Category: Brilliance

There's a little exercise I love to do, especially when I'm frustrated and wondering what the heck life is all about.... I close my eyes and imagine that I'm 95 years old now. I really feeeel it. My life has gone by and it's almost over; a photo album, some stories, memories, accomplishments, loved ones. I've gotten used to feeling achy and tired. I spend much of my day just getting up and around. My kids are all grown and aged themselves. Most of my lifetime friends are gone. My parents are dead. And here I am, looking back, thinking…

My mindset. Why not be a big fish in a big ocean? When I was nine my father's company had it's most profitable year to date. My father and his co-founders rewarded the entire team with a week's vacation to the Cayman Islands. My father and I spent every afternoon in the ocean swimming, snorkeling, and body surfing while all the other families on the trip lounged by the hotel pool. I couldn't for the life of me understand why you would choose to swim in a pool when you had the whole ocean right at your doorstep! This particular…

With gratitude for the style of the great Rudyard Kipling If you can see that food is beyond fuel, that it becomes every cell in your body, and by choosing strong building blocks, you discover how to recreate yourself; If you can believe that how you do something is an indication of how you do all things; that how you respond when a waiter brings the wrong order and whether you choose to treat them with respect plays out into every area of life; If you can conceive the cause in a matter; when you have a complaint, if instead…

Find a career that gives you meaning and a sense of fulfillment - do not just chase money. Many people choose a career because it brings the promise of a large paycheck and future riches. While money is important, it is not a guarantee of happiness. As a special education teacher, I do not make a large salary. I know many are struggling right now so it is hard to complain about my salary, but I think most would agree that teachers are paid only a moderate income. Most teachers get into the profession because they have a passion for…

Several years ago, I went to see a friend in the hospital. He had survived surgery removing a massive brain tumor, but would not survive long after my visit. I walked in and although he was unable to formulate his thoughts into many words, he smiled and held out his hand, clearly wanting to say something. "There is only love!" He pleaded for me to understand. "Only love. It's all there is. Only love. Only love!" Those were his last words to me. I will never forget the urgency with which he spoke. It was as though delivering this message…

Many people have told me I am an inspiration to them. That's because I've written and published two novels, a new career starting at age 85. "You've demonstrated that it's never too late to follow your dream," they say. Well, I'm glad they're inspired, perhaps motivated to breathe new life into their own abandoned dreams. Yes, think bold, dream big, climb the highest mountain you can. But be sensible. Do you want to spend your life in sullen frustration because you never ascended Everest? Stand on top of the old worn-down hill in your neighborhood and glory that you're there.…

If you're brave enough to be alone for some length of time, away from the noise and hub bub of activities, friends, family and kids, with a sleeping dog at the foot of your bed, and your palms intentionally or not open, asking what is really going on right now in your life, and how it's all serving you - that's the time to listen. It is without doubt, one of the hardest things to do - to just stop the mind chatter and let thoughts come in, kind of like an air purifier does with air, only with the…

Maya Angelou writes, "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." Life is a winding road and it takes us places we do not plan or want to go. While on it, we will find ourselves faced with challenges that test our endurance and belief systems. We will have our ups and our downs. The good news is that troubles can encourage or prompt us to discover some of the greatest successes of our lives. Before exploring ways of getting through the struggle, I will start with…

Find an old country graveyard and walk among the decaying headstones. Browse the inscriptions as you become familiar with the sense of the place. Now sit down on a grassy spot with your back to a tree, and visualize your own headstone in front of you. Consider what that headstone will say a few years from now. Each of us has only a few years on this planet - whether we are the political leader of a great nation, or are a homeless person living from handout to handout. One day, each of us will be gone, and only the…

I would share ‎10 thoughts to live by. 1. Life is not about who you were, but who you ARE! 2. MIRACLES are nothing more than extreme POSSIBILITIES manifested through positive thoughts, love, and unwavering faith and belief. 3. Failing while DOING is far more commendable than failing to even TRY. Remember, if you don't even try, there is ZERO chance of success. ‎ 4. Running from your fears may be comfortable, but tends to create mediocrity. Facing your fears may be UNcomfortable, but tends to create greatness. 5. When an obstacle stands in your way the only decision you…

Love, Love, Love and Love Some More You will never regret spending more time with your family and friends and less time on other things. Practice both random and intentional acts of support and kindness. Be generous with your community in your time and your pocketbook. Keep extending yourself with gentle understanding and compassion to the world. Accept and become gentler with yourself and stop judging others for being different. See the innocence in all people, imagining them as small children and old adults. Our challenge is not to give our love only to the good and happy; our challenge…

Since my use of car metaphors has been successful in helping others prepare their own "chasses" for life's journeys, it is not at all surprising that I turned once again to my own car interior to find needed inspiration. During your journey through life, please take comfort in knowing that, despite the impending storm outside, you have full control of your steering wheel and control panel. Why would this be reassuring? Well despite the hazardous driving conditions that life throws your way, a fate certainly out of your hands, peace of mind would come with the knowledge that your are…

Learn to accept and love all things; sure, see what's different but remember what's similar! Appreciate the beauty and wisdom of diversity but remain aware that we rely upon collaboration to exist; competition divides and conquers. True personal empowerment comes from balance. Each one of us has value and a purpose on this earth - make it your life-mission to discover your middle path of tolerance, moderation and compassion; learning and loving en route. Create the space for positive change; re-build confidence and self-worth, no matter where you've come from. Irrespective of our past, showing self-love and self-care enables us…

One of the first movies I can remember resonating with as a small girl was the black and white Christmas classic "Miracle on 34th Street." I believed right alongside little Natalie Wood that her Christmas wish would come true and that she would get that dream home she'd been praying for each night and day. In fact, I think that I believed as deeply if not more that if little Natalie's character could only believe strongly enough that she would get that home and MORE. I believed even when her character faltered. I held the vision AND the belief for…

It is incredible to me how many fortunate people move through life confused, unhappy, and depressed. The "Woe is me!" attitude seems to run ramped in today's society. So many people would rather give up the privilege of truly living for the comfort of complacency and dissatisfaction. It takes effort to truly live, little more than the effort it takes to remain depressed. Yet so many choose the latter. I find this to be quite sad. When you watch a loved one fight for his life and then lose, that impression, and the wisdom that prevails, follows you for the…

Life is a miracle to be lived and never a problem to be solved! Consider each day to be a white canvas that you can fill with all your love, gratitude and skills to make the day a special, unique and abundant one. As you are made in God's image you are wonderful just the way you are and isn't it the most amazing fountain of pleasure and happiness that God is closer to you than your skin? God permeates you completely and in my experience there are only a few really important things in life. Feel excellent for no…

Didn't win the $640 million mega lottery? Don't be sad. Do you know a person who cares for you? If so, you are receiving the one thing in the universe that money cannot buy: Love! So cultivate a balanced life. Aside from routine work, make time for family and friends. Work never ends. There will always be something to do. Catching up with emails, phone calls, and other bits and bobs will have you on a treadmill. Sometimes, the only way to get jobs done is to simply cross them off your to-do list! That frees up space in your life…

Surprise!!! Let's pretend that you just walked into a surprise party - for you. Look around. Who is in the room? Most likely all of the people who are closest to you. Your immediate family. Maybe your parents. A few of your neighbors. A couple of co-workers? Some friends from previous jobs or neighborhoods? Your boss? Maybe people from when you were growing up or people you went to school with? A microcosm of your life is in that room. Now pretend I walked in behind you, asked everyone to be quiet and posed this question: "WHAT SHOULD _________ (insert…

Note from the Editor: Today's Brilliance is a bit different and longer than most. We feel that it's important to bring things like this up every now and then, so we wanted to share Carl's wisdom with you today. If discussing suicide is hard for you, we encourage you to come back tomorrow. One of my older brothers at age 22 took his life. I was just 16 years old. The effects on myself and my family were devastating, beyond description. We had but two choices: to pull together or tear each other apart. We chose the former and used…