Tag: #PureMichigan

Do you read?

The sun sets on another day…

As I drove home today from Charlotte, MI the sunset cascaded across the western sky. I was amazed at the colors as the clouds mixed with the evening sun and the world glowed bright orange and red.

When I first started selling books, I asked people a simple question. “Do you read?” The answer was usually “No,” as it gave the person an out, and they walked away, having answered my question.

I later modified my question to be “what do you like to read?” and that forced more of a conversation. The most successful author I have seen at shows uses a very positive method of handing the potential reader a bookmark and opening a conversation where they feel obligated to trade a moment of their time. Still, many times, the answer is “I don’t read.”

Today while talking to a person who said they would never read after college and they proceeded to tell me all about how much they read every day at their job and how horrible it was to read. As we discussed, she realized the only thing she had ever equated with reading was suffering at school or her job. I’m sure she pondered as she walked away about actually finding a pleasurable read.

Another woman came and said she loved to read but always lost track and had problems staying focused while reading. We talked for a while, and she said that she needed to find a way to focus and wanted to be a good reader but wasn’t sure how to do it. I sold her a book of short stories, and I am sure she will have a great time, and she doesn’t have to initially commit and instead will potentially learn to focus more effectively.

The point is the most significant difference between us, and a plethora of animal species is our written language and our ability to communicate over time and from generation to generation. We are the carriers of the positives and negatives of our world. We can carry forward good or bad words and help future generations see the world more clearly.

The final reminder came from a man who was running the booth next to me who was horribly irritated about both the day and everything about his sales for the day was asked by a child, “what are these?” to which the man said with significant grumpiness “it says it on the sign, can’t you read?”. the boy shrugged it off. He walked away after picking up one of the balls and dropping it back in the bin.

It all was better with the one young man who had read my first anthology of horror stories, with several families telling Ingar Rudholm that they loved his books and had already read them, with the families that bought books because they loved reading, to the man who wanted to start a new series with the Michigan author and bought books simply because he loved to read. All of these people had beautiful stories and conversations that warmed my heart and gave me hope for the future.

Each day we can choose to wander along the same way we always have or to suddenly find a doorway into history, a flight into fantasy, a heartfelt pondering into poetry, or a view inside another person’s mind with a memoir. All of these genres and them anymore can open the world to us and help us see everything with more clarity. We have the ability to lay aside our earthly bounds and see into our imaginations to grow and feel beyond ourselves. Find your passion and read what you love, and if you don’t like to read because of work or bad memories or just have trouble reading take a moment and just listen to the world as it goes by.

So as the sun sets on another day, I hope you find the passion and persistence to be the wonderful person I know you can be. Everyone has the ability to make someone else’s day a little better. If I found a way to make one person smile today, I have done my job and will continue to do so. Find your way, build smiles with your message, and read a little too, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and feel the breeze…

States…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was clear, and the globe before me devoid of colors until it passed to the horizon. Unbridled, the sky then lit like pure fire.

We are in a constant state of change. If you go by the riddle of the Sphinx, we only have a few states. The riddle is wrong and does not cover the weeping, the strength, or the crawling on our bellies like a reptile.

I consider all the states of man, and keep being bombarded with the religious. Most religions note four states of man, but there are some that offer five or more. Some note a cycle, and so it goes.

As I sit here pondering the unponderable I wonder if anyone has even considered the variability of the human condition and the malleability of our lives.

I know, I know, if this is boring to you just bear with me for a moment.

We are, as a species, continually aware of time and bound by it and all of the chains that come with it. We are also bound by our bias, environment, and something deep inside us, whether it be ID or something different. This series of items seems to guide us into a variety of states. In my opinion, these are driven by intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. We can be the best people we can be as well as the worst people we can be as we travel from state to state becoming a different person. Somewhere in the depth of it all is a question that I’m not even sure we’re aware of.

The question has to do with “is there more?” Some people never make it to this question, and those people sit on the side of the road and don’t pay much attention to the world as it goes by them. Some people miss the point of the question, and instead of focusing on whether there is more or not, they focus on the malleable and not necessarily attainable. Imagine that person trying to be a billionaire and reaching the goal only to find that it wasn’t that important after all. (but if you have a billion dollars to give me and I’m all in) Some people push the envelope and want to squeeze every moment out of life. Then there are millions of variations of those particular items.

I hope you’re not expecting something ridiculously enlightening here because I’m not sure I have the answer yet. I know the answer isn’t 42, but the idea of everything is 42, so maybe it is. There is just too much encompassed in that 42. It is likely that for every person, the journey to find more is different as more can be defined in various ways. For me and potentially for you, all I can suggest is to keep searching for that thing that is just out of your reach. If you ever find it keep reaching for the next level, and so it will go until you find everything. After all, there has to be more to life than working yourself to death, retiring, and playing yourself until you die. I want to think that passion is more important than price, I would like to believe that beauty is more important than ownership, I would like to think that peace is more important than power. I would like to believe that a slow unending kiss is more important than a million posts on social media.

So as the sun sets on another day, I hope you find your way, and maybe along our paths, we will meet after all. If you’re looking for everything, and so am I, our lives are bound to cross. Yeah, I know this is a weird post, but I have been thinking a lot about what goals are real and what goals aren’t. Find your perfect state, and keep changing for the better, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and deep thoughts…

Inspirations…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was clear, crisp, and I missed the clouds. As you can see in the picture the sunset would have been baren except for the few wisps to the north. Still, it was an amazing time and I enjoyed the changing of colors for us all.

Sometimes I get random emails asking about inspiration and inspirations. It is actually pretty easy. Each day I have 1440 minutes to interact with the world and during that interaction I find a plethora of new content to add. Sometimes it is new and fresh, and sometimes I attach it to previous content and smile along the way.

In the end we choose everything. So in the end I choose my stories about, well, everything. My goal each day is to try to help people see how wonderful they are or can be. It is a fun and exciting task filled with passion and enlightenment.

So as the sun sets on another day, I will be on the lookout each day for fun items that show positivity. Remember, don’t whine about the past, it is gone. Don’t pine about the future, it will get here as it does. Instead define your life each day to be the best it can be, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and carry on…

Oblivious…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was cloudy again, somewhere in the sky I saw the promise of light, and in those moments I smiled, then laughed knowing there was always light high above.

I laughed a lot this weekend. A lot had to do with the puppy and grandson who were both here for Labor Day. There is something amazing about puppies, kittens, and children that is easy to see. The world is new to them, and every experience is an exciting adventure into fantastic realms of amazingness. They are oblivious to the mundane world that so many people create, and their fascination with everything is infectous.

I find myself in awe of the moments, and in awe of the world that can entertain so easily. A toad hops by and it is a new toy to explore. The wind is new and fresh, a storm is an exciting adventure, and a new person is a new and wonderful encounter to enjoy! A view of the world without bias or fear, wow, what a rush.

Be a child at heart. Rush the world with no expectations. Be alive in yourself, and make the world a better place each day with a puppies energy and curiosity, and a toddlers zest for more. Life is worth living to the nth degree. Make it happen!

So as the sun sets on another day, what a ton of fun. Make the world yours, and enjoy your day each and every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and wow…

There you are…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was understated but amazing. Storms rolled in and out all day and the end of the day was a piece of time that seemed to be both in and out of the sunset.

I watched a conversation unfold today about moving away to find like-minded people. It was an exciting conversation and rather rapidly became opinionated. There’s something fantastic about finding a place where you belong; you do have to remember, though that an old movie said it best ” no matter where you go, there you are”.

As I watched advice fly at this young person like gnats on a rotten Peach, I was saddened by the approaches and the rationalizations of people. The young person mentioned was considering a move that could have cost her significant money and had no natural way of guaranteeing a potential outcome. This person spoke about their books as a motivating factor, but in today’s world, our only limitations are those we place on ourselves. When Sputnik was launched and the Space Race began, there were the beginnings of the internet today, but no one could have seen how small it would have made the world. You can be everywhere with minimal effort if only you take the time.

My advice to anyone looking for a new world somewhere else is to make certain that your reasons for going are sound. Not that I’m not for Adventures, as I have been all over the world, but more for making sure that we find our way to what could be home without reservation or prejudice.

And for everyone who has a bias about locations, just remember, if you have a bias about anywhere, then the bias lies with you, not with the place. We are a people who could be of any particular type no matter where we are and often, moving trades one problem for another. It’s just a matter of timing.

Funny though, with the world as it is today, live where you want to, and pick a place you will like to live, the people will connect with you from everywhere. It is just finding those people.

So as the sun sets on another day, find your life, and don’t listen to me, or anyone else if you find what you want to do, just be sure you live every day with all the passion you can, and make the world the best place it can be, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and there you are…

Take a rest…

The sun sets on another day…

We wandered down to the pier and watched sunset pass. The hills took away the sun earlier but gave an exciting glow into the lake that made me smile.

Today I was walking up and down the driveway with the puppy. After a little while she stopped and that was that. It pretty much looked like a plop down on the ground with a panting puppy closing her eyes to rest in a matter of moments. I was not that hard on her it was just time to take a rest.

Sometimes life can be a little bit rough. We should take a lesson from Pepper and realize that occasionally we just need to take a rest. Not necessarily because we are exhausted, which I found out rapidly she wasn’t today, but more to focus on ourselves just for a moment. In doing so that rest may give us the pause necessary to accomplish something greater. That rest may be exactly what we need to make a better decision.

We need to pay attention to ourselves for a little while. Not for the purpose of becoming self-centered jerks but instead to realize when it’s time to take a rest. Look inside yourself and determine what is best for you and only you, then take a rest if you need it or keep going if you don’t.

So as the sun sets on another day don’t rest for the sake of resting but instead rest when you need it. Find the passion and prowess to move on when you need to or to rest when you don’t. In the end only you know what’s best for you, make that your goal every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and enjoy your rest…

Hidden talents…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was a myriad of colors and shades. The clouds weaved a masterful tapestry across the horizon while the sunset itself provided colors and creativity.

I smiled and laughed at all the people. People everywhere. I knew some were artists, writers, crafters, technicians, and so much more. Some displayed their talents to the world. Some did not. As I looked out upon the world, I wondered how different it would be if we were all who we really were.

A fun statement, to be sure. Wouldn’t the world be better if we could be who we were? If we could display our talents and abilities without fear or remorse? Some people say that anyone can paint, write, or code, but it is not true. Some people can do it under duress, but watching a good coder build an application is magic. Magic to have a great musician create a piece. There is something special when a person has a passion for art or skill, and that passion makes people succeed.

Believe in yourself and take the initiative to believe in others as well. It is what we need. It is what we must have.

So as the sun sets on another day, people are unique. Everyone has talents and abilities that make them so. Let people be people and find passion every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and wow what a world…

Positive change…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was, well, wow. The colors painted the clouds, and there was little more than beauty in the air. I watched a young man watch the sunset with patient fascination, and inside I smiled. There is always hope.

I thought about hope a lot yesterday. I talked to a man at the gas station while filling up the truck. He and I laughed for a few as we spoke. He asked why I was in a suit, and I briefly talked about my job. Then he told me he was working a new job, having recently changed positions. His move was caused by his need to be more positive. The negatives of his previous post were overwhelming, and he felt the need to save himself and his marriage.

He then talked about how his life changed when he was removed from the negativity and how the choice was long overdue. He said he had to choose between his job and marriage, and the job just was not worth it. I left thinking about how many people are faced with similar.

How do you weigh the possibilities in life? Is a good job worth a good marriage? Is it a bad job? How do you make decisions? If you are in a bad relationship, is it worth holding on when both the world and you know you should not? How do you see the future, and what the right choices will be?

I wish I had all the answers here. Many years ago, I stood on top of a hill, looked over my life, and decided on a path, only to find that my chosen path was wrong. I had no way of knowing, but I made a choice based on what I knew, and it could have been amazing. I suppose my best answer is that each day we make choices like this, and each day we have to work with what we have, not what was or will be, but what is. For me, then I can only say make the best decision you can, and remember that each day you can see another path.

So as the sun sets on another day, I am happy when I meet amazing people because, well, they’re amazing. I hope you feel the same and find people as a way to see beyond yourself and to new ways of seeing the world. Today I met someone who gave me hope; somewhere in the middle, the world may be a little better place. Keep setting reasonable goals and make the world yours every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and good choice…

Who…

The sun sets on another day…

The day was stormy, loud, and a little destructive as I know many people without power right now. Still, as the sun set tonight the cloud bank was high and open air was below with a clear sky, and clear colors beckoning the darkness forward.

I have said numerous times that we should not whine about the past; it is gone. We also should not pine about the future, for it will never be here. Instead, we should define ourselves each and every day and make ourselves the best self we can be.

So who are you?

How have you defined yourself?

Are you someone who people will follow or someone who looks to be led?

Are you someone who defines a path for all who will seek it or someone who seeks a path that is well traveled?

Think about it, listen to yourself, your answer may surprise you. Sometimes the people who think they are leaders are not. Sometimes the people who are subtle define a path. No, it is not always true, but it is sometimes. Just consider.

What could you do to show the world another way? How could you lead without pushing? Can you define a path for others without spelling it out for them? Another good question.

So as the sun sets on another day, it seems I have a lot of questions today as I watch the split between sun and storm, as I watch the 2 sides fight for dominance. It is never truly in question as storms pass, but even in the midst of a storm the sun sets high above and is always there. I hope you know how important you are, and how everything you do is special if you want it to be. Make the world yours, and enjoy every single day you can, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and believe in you…

Rising above…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was conflicted as clouds rolled in, signaling upcoming storms. As the night progressed, those storms became powerful and noisy, and the world seemed to be a little nicer for a while.

Stop. Look around. Each day there is negativity around us all. It is closing in. There is a dark force in the air. It’s coming. I see the darkness, closer, closer, eeeek! I scared myself.

Seriously though, every day, there is darkness in the world that tries to slow you down. Every day there are plenty of reasons to be negative. It is easier to make a list of them all. From daily pressures to politics, from health to negative people, these things try to keep you from finding a good and super day.

I know this sounds oh so easy and isn’t, but rise above them. How?

Well, for as much as there are unlimited horrible things to consider, there are also a multitude of other things that can lift us up. Find the butterfly that dances with you. Laugh at the antics of children and puppies. Take a moment at a beach and enjoy the crash of the waves. Savor the taste of a favorite food. Laugh with friends and get lost in the moment. All of the positives will allow you to choose and rise above the negatives. In the end, all it takes is for you to choose.

So as the sun sets on another day, my days are good because I rise above all the negative stuff and find a way to enjoy every moment. You have the choice, the tools are there, but it is up to you to rise above or stay in the mire and muck. Personally, I would rather avoid the leeches in the muck and instead make my days unforgettable every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love passionately, and live every moment…