Strange But True

....."Come here, Sweetie," he called once more.
This time the bird flapped its wings in a great scurry of noise, startling Philip so much that he lost his balance. The last thing he remembered was the sting of the barbed wire slicing into the soft skin of his neck as he looked up to see that bird disappear into the New York City sky before everything went black.
  Now, as he lies on the cold cement floor in the Erwins' basement, Philip watches as the bird outside continues pecking at the ground. He looks around at the rows of makeshift support columns and at the shadowy lump of Gail's body rising and falling with her every breath. He wants to do something to get them out of here, but what?  Even if he could free himself, which he has been trying unsuccessfully to do for hours, he is far too afraid to face that monster at the top of the stairs. ...........
.......And now there is the terror of trying to escape.


John Searsles' national bestseller Strange But True.  I actually haven't read it, but based on my wife's eagerness to share each chapter with me verbally as she completes them, it feels like I have.  She finished it earlier today and says it's in her list of most favorite books and authors. 
I'm a Dan Brown kinda guy, but I'm going to give it a read and see if it is as gratifying for me as it was for her.

Dubz

The Difference Maker

So what if I'm a big fan of John C. Maxwell? We all have our favorites. I was first introduced to one of his books by my wife some years ago and I've been a follower ever since. The way he uses quotes to bring across an idea, information or knowledge really appeals to me. It makes me see that in this cycle of life there are always people who has been through what you're going through and you can always learn from their experiences.  One quote I learned from the book my wife gave me is "If we don't change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed"(a Chinese proverb). And if you ponder the idea, it is so true.

Most people can remember the harsh words of a parent or teacher even years or decades after the face. Some people carry the scars of such experiences their entire lives. In my book Winning With People, the Pain Principle states, "Hurting people hurt people and are easily hurt by them." Many times the hurts that cause people to overreact to others come as the result of negative words from others.
   Likewise, positive words can have an impact on a person's attitude. Can you remember the positive words of a favorite teacher or other significant adult? A few words can change the way a person thinks of himself and can change the course of his life. Charlie Wetzel, my writer, remembers the words of his sister, Barbara Rensink, when he was eighteen. He had little direction in his life back then, and she told him that she thought he had a talent for cooking and how flavors go together. He had never considered that before. It sent him on a ten-year quest learning everything he could about food, cooking, and  the restaurant business. And it led to his first career as a professional restaurant chef.

The above paragraph was taken from John C. Maxwell's book The Difference Maker.  It addresses the issue of your attitude and how you can change it, making it your greatest asset.  And as mentioned in the paragraph, "...a few words can change the way a person thinks of himself.."

In 2003 after touring with reggae superstar Shaggy for five years and being an active, working musician in the reggae scene for seven, I had no intention of doing a solo project of my own - the thought just hadn't crossed my mind. Until one day I was talking to my wife's uncle and he asked the question "what is your plan 'B'?" Then it hit me. Up till that point I wasn't working on anything of my own. I had done a few projects but nothing that could someday turn into something great and make a real difference in my life or in the lives of anyone else. So I decided to change my direction a bit and since then I've released two albums,  performed on festivals and started to make a name for myself in the music industry. 

So you see your attitude influences your direction and you always have the power to change them both.

Dubz

Live Completely

"French essayist Michel Eyquem de Montaigne wrote, "The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them; a man may live long yet live very little." The truth is that you can spend your life any way you want, but you can spend it only once. Becoming a big-picture thinker can help you to live with wholeness, to live a very fulfilling life. People who see the big picture expand their experience because they expand their world. As a result, they accomplish more than narrow minded people. And they experience fewer unwanted surprises, too, because they are more likely to see the many components involved in any given situation: issues, people, relationships, timing, and values. They are also, therefore, usually more tolerant of other people and their thinking."

"Thinking For A Change" couldn't have been a more fitting title for this one from author John C. Maxwell. The above paragraph was taken from one of his many self help, motivational books designed for us to come to our senses some what, and realize that we hold the key within ourselves to open any door we desire.  I have read this book..... Honestly ...I haven't completed it yet, but it has helped me to realize certain thinking patterns I have so I can try to correct them. 

The mind is a powerful thing, and as Thomas Edison said  -"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."



So take the challenge today, astound yourself and Live Completely!


Dubz