Love Life
I have found if you love life, life will love you back. I accept life unconditionally. Life holds so much - so much to be happy about always. Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can be felt only if you don't set conditions. - Arthur Rubinstein
Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a TiVo (DVR) and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning , complete the following statement:
"My purpose today is to..............................."
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.
6. Watch more movies, play more games, and read more books than you did last year.
7. Make time to exercise, practice meditation, do yoga.
8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk, and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed-out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. Go on and burn those "special" scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china, and wear your fancy lingerie or clothes now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.
32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34. The best is yet to come.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. Do the right thing!
37. Call your family often.
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
- "I am thankful for ........................." "Today I accomplished ........................... "
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it.
Sincerely,
Michael Brundy
I Speak!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
What Happened to The Poor?
What Happened To The Poor?
As a baby boomer, my youth was spent in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Back then politicians and the public always spoke of the poor. There was always conversation about how we could better help the poor. Now all I hear about is helping the people in the middle class.
So what happen with helping the poor? How could we now be so concerned about the middle class and not concerned about the poor? The middle class were the folks who had it made. We didn’t all aspire to reach the upper class, so getting to the middle class was an accomplishment.
Now we seem to only be concerned about the middle class. We’re concerned about the middle class getting “screwed.” Are we taxing the middle class too much? Are we eliminating middle class entitlements?
I think its important to lookout for the middle class. But I think we risk losing our soul when we give up our concern for the poor. We seem to be a better country and better people when we are looking out for those who have the least among us.
I just heard on a 60 Minutes show that 1 out of 4 children are now living in poverty. That means we have a future generation to be concerned with. But even more important than having a fourth of the population in poverty, is having three fourths of the population not care.
I think its time for us to give some attention to the poor in our country. Let’s see how we can improve their lives. Because if you want something in life you should give it. So if we want to be prosperous, let’s help those who have less than us be prosperous. It will help us and it will help them.
What happens to the poor will happen to us all. So let’s rethink our priorities and help the poor. It’s the right thing to do.
As a baby boomer, my youth was spent in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Back then politicians and the public always spoke of the poor. There was always conversation about how we could better help the poor. Now all I hear about is helping the people in the middle class.
So what happen with helping the poor? How could we now be so concerned about the middle class and not concerned about the poor? The middle class were the folks who had it made. We didn’t all aspire to reach the upper class, so getting to the middle class was an accomplishment.
Now we seem to only be concerned about the middle class. We’re concerned about the middle class getting “screwed.” Are we taxing the middle class too much? Are we eliminating middle class entitlements?
I think its important to lookout for the middle class. But I think we risk losing our soul when we give up our concern for the poor. We seem to be a better country and better people when we are looking out for those who have the least among us.
I just heard on a 60 Minutes show that 1 out of 4 children are now living in poverty. That means we have a future generation to be concerned with. But even more important than having a fourth of the population in poverty, is having three fourths of the population not care.
I think its time for us to give some attention to the poor in our country. Let’s see how we can improve their lives. Because if you want something in life you should give it. So if we want to be prosperous, let’s help those who have less than us be prosperous. It will help us and it will help them.
What happens to the poor will happen to us all. So let’s rethink our priorities and help the poor. It’s the right thing to do.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Spit Shine
When I was a youngster my father served in the Army Reserves. On weekends he would dress up in his army uniform to go to reserve meetings with his buddies.
I can remember him preparing for his meetings. He would have perfectly starched shirts, a well ironed uniform with perfect creases, shiny brass and spit shined shoes or boots. He would pay us a nickel to shine his shoes. And while we helped he would teach us lessons about taking care of your clothes and being conscious of your attire. He would tell us how important appearance can be in life.
It seems like my father always looked for lessons to teach us. They weren’t termed as lessons but instead as chores or responsibilities or something “I told you to do.” I now realize he was making sure that we were self reliant. He wanted to be sure that we knew how to make it in the world.
Now I didn’t get all the lessons dad was teaching when he was telling me to do things. Many times I just saw it as something else I had to do. But as I’ve grown older, and throughout my life, those lessons come to my rescue as I try to make it in life. It’s amazing to me how much smarter my father has become as I’ve gotten older.
If you have young people in your life who like me need some good coaching, do like my dad. Look for lessons that you can teach in the midst of everyday occurrences or chores. You don’t have to say that they are lessons. Instead think of it as planting seeds. That’s what dad did with me. He planted seeds. And even though my dad has been gone for many years now, I continue to benefit from the seeds he planted, the lessons he taught me. Like the importance of a good spit shine.
Thanks Pops.
Michael's Thoughts: Mrs. Hanna
Michael's Thoughts: Mrs. Hanna: Mrs. Hanna In 1963, after having spent the first four years of elementary school at all black Lincoln School in Leavenworth, Kansas, our f...
Mrs. Hanna
Mrs. Hanna
In 1963, after having spent the first four years of elementary school at all black Lincoln School in Leavenworth, Kansas, our family moved to the south part of town and I started fourth grade in a new school. The school was called Third Avenue School and it was all white except for three black families. We were the ones fortunate or unfortunate enough to live on the wrong side of Ohio Avenue. So instead of attending Fifth Avenue School, the all black school on the south side of town, we were integrating Third Avenue nearly a decade after the Brown vs. The Board of Education case that desegragated schools.
Being a black kid going to an all white school had all the horrors that you would expect in 1963. There were bullies and racists, kids cheating at games and me not getting picked, name calling, prejudice teachers and all the rest.
But there was one bright spot at that school that changed the direction of my life. That bright spot was Mrs. Hanna. She was one of the most educated black people in Leavenworth and she was teaching fourth grade at the all white school. She was a member of our church and a long time friend of the family.
Mrs. Hanna was the first one to tell me that I would have to work harder than the other kids to succeed. She was the first to tell me that I was as smart if not smarter than any kid in the class. Since they were all white, she was telling me that I was as good as any white kid. That was a message a little black kid needed to hear in 1963.
Mrs. Hanna didn’t let up on me because I was a black kid in her class. No, she pushed me extra hard. And she would report to my parents if I strayed. And I’d see her at church every Sunday. And finally she lived in the neighborhood only three blocks away. I couldn’t get away with a thing with Mrs. Hanna.
Before Mrs. Hanna my sister Becky had instilled a great love for learning in me. But Mrs. Hanna kicked things up a notch. She made me want to excel. She showed me the beauty and the benefits of doing your best.
I’m so glad I had Mrs. Hanna in my life and I try to tell her every time I go home. Everyone needs a Mrs. Hanna in their life. And if you’re a grown up maybe you could be someone else’s Mrs. Hanna.
No one makes it in life alone. We all need someone to push us and support us. I’m so glad I had someone like that in my life. How about you? Do you remember who turned you around and got you started on the right path? Say a prayer for them. Be thankful for your “Mrs. Hanna.”
In 1963, after having spent the first four years of elementary school at all black Lincoln School in Leavenworth, Kansas, our family moved to the south part of town and I started fourth grade in a new school. The school was called Third Avenue School and it was all white except for three black families. We were the ones fortunate or unfortunate enough to live on the wrong side of Ohio Avenue. So instead of attending Fifth Avenue School, the all black school on the south side of town, we were integrating Third Avenue nearly a decade after the Brown vs. The Board of Education case that desegragated schools.
Being a black kid going to an all white school had all the horrors that you would expect in 1963. There were bullies and racists, kids cheating at games and me not getting picked, name calling, prejudice teachers and all the rest.
But there was one bright spot at that school that changed the direction of my life. That bright spot was Mrs. Hanna. She was one of the most educated black people in Leavenworth and she was teaching fourth grade at the all white school. She was a member of our church and a long time friend of the family.
Mrs. Hanna was the first one to tell me that I would have to work harder than the other kids to succeed. She was the first to tell me that I was as smart if not smarter than any kid in the class. Since they were all white, she was telling me that I was as good as any white kid. That was a message a little black kid needed to hear in 1963.
Mrs. Hanna didn’t let up on me because I was a black kid in her class. No, she pushed me extra hard. And she would report to my parents if I strayed. And I’d see her at church every Sunday. And finally she lived in the neighborhood only three blocks away. I couldn’t get away with a thing with Mrs. Hanna.
Before Mrs. Hanna my sister Becky had instilled a great love for learning in me. But Mrs. Hanna kicked things up a notch. She made me want to excel. She showed me the beauty and the benefits of doing your best.
I’m so glad I had Mrs. Hanna in my life and I try to tell her every time I go home. Everyone needs a Mrs. Hanna in their life. And if you’re a grown up maybe you could be someone else’s Mrs. Hanna.
No one makes it in life alone. We all need someone to push us and support us. I’m so glad I had someone like that in my life. How about you? Do you remember who turned you around and got you started on the right path? Say a prayer for them. Be thankful for your “Mrs. Hanna.”
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
An Apple A Day
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. That’s not seven apples a week. It’s an apple a day. You can’t skip a day and then the next day have two apples. You can’t wait until the end of the week and just eat seven apples. It’s an apple a day.
Miss Lucy’s doctor’s have instructed her to eat a banana every day to keep her potassium levels up. She can’t miss a day and catch up later. She can’t eat all of her bananas at the beginning of the week. She has to have one every day.
That’s the same approach we should take toward any goal or accomplishment. It’s the steady progress that we make toward our goals that counts. We won’t accomplish everything in one day or in one step. Most times it will take several steps to get to our destination. If we stop after a few steps, if we are not discipline about our steps, if we become discouraged because we don’t get there in just a couple of steps, if we think we can skip necessary steps, we won’t reach our goal.
We didn’t get out of shape in just one day. We didn’t get in debt in just one day. We didn’t wreck our relationship in one day. These things take time and the correction of these things take time also.
If we can hold on to our goal, keep our eye on the prize, as we take our steps each day we will reach our goal. We don’t have to even be able to see the goal. Just like when you head from New York to Los Angeles, you can’t see the end destination but you know that step by step, mile by mile, you will get there.
Whatever you are going after take it a step at a time. But be sure to take a step each day. Each day be sure you are doing something to get you closer to your dream. Don’t get discouraged. Just like I do when I run, just “keep puttin’ ‘em, and puttin’ ‘em down”. Before you know it you’ll reach your goal. A day at a time.
Miss Lucy’s doctor’s have instructed her to eat a banana every day to keep her potassium levels up. She can’t miss a day and catch up later. She can’t eat all of her bananas at the beginning of the week. She has to have one every day.
That’s the same approach we should take toward any goal or accomplishment. It’s the steady progress that we make toward our goals that counts. We won’t accomplish everything in one day or in one step. Most times it will take several steps to get to our destination. If we stop after a few steps, if we are not discipline about our steps, if we become discouraged because we don’t get there in just a couple of steps, if we think we can skip necessary steps, we won’t reach our goal.
We didn’t get out of shape in just one day. We didn’t get in debt in just one day. We didn’t wreck our relationship in one day. These things take time and the correction of these things take time also.
If we can hold on to our goal, keep our eye on the prize, as we take our steps each day we will reach our goal. We don’t have to even be able to see the goal. Just like when you head from New York to Los Angeles, you can’t see the end destination but you know that step by step, mile by mile, you will get there.
Whatever you are going after take it a step at a time. But be sure to take a step each day. Each day be sure you are doing something to get you closer to your dream. Don’t get discouraged. Just like I do when I run, just “keep puttin’ ‘em, and puttin’ ‘em down”. Before you know it you’ll reach your goal. A day at a time.
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