Only the pure of Heart can make a good Soup!!

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Rod's World

Nothing changes without Me

Sometimes, my heart is so open

I can’t tell if it is a gaping wound

or a portal for everything that ever was and ever will be.

I’ve learned to love the beautiful terror of eternity,

and scenario planning for how shattered I could be

If the dark things got tall

and if I fell backwards in my forgetting of the light.

But you can’t fall backwards in Space,

You can only only ever unfurl.

More than anything,

I’ve wed the certainty that nothing changes without me –

not coal becoming diamonds

not fertilizing eggs

or migration patterns

or medicine dreams.

And what I thought was a net cast to me from a higher God

is actually strands of truth and filaments of desire

that I have tied together with my own two hands.

And in precious encounters, I tie what I know and want to you,

so we can ride the winds of wonder.

Yes, and

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day – E. B. White

These are the first two entries in the chapter from Danielle LaPorte’s excellent book White Hot Truth on the Soul of Service: Link to the Book.

In this chapter Danielle discusses Conscious Optimism, the next quote is from Neil deGrasse Tyson:

I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday, and lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.

Today we will discuss the second of these, how to lessen the suffering of others. To me, as demonstrated by all our great heroes and heroines it is through service this is attained.

How do we as humanity relate to this, lets have a look:

1. Although Muhammad Ali points to the other one in this quote.

2. How do we start to serve, from where we are: because From little things, big things grow: Classic Version of that song.

3. Giving from your soul turns on the love light.

4. Some beautiful words with deep insight from the master, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī: Light a candle in your Heart.

5. A man who died freeing his beloved India but believed that the answer lied in serving the culture of his country.

6. Achieving this lets us see more and more opportunities to be of service: Wrecking Ball.

7. Erica Jong is an American novelist and poet, known particularly for her 1973 novel Fear of Flying. The book became famously controversial for its attitudes towards female sexuality and figured prominently in the development of second-wave feminism. According to Washington Post, it has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

8. They say if you achieve this you will never work another day. A hint, look how you can serve others: Soul’s on Fire.

9. Wordy, but needs to be taken in.

10. Swami’s are meant to be very wise. This one seems to be in the area of service: Try Everything.

11. I know this is taking the piss out of Shakespeare’s more famous quote but I just had to include it.

12. Maya liberates my soul: And still I Rise.

13. You nearly need a magnifier to read this famous quote from Martin, but we all know the line anybody can serve.

14. Three beautiful gifts to give to the world: Just give me a Reason.

15. With the recent passing of Stephen Hawkings, the former president of India has a great point about the service to humanity that science provides.

And to finish some more words from Danielle that really sum service up:

Service is when spirit meets matter where it is. Service is being informed. Service is being enraged and compassionate. Service is being ruthlessly honest about the facts – then choosing to be hopeful about the future.

The music today starts with one of Australia’s preeminent Indigenous singers Archie Roach and Sarah Storer, then Paul Janz, Sarah Blackwood, Anthony Blackwood to the more well known Shakira, Maya Angelou and finishing with Pink.

Namaste until next time my dear friends.

Focus on only that which is Eternal!!

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Rod's World

A course in Miracle teaches: There is no order of difficulty in miracles. One is not “harder” or “bigger” than another. They are all the same. All expressions of love are maximal.

To me, the effect of a miracle is that it affects you for eternity, you can never forget it and why would you want to, there the title I have chosen for today’s blog. Gabrielle Bernstein , in her latest book : Judgement Detox points to the fact that anytime you shift your perception from fear to love, you have committed a miracle in your life: Link to the book.

How does the world relate to miracles, whilst researching it I got to see there are many perspectives over the times, here’s today’s offerings:

1. At what age did you stop believing in this joyous miracle in our early years?

2. I have recently taken on a 12 month challenge to reduce my weight to 80k, it has been over 6 years that was what showed on the scales and it is 20k away. A practice I have taken on is to walk for at least half and hour everyday. It is amazing what you notice in this time of reflection: When Life was a Miracle.

3. Helen Keller certainly gave her best given the circumstances she was handed in life. The world appreciated her for it.

4. What of we were all able to access the magic of the morning sun as it hailed a new day: Magic.

5. As we age we often forget this!!

6. Amanda Jane Bradley doesn’t jump out at you on google. You get the choice of a bartender, a pro-lifer and eventually the author of Oz at Night, bingo: That’s what friends are For.

7. And this is what Google came up for Himanshu – A person with the biggest ego ever found in this world. Will always try to be better than everyone in sight, even the person who teaches him something. A himanshu cares a lot about his future, in fact, that’s the only thing he cares about! A himanshu displays various sudden acts of movement in the face, like sudden twitches of the eye and nose, and often blames the movements on a “cold” or his glasses. Himanshu is always the best at everything he does. Even if he isn’t, he thinks he is.

8. When you transmute the dark, that is when miracles occur: Royals.

9. Miracles fill the body not the mind, where’s your heart located?

10. Mother Teresa discovered the magic and miracle of service and went on to provide it to thousands of people: Happy.

11. A hand written note these days is a minor miracle but so much more powerful than an SMS.

12. Edwin created the Christian Mens Network, he also played trumpet in a street witnessing band for the homeless. Through these actions he wished to have men see the goodness of life: Expectancy.

13. William Hazlitt was an English writer, drama and literary critic, painter, social commentator, and philosopher. He is now considered one of the greatest critics and essayists in the history of the English language, placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell. He is also acknowledged as the finest art critic of his age. Most of his work has been out of print for decades.

14. The miracle of unconditional love: Falling.

15. I know people who are festival junkies, who then complain about the lack of community when they return to normal life. Its time for them to let the celebrations begin on a day to day basis when most of the miracles happen.

So, make it a practice to celebrate your miracles on a day to day basis, even if it might just be surviving the day or as mighty as leaping out of a plane.

The tunes today are from the quirky named Emir Kusturica and the No Smoking Orchestra, The divas Alicia Keys, Dionne Warwick and Lorde. A short set by DJ Rickochey, Coldplay and the hour long version of Pharrel Williams Happy.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

The Heart wants what it Wants!!

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Rod's World

Have you ever heard of Marc and Angel Chernoff? They wrote a magnificent book 1,000+ Little Things Happy Successful People Do Differently a few years ago. It is great list upon great list that help you lead an outstanding life. If you would like a copy of it, act fast, Marc and Angel are taking it out of circulation soon to update it, here is the link: Marc and Angels book. Did I mention Angel is a Facebook friend of mine, its an honour for me all the way down here in Melbourne , Australia.

Each list has many pieces of home spun wisdom in it, today I chose to comment on 10 Things to tell Yourself Today and specifically number eight from that list: There is enough time today to do something I love. Here is what they wrote under that heading:

Where did you leave your happiness? With an old Lover? In a city you once lived in? In a story you never finished writing? In a dream you gave up on? In a hope you got to weary to carry? Wherever you left it go back and retrieve it. If you don’t remember where you left it, dedicate a little time today to doing something you love to do, and you will find your happiness somewhere nearby. Such beautiful and simple advice, that is why I love the book, its easy to understand and implement.

So what does the world say about doing something you Love, quite a lot actually, here are some of my favourites:

1. A life full of purpose and that flows a lot easier, I’ll have one of those please.

2. When I did the Landmark Forum they used to do a trying simulation that pointed out trying doesn’t get you very far, its actually doing that does:Try a little Tenderness

3. A worthwhile question to ask yourself, when were you last truly amazed in your life?

4. Over the time of writing my over 300 blogs, I have noticed that baseball players have contributed some great quotes to our society, Al is one of them: Love is the Drug.

5. And the classic quote about doing work you love is…..

6. Often called unconditional love: Unconditionally.

7. No Wikipedia for Dylan Laurence so I leave it up to your imagination who he is, great quote though.

8. From little things, big things grow, here is the song that most displays that: From little things, Big things grow.

9. And then movies throw us great moments of doing what we love.

10. Unknown in Australia, Jeff Foxworthy makes a living telling redneck jokes, obviously he found what he loved doing: Try.

11. “So well that people can’t take their eyes off you”, no wonder Maya spoke at a presidential inauguration.

12. Sometimes people forget where children learn their behaviour from, time to step up: When you say nothing at All!!

13. Famous for the novel and film “The perks of being a Wallflower”, Stephen Chbosky points out the importance of self love and how it may limit our ability to let love in.

14. As I take on my 12 month plan in my mentor-ship program Warriors of Love of returning to my 2011 weight of 80K, a mere 20k’s away, I think I’ll write this on my mirror: Good Times.

15. And we leave it up to the Fab Four to make the last comment on doing something you love.

I will finish with the intro that Marc and Angel used for this list:

Count your blessings, not your troubles. Love one day at a time. Let the wrong things go. Give more than you take. Look for the good in people and situations. Make time for those who matter. laugh when you can. Cry when you need to, Focus on your priorities. Make decisions, not excuses. And always stay true to your values.

Yes, today is the perfect day to stand up and say….

The music comes from several genres today. The rock of The Commitments and Missy Higgins, John Butler and Dan Sultan doing one of Australia’s iconic songs, the pop diva’s Kate Perry and Pink, The soul of Grace Jones and Chic, and the mellow country of Allison Krauss.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

No Grit, No Pearl!!

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Rod's World

Circumstances change and priorities change with them. Are you certain that the goals you are pursuing today are goals to which you are still committed? Alternatively, are they simply something you once thought you should pursue and you are only hanging onto them in order to ‘be right’? Remember what you wanted in your 20’s are no longer the things that matter to you in your 40’s or 50’s. So , take a little time for reflection.

One reflection to look at is Mark Twain’s quote: Do not go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. The reflection that comes to mind from this is that it is up to me , nobody else is going to do it for me, they may assist me, bu if its my idea, its me that has to drive it.

There are a lot of quotes of the reflective nature, I hope you like the ones I have chosen:

1. Now I know what DKNY means on all those hoodies, Donna Karan comes from New York and runs a fashion label, therefore DKNY.

2. There are two choices, fix it or declare it complete and create new space for your new bold adventures: Something Better.

3. I remember being told the tale about African tribes not being able to see TV images bu my science teacher, That reminds me of this quote.

4. How did you get to know what you thought about your friends, did you ask or was it just a hunch?: Perception.

5. Also remember to hang out in the Now allowing for reflections on the past, all are needed.

6. Wise words from the man who best exemplifies this: Nelson Mandela.

7. A great mantra to reflect on Self Love.

8. A friend of mine met his life partner because he thought he had left his phone at work and went back to get it, It was in the bottom of his bag: Choice.

9. Do unto others as you wish to have happen to you, sometimes I forget!!

10. Sometimes the mind gets in the way, listen more deeply: Soul Kind of Feeling.

11. I think the new wave of entrepreneurs are part of this outlook on life.

12. I naturally think of Simon Sinek when I see a line like because we forget why we do it, here’s his inspirational TED talk on the subject: First Why and then trust.

13. There are some great quotes in the holy texts, this is one of them.

14. Proactive, not reactive is most powerful I find: The 7 Habits.

15. Trudy Symeonakis Vesotsky, what a cool name. See and be , observe and then take action. I like it!!

Some very worthwhile reflections amongst that collection, if I don’t say so myself.

Music and Worlds this week. The very dance-able Specials and Dynamic Hepnotics plus wisdom from Alan Watts and Simon Sinek and a mix of pop and rap.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

I love that feeling I Get!!

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Rod's World

Change your habits, change your life! Success in life needs to be deliberately managed. Replace three unproductive habits with three new ones that raise the bar. Success in any endeavour requires a lifestyle change and you could do all that at once! Not recommended, if you are someone who stops all action, when just one small thing gets in the way. A less painful and more sustainable way is to change daily habits bit by bit. You cannot change a habit by trying to get rid of it. You can replace an unwanted habit with a new one.

Remember to choose new ones that make you come alive, the world doesn’t need actions for actions sake, It needs people who have come alive/awake. What does the world have to say about this, here’s some of the things:

1. After talking to God, Neale came up with this very wise quote as to when we need to wake up in our lives.

2. There were about 200 versions of this quote in Google Images, I liked the simplicity of this one: Staying Alive.

3. Michael Morpurgo says “For me, the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches it out – the writing down of it I always find hard. But I love finishing it, then holding the book in my hands and sharing the dream with its readers.

4. Remarkably, anything can make us come alive at any moment in our lives, sometimes we forget this: Come Alive.

5. And when we discover them , that is when we are truly alive.

6. Love the irony of this: When you wish upon a star.

7. You can dance if you want to, I do every week.

8. And its called your passionate heart: Dreams.

9. Pursuing things make them come alive, make it your ambition in life.

10. You can choose to have it in your lives every day, Its always there: You and I.

11. Van Gogh was unsuccessful during his lifetime, and was considered a madman and a failure. He became famous after his suicide, and exists in the public imagination as the quintessential misunderstood genius, the artist “where discourses on madness and creativity converge”.

12. Primarily it should be yours you make come alive first: Come Alive 2

13. The scent of the ocean at full power is my favourite scent.

14. Smiling and happiness are outcomes from coming alive, fantastic results: Come up and make me Smile.

15. Fear and Love, a little bit of both to come alive, methinks.

There have been many days in my life, that when I woke up I definitely did not feel like I had come alive, I am getting better at it though.

Music is from the musicals, the 70’s and one you would never guess – The Bee Gees and Cockney Rebel, The Greatest Showman cast, Julie Andrews and Paris Hilton.

Namaste until next time my dear friends.

Today is a new Day!!

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Rod's World

Innovation, how often do you do it in your life? In his great book Living Your Passion, Keith Abraham lists 35 ways to equip yourself for your future. He starts them with the following chapter – A great author John Maxwell has an acronym for the word EQUIP: Encouraging Qualities Underdeveloped In People. The following ideas are suggestions, solutions and recommendations that will assist you in equipping yourself for your future. Select the ideas that are most appropriate for you right now.

So number one and number thirteen appeal to me:

Number 1 is Complete a personal review of yourself every six months answering four questions called the W.I.S.H. analysis – What do you do well, what do you need to improve, what strategies do you need to develop, and how long before these strategies will be developed.

Number 13 is List down 100 things you want to achieve in your lifetime, this will be the most insightful activity you will ever do for your personal development.

Some famous people have commented on innovation, let’s have a look at what they said:

1. The dude who gave us the Mac, the iPhone and the Ipad, Steve Jobs changed how the world exists. I have spent 70 percent of my life without these things and 33 percent in a world without computers, amazing!!

2. Thomas Edison‘s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.” As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps: A Better Place.

3. Have you ever failed, If not, why not?

4. Thinking without follow up actions doesn’t change much: Look what you made me Do.

5. Self explanatory really.

6. Back to our childhood for this one, there is not just the past, present and future if you are willing to imagine: Oh the things you can Think.

7. You have to think of whisky to know who T. Dewar is. He and his brother turned their small family business into an international success, he visited 26 countries in 2 years to achieve this, leaving his brother to do the grunt work.

8. One of the world’s most famous quotes from the curly headed one, most people nod their heads in agreement when they read it: Tell me something I don’t Know.

9. They don’t write biographies about followers!!

10. And from the latest champion of innovation, another timely comment on failure and what it costs you: Broken Barricades.

11. Scurvy was among many diseases suffered due to malnutrition. It wasn’t until the 1930’s that Albert Szent-Györgyi discovered the chemical ascorbic acid—also known as vitamin C—that enables the body to efficiently use carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

12. It’s called science fiction until they do: In case you didn’t Know.

13, Scott Adams is one of the world’s prominent cartoonists. His Dilbert series came to national prominence through the downsizing period in 1990s America and was then distributed worldwide. Adams worked in various roles at big businesses before he became a full-time cartoonist in 1995. He writes in a satirical, often sarcastic, way about the social and mental landscape of white-collar workers in modern business corporations.

14. Not everybody will agree with you at the beginning, you need to go through the above for your innovations to stick: Human.

15. Three from Steve, probably not so many from one person since my Oprah addiction. Remember it’s OK to say no.

To remember the value of one year: Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realise the value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realise the value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realise the value of one hour: Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realise the value of one minute: Ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realise the value of one second: Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realise the value of one millisecond: Ask the person who has won the silver medal in the Olympics.

A mixed music bag this time around, Musicals, diva pop, 60’s classics and country – Playing for Change, Taylor Swift, Suessical cast, Selena Gomez, Procol Harum, Brett Young and Christina Perri.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

What makes a life worth Living?

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Rod's World

The subtitle of Hugh Mackay’s excellent book, A Good Life, the above question often comes to my mind. is it our relationships, our experiences, our career or all of them combined. There is a lot of talk about striking a balance between our working and personal life – I find this amusing as to me , it is all part of our lives. As it’s all our life, this means that it is difficult to draw a distinction between the way we behave at work and the way we behave in our social and family lives. I am me, wherever I happen to be, whoever I happen to be with, and whatever I happen to be doing. That’s one meaning of integrity: Integrating our values with every aspect of our lives. If you want to know what your values are, you need to see the whole picture.

What words have been written about leading a good life, they are from across the ages:

1. In the Arab world, Khalil Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.

A member of the New York Pen League, he is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again especially in the 1960s counterculture. He is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao Tzu.

2. I met a woman on the weekend who makes me smile, I’m finding it very difficult to not be a grinning Cheshire cat: You’re never fully dressed without a Smile.

3. You get to declare what has been a good life.

4. In 1968, The New York Times television critic Jack Gould called Rivers “quite possibly the most intuitively funny woman alive”. The first women to host a TV talk show Joan lived her life to the fullest up to her death in 2014: Being Alive.

5. And like everybody is watching, your heart has been broken, as if you are on stage, and as though you have been through hell. We need the shadow and the light.

6. The world’s most famous cigar smoker, Winston was Named the Greatest Briton of all time in a 2002 poll. His life was spent in servitude to the British people: Giving Myself.

7. Remember how great life was when we believed in Santa, you can still do it!!

8. One of the great screen actors, Cary occupied himself for 3 decades on the big screen, He is remembered by critics for his unusually broad appeal, as a handsome, suave actor who did not take himself too seriously: Sing, Sing, Sing.

9. How much time do you spend trying to understand? How much time would you have if you spent it getting everybody else to understand it as well, Live Life!!

10. The number Seven is very prominent in all the worlds major religion, for example in Islam there are Seven heavens and Seven gates to hell. This is a useful list of Seven to lead a good life: Perfect Peace.

11. Great question, would it?

12. We almost, always never know a persons whole story, think that what they offer us is the best they can do at that very moment: All of Me.

13. Have I found them, Maybe!!

14. Step onto your path – Follow your heart. Be true to yourself, and ask yourself often what it is you want to be doing, as opposed to what it is you should be doing: Live your Dreams.

15. Now this sounds like a good life to lead!!

Our commitment to the good life is tested by our response to circumstances in which it is hard for us to live up to the Golden Rule – Do to others what you want them to do to you – one of Jesus of Nazareth’s great teachings.

Music goes from cabaret to pop divas to inspirational: Sia, Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Hudson, Cary Grant, Laura Story, John Legend and George Domanian.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

Work for a Cause, Not Applause!!

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Rod's World

I was watching TED talks this morning about the dangers of volunteer tourism in developing countries. The majority of speakers said that the major problem with their projects had been they simply did not fit in with the local communities normally through lack of knowledge as to how that community ran on a day to day basis and they ended up forcing their own ideals on the community as they knew no better.

So why is the power of community such a palpable energy, allowing for results that cannot be created by individuals but when people come together extraordinary results occur.

Community is derived from the Old French word communete and relates to several situations:

noun

a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

“Montreal’s Italian community”

synonyms:

group, section, body, company, set, circle, clique, coterie, ring, band, faction; More

informal gang, bunch

“lesbians and gays are not one homogeneous community”

a group of people living together and practicing common ownership.

noun: community; plural noun: communities

“a community of nuns”

synonyms:

brotherhood, sisterhood, fraternity, confraternity, sorority, colony, institution, order, body, circle, association, society, league;

rare sodality

“the monastic community at Canterbury”

a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants.

“a rural community”

synonyms:

district, region, zone, area, local area, locality, locale, neighbourhood; More

informal neck of the woods;

informal manor;

informal hood, nabe, turf

“East Durham was very much a mining community”

a body of nations or states unified by common interests.

“the European Community”

the people of a district or country considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities; society.

noun: community; noun: the community

“preparing prisoners for life back in the community”

synonyms:

population, populace, people, citizenry, public, general public, body politic, collective; More

society, nation, state, country, realm, commonwealth, homeland, fatherland, motherland;

residents, inhabitants, citizens;

humorous denizens, burghers

“we can work together for the good of the community”

denoting a worker or resource designed to serve the people of a particular area.

modifier noun: community

“community health services”

the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common.

“the sense of community that organized religion can provide”

a similarity or identity.

“the law presupposes a community of interest between an employer and employees”

synonyms:

similarity, similar nature, likeness, sameness, comparability, correspondence, agreement, alignment, parallel, parallelism, closeness, affinity;

archaic semblance

“they had a harmonious union based on a community of interests”

antonyms:

difference, incompatibility

joint ownership or liability.

“the community of goods”

synonyms: joint ownership, common ownership, shared possession; More

joint liability, joint participation

“the community of goods”

3.

Ecology

a group of interdependent plants or animals growing or living together in natural conditions or occupying a specified habitat.

“communities of insectivorous birds”

So how do you relate to community? I belong to the Williams family community, the Warriors of Love community, the Melbourne dance community, the Sunday Assembly community and the Tai Chi community. I have different reasons for belonging to each one, but value each one for what they provide in my life.

So what have we said about the power of community over the years, some prominent people have had their say, let’s have a look:

1. Mark Hyman, MD, believes that we all deserve a life of vitality—and that we have the potential to create it for ourselves. That’s why he is dedicated to tackling the root causes of chronic disease by harnessing the power of Functional Medicine to transform healthcare. Dr. Hyman and his team work every day to empower people, organizations, and communities to heal their bodies and minds, and improve our social and economic resilience. He clearly believes in the power of community to prevent illnesses vs. the after cure of the medical system.

2. Mitch doesn’t say create more money, he says something that gives you purpose and meaning. Do you have that in your life: On Purpose.

3. The practice of community takes us out of our cocoon into areas of action that call on us to be bigger than we think we can be for the sake of others.

4. Moving from successful Hollywood film director to a seeker of the truth after a serious pushbike accident then creating the doco I Am The film asks the question: “What is wrong with the world, and what can we do about it?”, and explores Shadyac’s personal journey after the accident in 2007 that led him to seek the answers to “the nature of humanity”, “the world’s ever-growing addiction to materialism”, and “human connections” . The quote sums up where the journey took him.: Loving Kindness.

5. Something a lot of foreign aid projects get wrong, its not about changing cultures.

6. Did you fill your heart when you had the conversation with your career guidance counselor at High School, when you chose your major at Uni, when you got that promotion at work. To live in service to humanity, your community gives you the opportunity to do this: Focus on Humanity.

7. The curly headed one, Albert was awarded the Nobel Prize for his service to others.

8. This made me think of Gordon Gekko’s Greed is Good speech for some reason. How much do you hold in your heart?: Big Spender.

9. The remainder of this lengthy quote by Joe Biden is as follows – For too long as a nation, we have been lulled by the anthem of self-interest. For a decade, led by Ronald Reagan, self-aggrandizement has been the full-throated cry of this society: ‘I’ve got mine, so why don’t you get yours’ and ‘What’s in it for me?’

10. Life is a boomerang. What you give, you get. If you are always throwing out negativity then you should not be surprised when this is what you get in return. On the other hand if you are always positive then this is what you will receive as well. Be kind and compassionate to others because you never know when you may need kindness or compassion as well. Don’t judge or you could find others judging you. Some people spend their whole lives miserable and complaining, and they wonder why their life is so negative but they refuse to make an effort to change things or alter their outlook and attitude. If you want to get positive people and emotions in your life then you have to be positive in your dealings with others. If you are not willing to do this then you can not expect others to treat you this way in return. Always remember that fate can be fickle, and you should expect to receive what you give so make sure you give what you want to get. Boomerang.

11. There are many terms for community, here are some of them.

12. My friend Chris was responsible for a community building program in the culturally diverse public housing estates in my home city of Melbourne. How did he do it, creating community gardens: The Garden.

13. There is no I in Community.

14. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said the world will be saved by western women and most successful aid projects make sure that women are involved. This statements points as to why: Can’t hold us Down.

15. Steve Maraboli was selected by Inc. Magazine as a, “Top Leader to Follow”, while dubbing him as, “The Most Quoted Man Alive” (2016).

From the Pope, to the Dalai Lama, to Grammy Winners, to World Champions, to Oscar Winners, to Presidents and Prime Ministers… Steve’s life-changing words are shared and published throughout the world by media, global leaders, athletes, celebrities, and individuals across a wide-range of platforms.

Google Facts has Steve Maraboli referenced or quoted in over 2,000 books in their database.

What communities do you claim as your own, we all have them. Now the more relevant question, what do you contribute and give back to them.

Music is dominated by female artists today. Sabrina Carpenter, Ashana, The Sweet Charity dancers, JoJo Siwa, Kari Jobe and Christine Aquilera. The one male contribution is from Jim Carrey and his cohorts.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.

Do what makes your Soul Shine!!

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Rod's World

In the Google Images page for quotes to avoid stopping this beautiful quote that is the title of this blog appeared, seems strangely out of place. The subject for today’s blog is taken from Time for my Life, Thea Westra’s excellent book; Here’s the link to her Website. It comes from the challenge for February 12 – face the situation and just complete whatever you are avoiding.

I think we spend as much energy on avoiding things as we do in completing them if we do not set our goals up to act on a daily basis. It’s easy to roll over for another half hour if we have no plans for the day. I tend to not make to many though so there is space for unexpected actions that I need to take. Two to four definites works for me.

So what do our fellow humans have to say about avoidance in their lives, here’s a few cuts at it:

1. If you don’t face it, will it ever go away? Turn around and walk towards it, time to stop running.

2. Reach out and Touch Somebody else. If you don’t do this, they may stop calling: Reach out and touch somebody’s Hand.

3. Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English writer, who is considered one of the foremost modernist authors of the 20th century and a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device. Woolf became one of the central subjects of the 1970s movement of feminist criticism, and her works have since garnered much attention and widespread commentary for “inspiring feminism”, an aspect of her writing that was unheralded earlier. Her works are widely read all over the world and have been translated into more than fifty languages. She suffered from severe bouts of mental illness throughout her life and took her own life by drowning in 1941 at the age of 59.

4. And also those who saw the gulp and stood by that person in their pain: Feel the Pain.

5. Lots of hashtags for this simple Nike like quote.

6. What was that you said? Oh, nothing, I suppose I will have to make up what you are thinking, then: Sounds of Silence.

7. And this may be one of the things I make up in my frustration at the silence.

8. The worlds greatest philosopher, Ms. Unknown chimes in with the formulae of acceptance, as resistance if futile in making something cease happening: Let it Be.

9. A mixture of both works for me!!

10. Fill in the missing words……: Let’s Hurt Tonight.

11. Founding Honda Motor company in his back shed in 1948, three years after Japan had been bombed into oblivion, Soichiro Honda definitely did not avoid the challenges and vision he saw. The possibility of failure must have been great in the beginning.

12. If you don’t know what you want, spend more time on finding out what you don’t so you create space for the former to surface: Look what you made me Do.

13. My friend Lissa Rankin says there are two types of fear, real fear and suggested fear. I think RD Laing is making the same point in this quote in regard to pain.

14. Other ways to spell inspired action and why avoidance sucks big time: Stronger.

15. And there are plenty more quotes to help you break through the avoidance, actually 51 in the area of overthinking, a classic avoidance method.

Often in avoidance we are facing the wrong direction, pain we are running away instead of turning to face what it has to offer us, what if …. we are facing the circumstances that stop us beginning when we should be facing the other direction of taking the action that compels us forward towards our bright future. Yes, it’s that time!!

Music today is from two different eras, the 60’s offering is Diana Ross, The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel. Today’s are Kanye West, One Republic and Taylor Swift.

Namaste until next time my dear friends:

Doubt kills more dreams than Failure!!

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Rod's World

You with either look back in life and say “I wish I had” or “I’m glad I did”. These prophetic words were spoken by Zig Ziglar, a preeminent American motivational speaker. The way of doing this is to become a champion at knowing what you want. Keep focusing on the “do not wants” and that is 100% what you will get more of! Make it a primary focus to keep on homing in on what you do want. It is the first thing to work on. The one thing that makes the biggest difference in your life.

Keith Abraham asks the following question to people in presentations, workshops and in general conversation. “What do you want to Achieve?” Only to have the reply come back to him ” I don’t know “. Which them prompts to ask the annoying question, “Yes, but if you did what would you like to achieve?” When that fails, as it often does, I ask the fool proof question, “What don’t you want?”

So setting our sights on goals and dreams is an inherently important part of our life. Has society much to say about this? Here’s what I have chosen to comment on today:

1. Your intentions steer you towards your goals. Lack of intention leads to lack of completing any goals in life.

2. Barnsley’s culture is rooted in its industrial heritage and it has a tradition of brass bands, originally created as social clubs by its mining communities. Virginia Woolf was born in an affluent household in Kensington, London, attended the Ladies’ Department of King’s College and was acquainted with the early reformers of women’s higher education. To become part of the society Ms. Woolf inhabited would truly take something from the mining background of Barnsley: Virginia Woolf.

3. Remember when we were all going to be astronauts, firemen, doctors or vets, what happens to these lofty ideals?

4. Penned by the worlds most famous philosopher, Ms. Unknown this makes me think of when we reach our goals and forget to set new ones: Stand in the Light.

5. With a rap career spanning 30 years LL Cool J can definitely claim to having stayed focused over this time.

6. They are not just the good bits, you need to put in the hard yards: Unconditionally.

7. Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī , also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī , Mevlânâ/Mawlānā ( “our master”), Mevlevî/Mawlawī ( “my master”), and more popularly simply as Rumi , was a 13th-century Persian, Sunni, Muslim poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Rumi’s influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions: Iranians, Tajiks, Turks, Greeks, Pashtuns, other Central Asian Muslims, and the Muslims of South Asia have greatly appreciated his spiritual legacy for the past seven centuries. His poems have been widely translated into many of the world’s languages and transposed into various formats. Rumi has been described as the “most popular poet” and the “best selling poet” in the United States.

8. Studies show that right now we are actually living in the most peaceful time in human history…by far. Use this to your advantage and set yourself some awesome goals: If you want it, It can Happen.

9. it all starts with a dream. You need to clarify an achievable realistic goal that has a timeline attached to it. Then you need to mentally confirm what it is you want to achieve.

10. Does your goal live in your heart or your head. Purpose likes hanging around in the former: Mark my Words.

11. The bit the Secret left out, you actually have to take action.

12. What word do you use to describe it, I use Gaia, the power of the Universe: Mama Gaia.

13. Agree with this totally, It’s going on in my life.

14. Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness, The Prince of Peace, whatever name we know him by the Dalai Lama is worth listening too: Purpose of Life.

15. As a politician this man should know what he is talking about where the affairs of most countries are run on a short term basis to ensure the retaining of power not a vision to make the country a better place.

A definition I read recently of Setting our sights that stuck with me was as follows – Pursuing your Passion is not about being interested or involved. It’s about having a burning desire to live your dream everyday.

The Dalai Lama has made today’s music videos, along with the Indigo Girls, Jordan Smith, Kate Perry. Justin Bieber and Lindie Lila.

Namaste until next time, my dear friends.