With your own two hands

What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds. --Wayne Dyer

Leisure Rules

I've made some rather "landmark" changes in lifestyle lately that have left me with plenty of time to think, relax and peruse the idea of the bigger picture in life.  I like it.  I have enjoyed this time a lot.  I found out I'm capable of using my energy for the day for a number of things.  You see, I used to travel for work about 80% of the time.  I was never home, I was always alone and my region of travel consisted of the entire US; ergo my internal clock was constantly off no matter what I tried.  I never was able to join any kind of volunteer group, intramural league and genuinely felt like the clock was ticking on my youth.  That's not the case anymore.

I go to work, I come home, I make dinner, I work out, I go to my softball/kickball league, I go out to eat and drink beers with my friends on a weekday and I get see my roommates on a normal basis.  I know this sounds outstandingly normal, but I've never had an experience like this before ever since college.  It's been a long time since I've been able to say this but life, right now, is peculiarly easy.  In other words, life is comfortable.  It's good, great, wonderful and I have no reason to gripe.  I really don't.  I guess the point I'm getting at can be summed up in one of my favorite Rolling Stone's Songs, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."  I'm not satisfied.

I'm not saying this is a bad thing.  On the contrary, I think it's a good thing.  I don't ever want to have my life to be satisfactory.  My new lifestyle of the 9-5 is brimming upon 3 solid months.  Go to work, come home, rinse and repeat.   It's a very comfortable lifestyle and some people love it.  I actually love the fact that I get to sleep in my own bed tonight and if I wanted to I could volunteer somewhere or join an intramural team after work because, well, I have the option to do that.  Nonetheless, I guess what it boils down to for me is: if you're not satisfied with something, do something about it.  I'm not sure what happens next but I bet it will be cool.

The most important adjustment to be made is not in the thermostat but in our own view of what constitutes comfort. --Steven Cox

You'll get there, trust me

So, I went through a pretty hellish pursuit to find a new job.  It took a while, I wasn't happy with my initial results.  I learned a number of lessons from this trial of one's will and came up with a couple of conclusions...

1.  You're the only person who can change your situation.
2.  Nobody else is thinking about you as much as you are.
3.  Identify the necessities that make you happy.
4.  Attitude is something you have total control of.  Attitude single handedly commands the direction of your day/week/month.
5.  When you think you can't go on anymore, you actually don't have a choice.  If you want to meet your goal the phrase "hitting rock bottom" doesn't really exist.
6.  Never expect anything from anyone.
7.  Optimism (or hope) is the only thing that will keep you going.
8.  Time may not always be on your side but you'll get to where you need to be, trust me.


"How long should you try? Until." --Jim Rohn

Oops-a-daisies

"Freedom isn't worth having if it doesn't include the freedom to make mistakes." --Mahatma Gandhi

Todd says it best

I like to draw because it makes my mind flow. --Todd, age 10

environment.

Man shapes himself through decisions that shape his environment. --Rene Dubos 

One compliment

I can live for two months on a good compliment. --Mark Twain