…

The sun sets on another day…

Whether we see the sun set, or whether we do not, we know it will set, it is as true as our senses and beyond because we can count on it each day and know there will be a sunrise and a sunset. There is never a doubt. With ourselves, however, we seem to come up with doubts and we need to find ways to get over those doubts and believe in ourselves with the faith we have in the sunrise and sunset.

In life it is often not as easy. We have our doubts about ourselves and our abilities, even when unfounded. We see ourselves as limited, unknowing the usually the only limits we have are those we place on ourselves. Richard Bach said it well in “Jonathon Livingston Seagull” when he wrote “Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.” True, he was writing about a seagull, but I think we all have the ability to fly and we need to believe and become truly limitless. Find out way to run the marathon, to open that business, to speak before a crowd, or to do whatever is our dream. It is the ultimate expression of who we are to go farther, to reach higher, and to find a way, no matter what.

So as the sun sets on another day, lets open our eyes and see our goals, then close our eyes for a moment and set aside our limitations and do the things we did not believe possible, because in truth they are possible.

Sleep sweet, love life, and soar with the eagles, every day…

 

 

Courage and Honor…

The sun sets on another day…

It continues to rise and set each day, in spite of the chaos that sometimes looms below. We see the sunrise and have hope, and as the sun sets, we have hope as well, each for different reasons, knowing that we have started a new day, and knowing there is a promise of another new day.

Today is difficult for many of, those that feel honor for the United States will have a difficult time today as they mourn one of the most devastating events of our relatively short history. The demise of the World Trade Centers. I try to take the high road each and every day, even though many less positive roads exist, and in this day of sorrow the highest road we can possibly take is to honor the fallen, and to honor those that risked or who gave their lives to save others, and those that went forward in spite of chaos and took the highest road possible. By definition honor is synonymous with the high regard of someone or something and today we should honor those that had the courage to go that extra mile, and even more. We should honor those that had the fortitude to define the word “hero” for generations to come. Courage is tough to come by for many people, it is always easier to succumb to fear and take the easy path, but for the police and firefighters in New York, for the passengers of the planes, the passengers of United 93, and all the victims of 9-11, courage is something that they each defined in their own way. The stories are amazing and as I watched 15 years ago I sat in awe, as only a few months previous I was on the top of the towers, and as I watched them fall and considered the gravity of this act I knew the world would never be the same.

So as the sun sets on another day, please grant me pause as this is not the most uplifting post, but it is heartfelt. More important than me, please grant a moment of patient silence for all the fallen of 9-11, and all those who fought for our freedom since, and believe in Honor and Courage, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, and appreciate life, every moment of every day.

Photo from the top of the World Trade Center at Windows over the World, taken May 2001 while at a conference.

Inspired for the moments…

The sun sets on another day…

When I look around and see all the people watching the sun set with me (When I am in one of those places many congregate in) I always thought people we so inspired by the moment. Then I considered the slight breeze, the colors that were cascading across us all, and where we were, and I changed my view. Those of us that were there were not inspired for the moment, but instead we were inspired for the moment. We knew that by being in this place and this time we would have an amazing experience together, and in the process we would grow, and enjoy the beauty life has to offer.

I have a friend who takes a picture every day, and a 1 second video each and every day. His motivation is to challenge himself for the moment and though he is inspired by those moments he has to be open to see the beauty, then capture it. In the process he has found a significant number of really awesome moments that will always be inspiring, for all time.

The point is, we should walk into every day not looking for moments or places or activities to inspire us, but to reach out and know that every moment is an inspiration waiting to happen, and every instant an adventure if we only decide to make it one.

So as the sun sets on another day, stop looking for things to inspire you, and start being a part of a never ending chain of inspirations, and in the process, learn to be happy with every experience because after all, it is your exp[experience to enjoy, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and live for the moment, in the moment, and make life yours…

A tiny wisp…

The sun sets on another day…

This morning long before the sunset, I watched the fog roll across the field where I sat in my struck. The wisps of the wind blew the fog into thicker and thinner patches, showing me a clear path sometimes,and sometimes taking the path away.

In life it is often like we ar eon that path, the fog covering our view and sometime clearly giving us a way,and sometimes hiding our true path from us. It is always up to us to move forward and find our way, pressing forward and making our path a reality, and finding the best way possible. In doing so we are always on our way to the happiness we deserve, and can find that happiness if we only look!

So as the sun sets on another day, look through the fog, and remember what is not seen may not need to be feared, but may be the way to what we really want and need out of life. No matter what, the journey there will make us whole, and a better person.

Sleep sweet, love life, and smile always!

A storm subsides…

The sun sets on another day…

The clouds have parted and the darkness abated as the sun once again asserts its will to be seen. I sit amazed at the beauty as the rain has cleansed the remnant s of yesterday away, and given promise to the beauty of tomorrow. Broken branches abound and are signs of the fury of the storm, but we can move on, clean up, and in the process lay the foundations for rebirth.

Isn’t it the same for us all? A lot of smart people say variants of how we are not measured by the good days in our life, but how we weather the difficult days. In the storm we can often be overwhelmed and as we are pummeled by the wind and wave, and buffeted by sounds and light perhaps we need to consider that it soon will pass, and we will renew, rebuild, and become amazing again. (Not that we ever stopped)

It would be perfect if we never saw a storm, and perhaps you never will, but if you do, look to your friends and remember you have the strength to overcome all obstacles, no matter what.

So as the sun sets on another day, remember life is always good, and you are even better. Skip over the rough days with the knowledge that you can handle it (or hannle it hannle it) and in the process remember every day is an adventure, and sometimes a storm is kinda fun.

Sleep sweet, smile a lot, and laugh at the storm and enjoy every moment!

 

Seriously just do it…

The sun sets on another day…

I read a quote today that said “Many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears”. Consider for a moment, a dream is a wish your heart makes (or so Disney says) and there are so many dreams that we consider, then watch slowly fade away. A fear is an interpretation of a situation that causes us to react in a possibly negative way (Perhaps caused by a bad hot dog at 1:00 AM.) Fear can be a motivator for many people, but quite a few have fears that cause them to avoid their dreams, and end up putting them on a shelf in a box only to gather dust or never be seen again.

I read a story this week about a pair of enterprising young ladies that overcame any fears and are definitely on their way by opening a Wellness Clinic and trying to help people. Starting a business or running a business is an exercise daily in overcoming fear and facing adversity as you are trusting yourself to overcome all obstacles (both foreign and domestic) and in the process committing yourself to be committed. These young women and of course many many more people in the world are taking a risk to live a dream. Perhaps (Read definitely if you read between my lines) we should all be taking a chance with our dreams and making those dreams a reality and in the process overcoming the bonds of fear that threaten to hold us down each and every day.

Personally I find a try to live my dreams daily, whether it is writing, laughing, taking pictures, or doing whatever to set and exceed a personal goal, I want to be able to say I did that. If you remember Jamie Lee Curtis in “True Lies” I think she said it best by stating “It’s just there’s so much I want to do with this life and it fells that I haven’t done any of it. You know, the sand is running out of the hourglass, and I want to look back and say, “see, I did that, that was me, I was reckless and I was wild, and I f***ing did it.””

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all say that?

So as the sun sets on another day it is time. Ride a bike, ride a motorcycle, fly a plane, drive super fast, start a new relationship, skydive, para-sail, open a new business, expand your current business, plan a parade, or just do something amazing that you have only dreamed of doing, and as your dreams become reality, your new dreams will help you reach the moon, and the stars beyond.

Sleep sweet, love life, and dream a little dream

Time to live…

The sun sets on another day…

As we wander through life we sometimes have to consider old words that will always make sense. Hence I give you the following quote:

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

I would add to this famous set of words, “and there is always a time to live”. I may also add “there is a time for the sun to rise, and for the sun to set” since it is one of my passions. In the end my purpose today is easy. There is truly a time for everything and today should be the time for us all to find our way, to be happy, and to make a difference in life, no matter what.

So as the sun sets on another day, let’s take a moment and enjoy our time, live for our time, and make our days the best ever.

Sleep sweet, love, and love some more….

 

A fading season…

The sun sets on another day…

The sun seemed to wane tonight as the adults and children alike watched another day pass, and knew tomorrow started school in so many places. I listened well as I waited for an Ice Cream and the stories flew of children not being ready, of parents being overly ready, and of a myriad of cleanup items. The boats being closed for the season, cleanup of yards and other items flew in the air like the wispy breeze. It is comforting to know that summer actually ends far later in the month, but tomorrow will be the start of fall for students in this area at least, and I can only hope they get to enjoy the days and nights even more as friendships rekindle and new friendships begin.

So as the sun sets on another day, don’t give up on summer just yet, and enjoy the sunset anyway, no matter what…