Drop the last year into the limbo of the Past!!

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Rod's World

Fast forward to December 2019. You’re sitting at home pondering the year that’s been…What’s next? My friend Emeli and her crew wrote this as a sub-heading under 2019, ideal vision in Lifebook 2019 On Purpose: Get in Contact.

Em asks 8 questions, they are as follows:

Who are You? What have you achieved? Where do you want to be?
List the top three reasons you want this vision.
Who do you want to be in 2019? List three small actions you can take to make a big change.
What advice would you give to yourself in a year’s time?
What books do you want to have read?
What places do you want to have travelled to?
What hobbies will you have started?
Who would you have kissed more? Hugged more? Made, deep, deep love to?

So, if you are deeply ensconced in your humanity, you will have up and down periods over the year, so what are some of the favourite quotes about the year that was, let’s take a stroll down that lane:

1. Andriy Shevchenko is a soccer player and politician who made Champions League history; on 23 November 2005, he scored all four goals in Milan’s 4–0 group stage drubbing of Fenerbahçe, becoming only the fifth player to accomplish this feat; his company includes Marco van Basten, Simone Inzaghi, Dado Pršo and Ruud van Nistelrooy (while Lionel Messi joined that group in the 2009–10 season and Robert Lewandowski in 2012–13), and the only one to have done it in an away game.

2. By the worlds most prolific quote writer, Ms Unknown, the world gets you: Golden Years.

3. Don’t forget to include the fun factor as well as the hard work during 2019.

4. Two words: Simon & Garfunkel: Frank Lloyd Wright

5. Each of us reaches this revelation at different stages in our lives, will you do it in 2019?

6. And some of it you dread and other bits you say Fuck, Yes too: After All These Years.

7. For the sisters.

8. René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke, better known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist. He is “widely recognized as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets. Obviously, Maria must have been a strong family name to be chosen to keep: Best thing I never Had.

9. One of the shortest professional tennis players ever, Michael’s Chinese name (simplified Chinese: 张德培; traditional Chinese: 張德培; pinyin: Zhāng Dépéi) was chosen by Joe, his father and his English name by Betty, his mother (who named him after her father).

10 Hurts so bad but living so good, great line: Hurt So Bad.

11. Can you genuinely say this?

12. Thirty, the new …..?: The Prime Time of Your Life.

13, Just, because I can.

14. Will it fill up your 1,000-litre cup: A Thousand Years.

15. And the final message is for my beloved Warriors of Love.

Emeli also stated: that we can spend all day making lists of the external ‘stuff’ we want like clothes, cars etc. But what really drives us. I will leave you with that question to ponder over the months of 2019.

Last century songs outnumber the 2000’s in tonight’s playlist. We begin with David Bowie, then further back to Simon and Garfunkel. Some rock from Journey follows, then we move forward to Beyonce. Another oldie from Linda Rondstat, then we finish with two tunes written after the 2YK crisis by Daft Punk and Christina Perri: Drop the Last Year into the limbo of the Past.

So I have a request, in 2019 spread the ethos of Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included amongst your communities, workplaces, families and love relationships.

Be your own self, Love what you Love.

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Rod's World

You are powerful when you believe in yourself – when you know that you are capable of anything you put your mind to. You are beautiful when your strength and determination shines as you follow your own path – when you aren’t dishevelled by the obstacles along the way. You are unstoppable when you let your mistakes educate you, as your confidence builds from experiences – when you know you can fall down, pick yourself up, and move forward.

These inspiring words are from Marc Chernoff, he also provides 11 ways to become this person:

Stop judging, and appreciate the beauty within you.
Treat yourself the way you want others to treat you.
Care less about who you are to others.
Know your worth.
Don’t rush intimate relationships.
Let go of those who aren’t really there.
Forgive yourself and others.
Focus on the Positive.
Believe in the person you are capable of being.
Work on Goals you believe in.
Keep working and looking straight forward.

This chapter is entitled 11 ways to become the person you love, so lets have a look at what society has said about being the person you love:

1. Amazing work! Kaci Diane has found a way to capture her raw emotions in a way that allows the reader to join her on a journey of hopes, dreams, ups and downs. You feel the highs and lows of each poem as Kaci gives you a glimpse into her heart and soul.”

2. Feel that yearning deep in your soul: Yearning for Your Love.

3. I’m sure when we pop out that this is in place.

4. A million dollars worth: Who Says.

5. A classic from the world’s great philosopher, Ms Unknown.

6. Unrecognisable is the word that comes to mind for me: I Gotta Feeling.

7. And your answer is?

8. Lalah hangs out in Mind, body, spirit, and life; wellness, wholeness, empowerment, and transformation, through Vibrational-based living, vibrating higher daily: Change Your Life.

9. They travel everywhere together.

10. The good things at both ends, changes the meaning of the classic burning at both ends analogy doesn’t it: Somewhere over the Rainbow.

11. Seven Billion No one is You’s, amazing. Go and fly.

12. When self-obsession becomes a powerful tool in your armoury: Love Me.

13. Out, damn thought – William Shakespeare, well, nearly.

14. Bravery and Brene Brown, touche: Shame is Lethal.

15. Bette Midler!!

In the end, loving yourself os about enjoying your life, trusting your own feeling. taking chances, losing and finding happiness, cherishing the memories, and learning from the past. Sometimes you have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting. Have faith that things will work out maybe not exactly how you planned, but just how it’s meant to be.

Today’s playlist is crowded with pop divas and some worldly advice. We begin with ex-members of the Gap Band, Charles Wilson and Tyrese, then our first diva Selena Gomez. The Black Eyed Peas appear before divas Iggy Azalea, Ariana Grande and Kate Perry. We finish with the wisdom of Brene Brown: Be your own self, Love what you Love.

Becoming the person you love allows you to love others: Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included, I look forward to seeing you again next time we meet, my dear friends.

Make Your Life Simple But Significant!!

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Rod's World

Someday life seems so complicated, yet other days we are in total flow: What is the difference? My friend Marc Chernoff suggests that there are things we should cease doing so we have more days of the latter. Here are Marc’s ideas:

Stop berating yourself for being a work in progress.
Stop doing immoral things just because you can.
Stop meaning what you don’t say.
Stop wasting time and money trying to acquire more of everything.
Stop spending time with negative people.
Stop trying to change people.
Stop being lazy and cutting corners.
Stop procrastinating,
Stop worrying and complaining.
Stop being dramatic.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone.
Stop making promises you can’t keep.
Stop blaming others.
Stop reacting without a plan.
Stop confusing being busy with being productive.
Stop over-committing and trying to do too much at once.
Stop being inefficient simply because you’ve always done it that way.
Stop cluttering your space.
Stop overloading your mind by consuming useless information.
Stop obsessing over the past and the future.
Stop waiting for things to be perfect.
Stop focussing so much energy on trying to avoid mistakes.
Stop making emotional decisions.
Stop being unhealthy.
Stop holding onto intimate relationships that make you unhappy.
Stop holding onto hate.
Stop pretending like you know everything.
Stop giving what you don’t want to receive.

Deep down in our hearts, we know these things would be good for us if we took them on. I wouldn’t recommend taking more than a few at a time, there is that adage new habits take 21 days to cement in place.

How far back does the advice on living life with ease go? Let’s have a look:

1. Apparently, a long way: here is some wisdom on the subject from Confucius, who lived in China in the Fifth Century B.C.

2. Time in nature is such a decluttering of the mind: Medicine.

3. Some people prefer to complicate their life and even die before they make the changes that will benefit them.

4. Physically steps are always forward, metaphorically, I am not so sure: Neon Blue.

5. And then there is always an act of service.

6. Are Kiss really a rock group on an acronym for a life less complicated: I was made for Loving You.

7. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.

8. Self-explanatory really, each sunrise brings a new beginning if we are willing: A New Day Has Come.

9. Start learning from your mistakes. Smile, then move on.

10, Nike!!: Beat It.

11. Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included.

12. To turn left or right at the intersection, either way, It could profoundly change your life: Thinking Out Loud.

13, Mini de complication list.

14, Less complicated does not mean easy to do, they are entirely different things: It’s Not Easy,

15, Finally, a reminder to surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be:, they are totally on your side.

What could you do to make your days less complicated, I’m sure there is something in this list that could empower you to live a less cluttered life, physically and mentally, go forward and try some on.

Today’s playlist contains some of the music industry heavies. We begin with the newbies, Queen Naija and Steps. Then four monoliths – Kiss, Celine Dion, Michael Jackson and Ed Sheeran. We finish with a visit to the African continent with Lucky Dube: Make Your Life Simple But Significant.

A way I find to not complicate my life is to show Love and Respect to All, Everyone Included. Best wishes until next time we meet, my dear friends.

It Doesn’t Matter What Others Do!!

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Rod's World

I belong to a group of world travellers called The Warriors of Love. We look at how to live from Essence, your lifeforce on a day to day basis. You incorporate daily actions and to do lists still but they are not the major focus. Wayne Dyer has some interesting words on this way of life:

“When you go beyond outcome in life you find yourself unconcerned about what is in it for you. Thoughts, feelings and behaviour focus more and more on the fulfilment of your purpose. You go beyond success, achievement and performance as indications of your life’s mission. Instead, every moment is lived fully and lovingly. Material possessions cease to dominate your thoughts, which is not to say that they disappear. They simply cease to be the focus of life. Instead, your purpose takes hold, and you gain a sense of joy and inner harmony knowing that you are divinely fulfilling your reason for being here. As Michel de Montaigne put it so succinctly: “The great and glorious masterpiece of man is how to live with purpose.”

SEVEN BELIEFS FOR MANIFESTING REAL MAGIC: Wayne LOVES lists. Here’s one on the “Seven Beliefs for Manifesting Real Magic”:

1. “There is an invisible but knowable life force within you.

2. Your thoughts are something that you control and they originate within you.

3. There are no limits. (Might want to re-read that and take it literally. 🙂

4. Your life has a purpose.

5. You overcome weaknesses by leaving them behind.

6. When you examine what you believe to be impossible, you can then change your beliefs.

7. You can go beyond logic.”

What have people said about this lifestyle over the centuries, here are a few of . my favourites:

1. This says to me that you cannot pour things into a beaker and come up with your unique lifeforce essence, it is not work for the perfume industry.

2. Gives you a wide panorama to work with during your well-lived life: Live Your Life.

3. From India, Agnivesh calls on us to live life as a celebration.

4. Martí is considered one of the great turn-of-the-century Latin American intellectuals. His written works include a series of poems, essays, letters, lectures, novel, and a children’s magazine. He wrote for numerous Latin American and American newspapers; he also founded a number of newspapers. His newspaper Patria was an important instrument in his campaign for Cuban independence. After his death, one of his poems from the book, “Versos Sencillos” (Simple Verses) was adapted to the song “Guantanamera”, which has become the definitive patriotic song of Cuba: Guantanamera.

5. To the perfectionists out there, if you have never made a mistake, it is said you have never lived.

6. Who knew Julius Caesar was an entrepreneur way back before the technological revolution: It’s My Life.

7. Love, Love, Love – All the way, from the beginning to the end, baby to an elder.

8. Rumi talks about the essence of opening your heart better than anybody else I know: Open Your Heart.

9. When we are clinging on for our very existence, Love is there with us waiting to be seen and heard.

10. I know there were years in my shadow life that I did not do this very successfully: The Air That I Breathe.

11. Romances rarely turn out like Mills and Boon novelettes.

12. De vita sua vivet tuum: non-morieris enim tu tuum mortem: High Hopes.

13. How many days? time to give that lie up!!

14. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy had that curiosity: When the Soviets beat America into space he understood the need to restore America’s confidence and intended not merely to match the Soviets, but surpass them. On May 25, 1961, he stood before Congress to deliver a special message on “urgent national needs.” He asked for an additional $7 billion to $9 billion over the next five years for the space program, proclaiming that “this nation should commit itself to achieve the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.” President Kennedy settled upon this dramatic goal as a means of focusing and mobilizing the nation’s lagging space efforts.

Sceptics questioned the ability of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to meet the president’s timetable. Within a year, however, Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom became the first two Americans to travel into space and in 1969 man walked on the moon: Walking on the Moon.

15. And your Essence buddies will always find a way to be there for you.

What could make up your essence? All of the things that you have become convinced are limits are products of the way in which you have learned to think… Before the invention of the microscope, most people did not believe in the existence of microscopic life. People who believe only what they can see or prove scientifically are limited by the current level of sophistication of our measuring devices.”

Lots of the ’80s and the 90’s tunes in today’s playlist. We begin with T.I. and Rhianna followed by Wyclef Jean and the Refugee All-stars. Moving back into the last century we begin with Bon Jovi, then one of the bop girls in Madonna. Simply Red cover a 60’s classic then two P groups to finish off, Panic In The Disco and the Police: It Doesn’t Matter What Other People Do.

“Rejoice in the prosperity of others. When you feel contemptuous, or even a twinge of jealousy, toward the accomplishments or lifestyles of others, you are harbouring negativity, where love must reside… You cannot attract prosperity to yourself if you are filled with rancour, judgment, anger, jealousy, hatred, fear, tension or the like. This kind of negative inner mindset keeps you from being on purpose. You cannot be fulfilled and envious at the same time.” So remember to show Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included to each other until we meet again, my dear friends.

Warning, You think about 60,000 Thoughts a Day!!

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Rod's World

Have you heard of Dr Martin Seligman? He created the PERMA model of well-being. It is an acronym that stands for Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment. You are more likely to have heard of Dr Seligman than Michelle Mcquaid and Dr Peggy Kern, who recently wrote an excellent book, “Your Wellbeing Blueprint, Feeling Good and Doing Well at Work: Pick It Up Here.

Michelle and Peggy add another letter to the formulae, the letter H, it stands for Health

Your Wellbeing Blueprint distils three decades of research findings from the field of Positive Psychology and reveals practical ways to build your wellbeing through your everyday activities so you can feel good and do well at work. Just like a personal trainer can help you improve your physical fitness, this book will show you how to:

Measure your wellbeing using Professor Martin Seligman’s PERMA framework. Set realistic wellbeing goals that build quick wins to improve your levels of energy, resilience, productivity, health, and happiness. Create a personal wellbeing plan with busy-proof practices that you enjoy doing and make it easier to consistently thrive at work.

With more than 100 positive interventions to choose from, this book gives you everything you need to become an informed, confident, and active steward of your own wellbeing so you can wholeheartedly show up and be fully engaged in life — whatever it throws at you.

Following my formulae to write about what is on the page I first open the book too, on page 36 I discovered the Cultivating Positivity toolkit – Strategies for promoting heartfelt positivity. In the toolkit, there are 7 distinctions:

Dialling up Positivity: Jolts of Joy, Hunt and Gather, Connect with Nature, Measure your Positivity.
Dialling down Negativity: Create Healthy Distractions, Disrupt negative Thoughts, Navigate Negativity Landmines, Limit Media Time.
Practising Kindness: Track your Kindness, Have a Kindness Day, Try Loving Kindness Meditation, Random Acts of Kindness
Cultivating Gratitude: Count Your Blessings, Write a Gratitude letter, Carry a Gratitude Scrap, Thank one Person.
Savouring The Good: Immerse Yourself, Re-Live Peak Moments, Savour your Stories, What went Well.
Getting Comfortably Uncomfortable: Name your Emotions, Slow down your Responses, Control the controllables, Get In Your Body.
Short-Circuiting Stress: Decode Stress Messages, Turn Adversity into a Resource, Set Stretch Goals, Re-frame Stress Moments.

Each of these statements will mean something different to each and every person on the planet, but what has society said about cultivating positivity over the decades, let’s have a look:

1. What the, Yes, a simple four letter word.

2. What was your song when you first fell in Love: The Power of Love.

3. What field of play would you be seen on?

4. Behind every cloud, is your own sunshine: Ain’t no Sunshine.

5. And I couldn’t write on this subject without some Oprah.

6. You’re under my skin, it may be a good or a bad thing: I’ve Got You Under My Skin.

8. We are starseed underneath it all: Starman.

9. Is it working on the inside, or are you one of the greatest showmen/women?

10. When Uchtdorf was about eleven, his father’s political beliefs, incongruent with Soviet rule, earned him the label of “dissenter”, thus putting their lives in danger. They fled East Germany and resettled in U.S.-occupied West Germany. His sisters accomplished this by jumping from a moving train that happened to pass through West Germany, while Dieter and his mother climbed a mountain to avoid Russian guard checkpoints: Imagine.

11. We Rise makes me instantly think of Maya Angelou, put Maya and I rise in Youtube, and you will be blessed.

12. Change is one of those things in life that is guaranteed, just like death and taxes: Changes.

13. And that is why the Lords of War will never win against the good that is the basis of the human race.

14. Playtime!: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

15. As I like to do with the final quote, a request to support the planet’s wellbeing.

Michelle and Peggy write the following under the question “How can I develop more Heartfelt Positivity?”

You can’t create genuine heartfelt positive emotion by just trying to think happy thoughts. Willpower and mental effort alone are not enough to make a difference. Instead, studies suggest that the most reliable and effective way to alter your emotional state is to try and better select or modify your circumstances. For example, if you enjoy having dinner parties with friends, this can be a great way to set the stage for more heartfelt positivity. But, hosting a dinner party can be a lot of work, so as the experience unfolds you . may need to modify the situation in small ways. For instance, you can spend more time interacting with your guests rather than being in the kitchen – see how that impacts what you’re feeling. It’s also important to be realistic about your expectations of positivity. Positive emotions are fleeting. They’re going to arise and they’re going to dissipate, and we need to accept that, rather than try to cling to them.

One of the songs on today’s playlist has had 793,000,000 plays, guess which one. A lot of the royalty of the music scene today: Firstly Jennifer Rush, then Bill Withers. Three dead set legends follow, one of them twice – Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, John Lennon and David again. We finish with Cyndi Lauper who had had 793.000.000 hits: Warning, You Think about 60,000 Thoughts a Day.

If this blog piques your interest, I recommend purchasing it, it has over 100 ways to improve your wellbeing. I have another, treat everyone you meet with Love and Respect, Everyone Included as you go through your day until we meet again, my dear friends.

The Garden of The World has no Limits

Posted on January 3, 2019 by Rod's World

Today is my self declared Rumi day, all the quotes will be from one person, he is Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, Mevlânâ/Mawlānā and Mevlevî/Mawlawī, but in the western world simply known as Rumi.

Rumi’s poetry has been captured in a number of different collections. In all, one is exposed to the manner in which Rumi demonstrates the unbridled joy that comes from living life fully while urging us always to put aside our fears and take the risk required to do so.

Rumi believed passionately in the use of music, poetry and dance as a path for reaching God. For Rumi, music helped devotees to focus their whole being on the divine and to do this so intensely that the soul was both destroyed and resurrected. It was from these ideas that the practice of whirling Dervishes developed into a ritual form. His teachings became the base for the order of the Mevlevi, which his son Sultan Walad organised. Rumi encouraged Sama, listening to music and turning or doing the sacred dance. In the Mevlevi tradition, samāʿ represents a mystical journey of spiritual ascent through mind and love to the Perfect One. In this journey, the seeker symbolically turns towards the truth, grows through love, abandons the ego, finds the truth and arrives at the Perfect. The seeker then returns from this spiritual journey, with greater maturity, to love and to be of service to the whole of creation without discrimination with regard to beliefs, races, classes and nations. And as well as this he wrote possibly the most beautiful poetry ever written on this planet from which short vignettes are taken and turned into quotes, here are my favourites:

1. I must be in Love, I have felt like my body is disintegrating into the energy of the universe lately.

2. Can you even think this: Ocean of Love.

3. From the day I was born.

4. Time to turn the searchlight on: Find Yourself.

5. Quiet please, ah, there it is.

6. Find the others, but be responsible for your steps in life: A Road Song.

7. It’s just a perfect day, I’m so glad I spent it with you.

8. Only one song for this: Because the Night.

9. Remember those nights sitting watching the ocean reflect the stars and moon stoned out of your mind, I do.

10. I call him/her Gaia, what’s your name: Sacred Chant.

11. One of his best known.

12. Today we call it Social Media: The Sounds of Silence.

13. Starseed Y’all.

14. Remember to breath next time we meet, my beloved: Ring of Fire.

15. And finally from the great man, a simple request.

No mirror ever became iron again; No bread ever became wheat; No ripened grape ever became sour fruit. Mature yourself and be secure from a change for the worse. Become the light.” What a beautiful way to help us remember to appreciate each step we take in the self-actualizing process. Remember that once you‘ve evolved to a new stage of development, you simply cannot go back to the levels you were previously at! Rejoice in that fact and appreciate your growth. Become the light.

Today’s playlist sounds like it came out of the American mid-west and or sitting next to a river. We begin with Miten and Deva, Then to Brad Paisley and the Fountains of Wayne. Possibly the best song of 1976 by Patti Smith then to the river’s edge with Mama Gaia. Two gruff voices finish it off with Tempest and Johny Cash: The Garden of the World has no Limits.

As you bliss out on Rumi and the accompanying songs, remember to share Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included until next time we meet, my dear friends.

All Good is Hard, All Evil is Easy.

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Rod's World

Today is a follow up on habits via Marc and Angel Chernoff’s excellent book: 1000+ Little Thing Happy Successful People Do Differently: Marc and Angel Hack Life. Using my write about the page you open up to formulae, we come to 30 Challenges for 30 Days of Growth.

The chapter begins with the following statement: Scientists have suggested that, with a little willpower, it takes roughly 30 days for a person to form a new habit. As with mastering anything new, the act of starting and getting beyond the preliminary stage where everything feels awkward is 80% of the battle. This is precisely why it’s important to make small positive changes every day over the course of at least a 30-day challenge.

Marc then offers you 30 suggestions, here they are:

Use words that encourage happiness
Try one new thing every day.
Perform one selfless act every day.
Learn and practice one new skill every day.
Teach someone something new every day.
Dedicate an hour a day to something you are passionate about.
Treat everyone nicely, even those who are rude to you.
Concentrate on being positive at all times.
Address and acknowledge the lesson in inconvenient situations.
Pay attention and enjoy your life as it happens.
Get rid of one thing a day for 30 days.
Create something brand new in less than 30 days.
Don’t tell a single lie for 30 days.
Wake up 30 minutes early every morning.
Ditch 3 bad habits for 30 days.
Watch less than 30 minutes of TV every day.
Define one long-term goal and work on it for an hour every day.
Read one chapter of a good book every day.
Every morning, watch or read something that inspires you.
Do something every day after lunch that makes you laugh.
Go alcohol and drug-free for 30 days.
Exercise for 30 minutes every day for 30 days.
Get uncomfortable and face a fear every day.
Cook one brand new healthy recipe every day.
Spend 10 minutes every evening reflecting on what went well.
Have a conversation every day with someone you rarely do.
Pay down debt and don’t create any new debt for 30 days.
Let go of one relationship that constantly hurts you.
Publicly forgive someone who deserves another chance.
Document every day with one photograph and one paragraph.

We often use the excuse that I don’t know where to begin, what does society say about that: let’s have a look:

1. Recently I walked across 8 Km of beach rocks, I have no sense of balance, I definitely grew from this situation.

2. The challenges begin within, after all, you made them a challenge: This Time.

3. The picture says it all.

4. Ralph puts it in your face why we challenge ourselves: Growth.

5. To spell words correctly.

6. In your challenges lie all your meaningful accomplishments: One Life.

7. One small step forward a day is all it takes.

8. Your Gut Feelings, that is what you want to know, stop ignoring them: Gut Feeling.

9. I think Ralph should be talking to his lawyers about the origin of Gail’s quote.

10. It’s really saying shake off the limits, isn’t it.: No Limit.

11. Stop playing small!!

12. Marlen Esparza is an American boxer. In May 2012, she qualified to compete at the 2012 Olympics, becoming the first American woman to qualify for the Olympics in the first year that women’s boxing was an Olympic event. She won the bronze medal in the women’s flyweight division at the 2012 Olympics in London: You Can Do It.

13. Me, Myself, I: Challenge them all.

14. Set your controls for the heart of the Sun: Chandelier.

15. And some worldly advice from big Tone to finish.

You can’t do all these challenges at once, but they will make for an inspired 2019. As you progress through these challenges remember personal growth is a slow, steady process. It can’t be rushed. You need to work on it gradually every day. There is ample time for you to be who you want to be in life. Don’t settle for less than what you think you deserve or less than you know you can be. Despite the struggles, you will face along the way, never give up on yourself. You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and twice as capable as you have ever imagined.

Today’s playlist lies in the Hip Hop stadium with three offerings. We begin with Pia Toscano, then enter the stadium with Offset. Rock offerings from Boyce Avenue and Devo follow. Usher and Ice Cube make their entry and we complete with Australia’s own Sia: All Good is Hard, All Evil is Easy.

Remember to show Love and Respect to All, Everyone Included until we meet again, my dear friends:

Don’t Let Anyone Else Hold The Pen!!

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Rod's World

Back to Marc and Angel Chernoff for today’s blog, I stubbed my toe on their book 1000+ Little Things Happy Successful People Do Differently: Hit them Up… As is my practice when writing about a possibility I open the book to any page and voila, that is the subject for today. On page 139 is the heading “10 Ways to WRITE a Life Story Worth Living” appeared.

The chapter begins with the following words from Marc:

‘When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen. Make conscious choices every day that align your actions with your values and your dreams. because the way you live each day is a sentence in the story of your life. Each day you make a choice as to whether the sentence ends in a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point.”

He then offers 10 ideas for writing a life story worth living:

Find a Passion that makes you come alive.
Work hard on that Passion.
Live happily in your own way.
Change your path when you must, but keep moving forward.
When the going gets rough, keep fighting.
Let go of the past and live consciously in the future.
Embrace new ideas, lessons, and challenges.
Appreciate the little things in life that mean a lot.
Live honourably through kindness.
Spend quality time with people you love.

What a beautiful, inspiring list, I’m willing to take it on. Now lets have a look at what the world has said about writing your own story, let’s take that journey:

1. This beautiful image could be included on your vision board.

2. Not all testimony is in the negative: when you have the feeling your words can make a difference, speak them: Song for Someone.

3. Yes, You, the unique human being you are. Go on, you can do it.

4. Mine says I am an Interculturalist: Love and Respect for All, Everyone included. Over to You: Live your Story.

5. As Helen says, It will not always be easy. As Marc’s point 5 says, keep fighting during these time. Each little step makes a difference.

6. To my new friend Josie, you are editing at the moment, your writing is magnificent: Write your Story.

7. Excitement to me is covered in the expression Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs.

8. Ready, Set Write!!!: So Much Magnificence.

9. Even the stars don’t necessarily have great stories. Greta was one of Hollywood’s shining lights in her time.

10. And how could we leave out Deepak when writing about our lives: Change Your Life.

11. Or Brene!!!

12. 我是, Wer bin Ich, qui suis-je, ko wai Ahau, kas aš esu, هستم: Who I am.

13. We all have friends we can do this with: don’t be stingy.

14. To each of our glorious adventures: Yay!!!: This Is Me.

15. And finally, some blank pages for you.

I will finish with some more words from Marc and Angel:

‘If you live honourably, no matter how old you get, you’ll never lose your beauty; it will gradually shift from your face to your heart. And remember, there is no better exercise for the heart than reaching out and holding the hand of someone in need.’

Today’s playlist even contains both types of music, County and Western. We begin with U2. Then to the European continent for Auli’i Cravalho and Francesca Battistelli. I just had to put in Miten and Deva Premal’s song about magnificence. Who would have thought I would ever include a Little Mix song, but here one is. Jessica Andrews is next and we complete with the cast of the Greatest Showman: Remember, Don’t Let Anyone Else Hold The Pen.

So remember to show Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included until next time we meet, my dear friends:

Paradise has never been about Places!!

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Rod's World

Not about a book this time, it’s about an experience. On the weekend I attended Collective Potential’s People on Purpose retreat: Here’s their contact page. My friend Emeli, the facilitator had a surprise for us on Saturday night, it would test my physical and trust issues to the Nth degree. I had to let my fears of walking down any slight slope when I inherited when I fell down an escalator drunk at the age of 18, a long time to hold onto something seeing I am now 64, but my balance has been shot ever since.

I am one of the worlds great givers, even having the nom de plume, The World’s Greatest Volunteer, but am sometimes naff at receiving, I realise there is a profound cost to this, but have trained myself harshly from the I am Unlovable shadow world.

What I learned was the power of the tribe, of true connection, can have people do things that they had told themselves they were incapable of. What has the world said about the power of connection over the decades, let’s have a look:

1. Number one spot to Brene, the Queen of Vulnerability.

2. I love the quote: You can get a kiss easily enough, having sex isn’t that hard really, but finding those people that touch your soul, that’s another thing: Listen To Your Heart.

3. Relationship 101.

4. Find Your Others: People Help the People.

5. Actions not words, true connections not Roses…

6. As James, the financial planner on the retreat said, you do not change your habits overnight, this is especially true in relationships: Time after Time.

7. For the Barbara De Angelis fan on the retreat.

8. I was the elder at 64, there were lots in their 20’s and 30’s, even a teenager I think: Human.

9. Albert was born in the 18th Century, still relevant today.

10. Too me this is more profound in shared experience: Shared Experiences.

11. They are your weirdo’s after all.

12. Has to slip in Emeli’s favourite word: Purpose: Love Connection.

13. I think I did this with someone on the weekend, we don’t meet them that often, Emeli was one for me, so glad to meet another.

14. I have had these conversations, and they have gone for days: Fresh.

15. Nada!!!

So go out there and find your others, allow true connection in your life, Collective Potential is a great place to start if you are new to the journey.

The playlist today has some certifiable classics in it: We begin with Roxette, then Birdy’s anthem to People. One of my top ten songs by Cyndi Lauper, then the bass tones of Rag and Bone Man. An unknown electronic classic by Menog. And what would a love connection playlist be without some Bollywood by Shubham Tiwari and some disco to finish off by Kool and the Gang…

Remember to show Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included until we meet again, my dear friends.

Breath in Experience, Breath out Poetry.

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Rod's World

I recently attended the most transformational training week of my youthful 64 years. It is commonly known as ISTA, short for the International School of Temple Arts: Here’s the Link. In my over 350 blogs I normally write about books on a possibility, one of the other participants asked me, You aren’t going to write about this, are you? As one of the agreements is to only share your experiences, here I go.

Some background from the source:

We live at a unique and critical time on earth. At the same time as we are faced with incredible challenges to the survival of the diversity of life and consciousness on our planet, we are experiencing an incredible awakening of human potential. Not only are new energies emerging but for the first time in history, the wisdom heritage of all our cultures and traditions is available for integration just as it is most needed.

There have always been temples and mystery schools on earth where the deep teachings on sexual and spiritual wisdom were practised, developed and taught. These centres were often the hidden cause for the advancement of civilizations. Now we have a global civilization and these temples are once again emerging into the light, blossoming like chakras and Nadi points as the light body of the earth is awakened and energized.

So what has society said about transformational experiences over the years, lets take that journey:

1. What our logical mind wants to do almost instantly, explain it away.

2. We all took the opportunities that were offered during the week to the levels our identity would allow a change in: Changes.

3. I received the gifts of Massive trust and energy from the Earth as I walk on this new planet.

4. The ISTA community, you join after spending a week in the field. Prior to that your already I have done ISTA friends will just hug you when you tell them you are going to do it: You Belong With Me.

5. To me, my priceless moment was witnessing a process and looking out over the field and realising there was nothing wrong going on, just total trust.

6. One of my top ten, have learnt so much off this beautiful spirit: Let It Go.

7. Integration time.

8. Albert Camus was a French philosopher, author, and journalist. His views contributed to the rise of the philosophy known as absurdism. He wrote in his essay The Rebel that his whole life was devoted to opposing the philosophy of nihilism while still delving deeply into individual freedom. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44 in 1957, the second youngest recipient in history: Going Under.

9. Much easier after ISTA.

10. Certainly, the journey I took has me much closer to this place: I Was Here.

11. I am so looking forward to where this new trust and energy will take me, and I don’t really care that I don’t know.

12. Back to ancient China for this one, so many of our hearts are now travelling this path: Listen to Your Heart.

13. And the ability of our skilled facilitators, Stephanie, Sean and Elaine.

14. Could my new energy take me here, Who Knows: Africa.

15. And we certainly did in that beautiful space known as the ISTA field.

The two main takeaways I received are an increase in my trust of myself and others to the Nth degree and an energy emanating from the earth that feels volcanic in nature and a sense I do not know what my future will be, and that’s a great thing.

Today’s playlist has some classic sings and songs. We begin with Mr David Bowie then one of the great pop divas Taylor Swift. A musical number from Frozen follows, then some great rock from Evanescence and her highness Beyonce. Two older memories from Roxette and Toto close out the list: Breathe in Experience, Breathe out Poetry.

Remember to show Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included until we meet again, my dear friends.