"The wealthiest place on the planet is the graveyard..."

"The wealthiest place on the planet is the graveyard.  Because in the graveyard we will find inventions that we we never, ever were exposed to.  Ideas, dreams that never became a reality.  Hopes and aspirations that were never acted upon." ~ Les Brown

I'm going after my dream, to inspire as many people as I can through my speaking and writing.  Long gone are the days where I sit and beat myself up mentally, telling myself that I'm not a good enough.  Long gone are the days when I sit and beat myself up physically, not caring how I take care of myself.  I'm moving forward.

I'm not going to lie, the last few years have been rocky.  I've fought hard to get a job where my talents and skills are utilized.  I've dealt with enemies in person, and in my mind.  It's not been easy.  It's been tough on me and my family, and a lot of what I have gone through has just been beating myself up, day after day.  Well, I've made some changes.  I'm changing my eating habits.  I'm exercising regularly.  I'm reading and listening to things that inspire me.  I'm taking time for me.  And I'm sharing my thoughts with the world.  I'm bouncing back to inspire one, just one individual to live out their ideas, their thoughts, their talents, their goals.  After listening to the quote above, I can no longer accept leaving my ideas, my thoughts, my talents, my goals in the graveyard.  It's time to pour it all out.  And NO ONE is going to get in my way.

"When you die, die on E.  Leave no dream left behind guys.  Leave no opportunity left behind.  When you leave this earth, accomplish every single thing you can accomplish." ~ Eric Thomas

Share your ideas.  Share your dreams, hopes, and aspirations.  Reach for them, and don't let anyone stop you.  "Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality...don't let nobody steal your dream" (Les Brown).

The Power of Solitude

"Introverts prefer to work independently, and solitude can be a catalyst to innovation...If this is true--if solitude is an important key to creativity--then we might all want to develop a taste for it.  We'd want to teach our kids to work independently.  We'd want to give employees plenty of privacy and autonomy.  Yet increasingly we do just the opposite." ~ Susan Cain, Quiet

"You spend so much time with other people.  You spend so much time trying to get people to like you.  You know other people more than you know yourself.  You've studied them.  You know about them.  You want to hang out like them.  You want to be just like them.  And you know what?  You've invested so much time in them, you don't know who you are.  I challenge you to spend time by yourself." ~Eric Thomas, We are Created to be an Individual

Right now, I'm reading a book called Quiet, by Susan Cain.

It's a book about introverts and their efforts to survive in a world heavily focus on extroversion.  In addition to reading this book, I've been listening to a lot of motivational remixes when I run.  These remixes contain a number of inspirational quotes and speeches that truly give me a "kick" as I move forward on the treadmill.  And today, I spotted these photos captured by Benoit Lapray (source can be found here):

Superman

Superman

Batman

The Flash

Captain America

Iron Man

Wonder Woman

Silver Surfer

I'm beginning to see solitude is a powerful thing.  Imagery displays this.  Lyrics demonstrate this.  Research shows this.  We absolutely need quiet to thrive.  Yet our society seems to believe differently.  Susan Cain describes that our society has shifted from a focus of character to a focus of personality.  We believe our personalities are going to carry us further than our character.  Having learned about this concept, I believe our society's focus from character to personality is causing a lot of troubles in our society today.  Just my opinion.  What do you think?

"I think it's pretty easy to imagine superheroes as lonely.  Because they are different, and they have a big charge on their shoulders, so I guess they need to be alone sometime to recover a kind of serenity and to remember why they fight." Benoit Lapray, Moviepilot

As you ponder this topic of introversion, I refer to Benoit's quote as a piece of reflection.  What are you fighting for?  And I don't mean physically.  What are you striving for?  Have you found serenity in your attempt to "fight"?  What would some personal reflection do for you?  "I challenge you to spend time by yourself" (Thomas).  Remember who you are and what you're fighting for.  Take some quality time to yourself and listen to the voice within.  You'll be amazed at what you find.  Even if introversion is not your strong suit, give it some time.  Help to recreate a culture of character; a culture that focuses more on the ones we care about, rather than just ourselves.

Lessons from Superman - #5

A lot of people ask me why I love Superman so much.  As I've mentioned in my talks, it's because he humbly seeks to do good in the world using the many talents he possesses.  It's something I believe we all should do.  Below is proof from the comics that this is what Superman is all about (and although he says, "I love being me," I see that as a humble confidence.  Something we should all strive to have within us).

"I know it's somewhat immodest to say this, but I love being me!  There's a little ego in that statement, sure--but this isn't about me feeling self-important or better than anybody.  It's about the sheer joy of being able to make a difference in this world.  Of helping people.  Doing the right thing.  Sure, it helps that I'm...what do they like to say?  'More powerful than a locomotive.'  But my true power comes from what my parents taught me: that life lived in compassion, in service to the greater good, is the best of all possible lives."

There you have it.  Wise words from a Superman comic.  The truth is, we can find wisdom in anything.  We just have to look a little harder, dig a little deeper, and find the meaning in things.  In closing, I leave you with one more quote from the Adventures of Superman issue #2.  I often say in my talks that we can all be superheroes.  This quote proves that statement as well.  A man says to Superman:

"The colorful costume, the incredible powers--that's all window dressing!  It's not what you do...it's who you are!  You're the embodiment of the very best in us!  Our inspiration to strive harder and aim higher.  I understand now...in a way I never have before--that we're all...each and every one of us...Superman--if only we'd realize it."

Realize that you are indeed super and you have a worthwhile contribution to our world.  "Up, up, and away" my friends!  :)

"...Don't Congratulate Yourself Too Much..."

I believe one of the greatest songs/speeches I've ever heard is Baz Luhrmann's "Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen."  When I was in eighth grade, I listened to this song every morning before school, and every night before I went to bed.  I found it inspiring and it helped equip me to deal with life's challenges at that time.  The other great thing about this song is that it is relevant to any individual at any given time.  I encourage you to take a listen.  Click on the link below:

Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen

 
I digress.  There's a part in the song where Baz says, "Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either.  Your CHOICES are half chance.  So are everybody else's."  I feel like we are living in an overconfident time in our society.  Granted, having confidence is a good thing and we should strive to be confident, but I believe many of us are "filling ourselves full of hot air" a little too often.  Many of us believe we are invincible.  There are few that believe they are bigger than the earth they stand on.  Let me show you something humbling.  The link below takes you to an app that demonstrates exactly how large our universe is and where we are in comparison.  Take a look:

Scale of the Universe

I don't know about you, but I find this incredibly eye-opening.  It definitely puts things into perspective, showing me just how little of a part I play in the universe.  Let's take note, that the next time we think we're "kind of a big deal," we should remember that we really aren't.  We're humans and we are such a small piece of the bigger picture.  Doesn't mean we shouldn't contribute and make the universe we live in a better place.  It just means we're apart of something, just like everyone else is.

Service in Florida

Exactly two weeks ago, I returned with ten others from a Wartburg College service trip in Florida.  I've been reflecting a lot about my experience with the students these past couple of weeks and felt I should share some of my thoughts.

First and foremost, our trip was spent serving the community of Immakolee, Florida.  Immakolee is located just 45 minutes inland from Naples, Florida.  The drive from Bonita Springs--the community we stayed in--to Immakolee, exhibits night and day differences.  Naples and Bonita Springs are filled with beautiful homes, fancy cars, and a healthy economy, where Immokalee sits occupied, but in poor conditions.  Immokalee has an incredibly high poverty rate as the many citizens who live there work in the fields picking produce throughout the year.

When we arrived, we could definitely see ourselves fulfilling a need.  For a couple of days time, we served at the Guadalupe Center, assisting in the Early Childhood classrooms.  We put up bulletin boards, played with the kids, and assisted where and when needed.  It was fun walking into the classroom a couple of days that week and having the kids run to you shouting, "Mr. TJ!"  For the other part of our stay, we worked with Immokalee's Housing & Family Service organization; an organization striving to provide decent, safe, and affordable rental housing with supportive social and educational services for farm workers and other low-income families.  We worked with one of the main housing complexes called Sanders Pines assisting with gardening, picking-up trash, painting, and installing park benches and picnic tables.  

Overall, it was a busy and hard-working week (one day, I sweat through two complete outfits--disgusting!), but I wouldn't have traded it for the world.  Not only did I really get to know the nine students and one advisor I went with, but I also learned just how important it is to help one another in our own local communities.  Granted, in this instance we were clear across the states assisting a community and developing a partnership, but there are plenty of needs in our own backyards.  We just need to take the time to seek out those opportunities and assist.  

So that's my challenge to you.  Find a time in your schedule to drop what you're doing, reach out, and lend a hand.  It's amazing what you can do in just a short amount of time serving others, and you won't believe how grateful others will feel.  The little things make a HUGE difference.

Holding the sun is a challenge.  :)  This shot was taken on the beach during our last evening in Florida.

Just another shot of that amazing waves-crashing, sunset.

"Look up in the sky..."

"Look up in the sky..." is so much more than a Superman catchphrase.  It's a way of life.  One of the most important things I've learned thus far as a father is that we were born to look up.  We were meant to "keep our chins up" and reach for greatness.  My daughter, Ava, taught me this just a few weeks after she was born.  While cradling her in my arms, day or night, I noticed she was always looking up.  In light or darkness, she was always looking up at me and beyond with her baby blue eyes.  It was a reminder that we should always look to the stars, no matter what.

So, I just want to encourage you to "Look up in the sky..."  It can be a challenge, especially when things aren't going your way.  I've struggled with it a lot.  However, we must remind one another (especially our youth) that we were born to look up, in both times of light and darkness.  We were meant to experience both extremes so that we might learn who we are, what we were made of, and what we can accomplish.  "Look up in the sky..."  Greatness awaits.

Picture of Ava captured just after her baptism by my brother-in-law, Chris Holmes.  One of my favorites.  I love the lessons Ava's taught me thus far and look forward to the many more.  :)

YOU CAN LIVE YOUR DREAM!!!

Need a pick me up?  Watch this video.  Watch it all the way through.  It's tough.  It's a tough one to get through (at least it was for me), but it's worth it.  The Transformers and Man of Steel scores going on in the background certainly make this one an epic listen, but I'm telling you, there are some excellent thoughts shared within in this video.

"Those experiencing hardships...don't give up on your dreams."

"You've invested so much time in them, you don't know who you are.  I challenge you to spend time with yourself."

"It's very important for you to believe...that you are the one."

"For people who are running toward their dreams, life has a special kind of meaning."

"The world will never be same because you came this way!"

"You can live your dream!"

I gotta believe in me...we all got to believe in ourselves.