Lessons Learned - Loneliness Can Teach so Much!

For the past 7 weeks I have been living alone in Cedar Rapids, IA. I would be lying if I said this was a great experience, in terms of Happiness. However, it was a great experience from the point of view of self-examination. Here is what I have learned about me.

Family - I hate not being able to hug, kiss and talk to my family. You never realize how much of an impact your family has on your life until, suddenly they are gone and your only connection is via the phone, and email. I had some dark nights here. Sitting a lone, crying because of the pain of being away from them weighed so much on me, especially at night and on the weekend. This really put my beliefs to test. I thought about people who tragically lost their families. They could not even talk to them on the phone, send a text message, or send and receive email from them. I believe, families are eternal, when the proper steps are taken to ensure this eternal family unit it is a comfort and power that I fail to find words to explain. Just knowing, no matter what happens, I will be able to see my family again was like always having a Light House showing me a safe passage through my loneliness. Families are eternal. I could not get through this life not have a strong testimony of this one concept. Knowing that your family is an Eternal Unit brings great comfort in your loneliest, and darkest times. I am thankful I learned this and developed a true believe while apart from my family.

Prayer - The power of Prayer has been written about by thousands of people for thousands of years. From prophets, scholars, and others. Prayer is such a comfort when you are a lone. Knowing the power of prayer helped me a great deal. “When Life gets to much to Stand, Kneel” is a sign we have in our home. I really put this to the test these past 7 weeks. Not being there for Megan’s first girl’s camp, not being there when the boys in the neighborhood are mean to your son just flat out hurts. However, prayer helped me, and it helped them. I am so thankful for being humble enough to pray, give thanks, and ask for blessings.

The last thing I want to write about is how fast time passes by. I know when we are all together again I am going to take the time to be with them. I am going to do everything I can to create special memories for my family. In the past I have been very selfish. I often put my needs ahead of my family. This is a work in progress, but I know it is something I want to do.

P.S. – I also learned that I enjoy musicals. I know, freaky! But I just enjoy them, the signing, and the messages in the music. I have become a huge fan of the TV show GLEE. I thought I might have to give up my man card, but now I know I can embrace the fact that I am man enough to stand up and say that I like musicals. They make me feel good inside, alive, with an energy I get when I play sports or run in a race. Feeling good, in a healthy way, can’t be wrong, can it?

Until Next Blog, and with much love! God Bless, Always!

Mike

Some Positive Words.....

"If we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently" - Anthony Robbins

This is a true statement! I have lost 120 lbs over the last 16 months. I learned that consistent actions shape your body! Now it is habit, and I feel I have more and more control.

"You need to make a commitment, and once you make it, then life will give you answers." - Les Brown

"Life...It tends to respond to our outlook, to shape itself to meet our expectations." Richard de Vos

Getting what you want in life we have to have both a spiritual and temporal focus! Make the commitment and then shape your life to your expectation by using your attitude and outlook on life.

A Quote that Julie sent me! "If you have a sense of caring for others, you will manifest a kind of inner strength in spite of your own difficult situations and problems. With this strength, your problems will seem less significant and bothersome. By going beyond your own problems and taking care of others, you gain an inner strength, self-confidence, courage, and a greater sense of calm."

When ever we put others first we have a better outlook on our life and our purpose. That is why being a parent is one of the greatest gifts that is ever given to a man and woman.

"It is always easier to go down the mountain. It takes work to climb the mountain, but the view at the top is worth a lot more!"

We all need to find Joy in the climb of Life's mountain. It is hard, but it is worth it!

"The ripple affect we can have on one person's life and the lives of their family and friends is such a blessing. We have to always think about paying it forward, because you never know who that ripple will change. The impact of paying it forward and causing ripples in peoples lives will/can change generation after generation."

We can't be afraid to speak up, speak out, and share with people. You never know who's life you will change.

Gob Bless, Continue to Polish! God Bless

Mike

Polish Your Life

One day I meet a young man who had the coolest belt buckle I have ever seen. It was big, silver and very shiny. I asked him where he got the belt buckle from and he said he found it in his Grandpas garage about 6 years ago. He said it didn't look this good when he found it, but after about 2 years of polishing the belt buckle really shinned. I was shocked when he said "After 2 years of polishing the belt buckle really shinned!" I confirmed that it took him 2 years of daily polishing to get the belt buckle to look like it did today, he said yea, every day after school.

After he left I couldn't stop thinking about the belt buckle. I thought there are a lot of times in my life that I feel like the belt buckle in the Grandpa's garage; dusty, dirty, exhausted, mistreated, and just not as good as I could be.

I think we all can use some polish every day in our lives. The problem is I often forget to polish my life. I forget to say I love you enough, I forget to give hugs and kisses to my families, I forget to call a a friend and just say thanks for being there for me. I forget to take the time to polish my life. I know my life, me, could be as shiny as that Belt Buckle. I know I could sparkle, shine, and help make a difference. What I need to do is polish my life each day and see what happens.

Here is the plan: 1) Read Something positive daily, 2) Pray daily, 3) Exercise Daily, 4) Do an act of kindness for someone outside of my family, 5) Tell my Wife how much I love and appreciate her, and 6) Hug my kids and take 10 minutes daily to talk with them about their life.

I will keep you posted on my polishing and let you know how it is going. See you later....

God Bless,

Mike

Microwave Popcorn

Tonight I was hungry! I was looking for something to eat and found some nice Smart Pop Popcorn. I, like many people, love popcorn. Well, after the day, and week I have had I was sitting there in the kitchen just watching the popcorn go round and round in the microwave and started to think. That Popcorn is a lot like me. How is that?

Well, first the bag is wrapped in a a tight plastic bag that is folded over 2times. That bag and popcorn seeds have been put under a lot of adversity. So far the popcorn seeds have survived this adversity. As you take the wrapper of the bag anf release the bag into a nice full stretch the adversity on the popcorn eases. The popcorn can breath a little and relax. Suddenly, you toss the bag into the microwave and hit the popcorn button and bang, the adversity is immediate and painful on the popcorn seeds. All the popcorn seeds have to do is endure 3:10 minutes of pure hell. At first, nothing happens. The seeds are hot, and about to give up. Adversity has about beaten the seeds. But then something begins to happen to the popcorn seeds. They start to grow from the adversity. They become stronger and stronger. With about 1:10 left on the time, the popcorn seeds take off! They start to grow and expand and by the time the adversity ends the seeds have turned into a wonderful treat that is almost busting out of the bag and microwave. The popcorn made it through the adversity.

So it is with us. At first, that adversity is winning, but as we stick to it, keep pushing through, fighting, we start to grow and expand our knowledge and we become stronger and stronger. As the adversity leaves us, we are busting out of our bag! We are strong, wonderful, and all that much better to the taste because of the adversity that we just went through.

We can make it through any adversity! Just like the popcorn! As the adversity leaves we are better then we were before the adversity started to work on us!

God Bless,

Mike

Inspiration is All Around Us!

The Olympics are great! I love watching them with my family. I love the stories behind the athletes and how hard they worked, how much adversity they had to over come to get to where they are today.

With even how great the Olympics are they only come around every 2 years (Summer and Winter). I started thinking tonight about how much inspiration is around us on a daily basis.

We have a young man on our football team that is a great kid. He is not a great athlete and has a medical condition that will some day force him into a wheel chair. He is an inspiration to me because he comes to workouts, pushes himself and just works hard. When he told me about his condition he said to me, "I don't want you to give me anything, I want to earn my spot out there on the field". My heart shouted "YES"! This young man is an inspiration because he understands the value of hard work and "earning" your spot.

When we take the time we can and will find inspiration all around us! We just need to look for it!

Thanks, Mike

Self Before Others . W.I.F.M

The other day a friend posted a comment about the State of the Nation address on Facebook. She noticed and could feel the division that is in Washington. I think many people could see and feel the same thing.

I had made a comment on her Facebook page that there is a division in Washington and it is a reflection of the Presidents leadership. Another friend of hers commented that the division is not only in Washington but all over the country. He then stated that is why he only worries about himself, he is not on any one's "team" or "side". This is the problem in this country. Everyone is worried about themselves and no one else. Everyone wonders "what is in it for me" W.I.F.M....Everyone puts themselves before others, and no one wants to jump on a team or a side and try to do what is right for others, not just right for themselves.

It really is a sad commentary about the way our country has evolved. People helping people was once a powerful motto, but now just makes peoples eyes roll. So how do we get it back, how do we get our country back?

1) Start with you! Start by helping someone accomplish something every day. Look for ways to jump on a team or a side and help people.

2) Be positive. The fact is life is hard, bad things happen, people get divorced, people get sick, people lose their jobs. The key is how you look at these things as they occur in your life. You can do nothing but complain, or you can be positive, and see how you can change the circumstances that you now find yourself in.

3) Take a stand for what is right! The fact is most people know the difference between right and wrong. Take the time to look at all sides, ponder it, and then take a stand for what is right. Not what is right for you, but what is right for others.

We need to get our country back. A revolution is coming! People are more and more frustrated with the people in Washington and in our State Governments. We don't want the government to take away our freedom of choice, our freedom of speech and just are freedom.

Start today by helping others, being positive, and taking a stand for what is right. You are not alone! You are on a team!

Mike

Health Care Reform - Serious

Health Care Reform! This is so scary for the American people. Please see this link from 1961.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdLpem-AAs

Any thing that takes away from a person to have a choice, or free agency is not good.