This wasn’t my original thought or thoughts when I finally logged in after..geez, how long has it been!? Every Tuesday evening I get an extra jolt of motivation, and if you’ve read my previous post you would know why.
As the wind blows so do my thoughts and reflections. The calming in my mind as the clock strikes 10:06pm also brings out the pride and joy that I feel within my heart. Being one who takes pride and happiness in seeing others succeed, my heart is excited about two situations I’ve played a part in creating. Both of these situations come to good friends of mine, one I consider like a son/brother (Brandon) and the other is one I have a close connection with and considered one of my good friends (Derek). I’m blessed I have a circle of close friends, each with a different place in my heart/life and each a source of motivation for my own life.
Life has changed for these two guys in the course of the last 12 hours. One is embarking on a new chapter of life/higher ed/career while the other is leaping to a higher level in their career.
Although each has paved his own way and created the opportunities, I reflect on the small part I’ve played in this. Words can’t describe this feeling….its a feeling a crave, have passion for, and in some aspects reveals to me this is (atleast one of) my life’s purpose.
I titled this page “Paying it forward”. In all honesty, I’m humbled by the people, the little things and happenings that has gotten me to this point in life. My instructor at Wichita State University (Dr. Clay Stoldt) is one of those…and the reason I mention him is he is my mentor in this crazy world of sports. I have MANY MANY others who have also contributed to my growth. To everyone I as say a heartfelt “THANKS” and know I try my best to pay it forward to others.
Back to the subject, I feel like a proud parent. Unable to have kids myself, I can only guess this feeling I have right now would be ‘equivalent’ to being that proud parent. As mentioned, Brandon is a young man who I hold close to my heart. I could go on and on about him, but for the sake of this post I’ll do the short version of our relationship. He worked with me here at Barton for the past 4 yrs (1 as a student ambassador, 3 as a student worker here in the Sports Info Office). I’ve seen a young man with unbelievable talent and potential. When he finally figured out what he wanted to do ‘for the rest of his life’, he chose sports. I was delighted yet cautious when dealing with him. I tried to teach him what I could and instead of pumping him full of “oh sports is great” type of approach, I instead helped show him the ‘darker side’ of sports….such as the behind the scenes, ‘less sexy type of duties’, and the time commitment it takes. But he survived….and is now going to take his talents to Fort Hays State University. Thankfully FHSU opened their doors to him (special thanks to my long time friend Jon Armstrong for helping him) and I’m proud to say Brandon took initiative and got himself a job with the Sports Info Office at FHSU. “My boy” is continuing his path to greatness in this industry!!
Gosh, where do I start with Derek!? The short version is I turned down a job at Arizona Western College last summer. Derek was working the in the crazy world of minor league baseball at the time, combing the web for a secure full-time position in sports. As the universe created my job offer, and my subsequent declining the offer, I was able to put Derek in position to knock the socks off AWC and earn his first Sports Information job at the collegiate level. I helped get him to that door of opportunity, but Derek busted it down with his talent, skill, and personality. A definite proud moment for me seeing him get this opportunity! Now we are just around a year later, and the rising superstar that is Derek is now being offered a job at the 4-year collegiate level!!! So proud of him….and its going to be so fun watching him continue his climb to continued greatness!

Pay it forward….help others succeed just as others have helped you and as the Universe has helped you.  Trust me, there is very few greater feelings than seeing others succeed!   Take pride of even being that little itty bitty piece of that happening…..because after all, even a simple smile to a stranger is paying it forward and even for just a brief moment, you have helped someone in their life 🙂

~Destiny is your choice~

As you know I love to see and hear inspirational stories.  This morning in my morning ritual of browsing through Facebook, I ran across a video about Tim who is the owner of “Tim’s Place“.   A must see video showing each of us another example of changing our views about things.

When we hear the words “handicapped”, “Downs Syndrome”, or “Special Needs”…do we automatically think those labels limits one to be a valuable member of society?  I know I do…I guess it’s ‘natural’ to have my initial thoughts turn to and cast limiting beliefs upon these people.  But why is this my ‘natural reaction’?  Like most of our thoughts, reactions, and judgments,  we have been taught (consciously and/or unconsciously) throughout our whole life to think/react in certain ways.  To have judgments on people, situations, cultures, and basically taught who we are and what we can become.

Stories like Tim’s teach us a lot.  I challenge myself to change my thoughts…to change the way I react….to be slow to and/or eliminate judgement altogether…..and most of all to challenge myself to rid myself of limiting beliefs.

You think Tim has limiting beliefs?  Do you think Tim is fearful of ‘what other’s think’ about him?  I doubt it!  Tim is a guy who doesn’t see any limiting beliefs.  A guy who is not afraid to show his enthusiam for life….his enthusiasm for people….his zest to fulfill his dreams and make a difference in other’s life as well.   Need a hug?…you can always count on Tim.

Can those around me count on me to give them a hug?  Will people say “that Todd helped me feel good about myself…..I could count on him….he brought joy to this world one small moment of time….he made a difference.”  Is this what people will say about me?

Now don’t get me wrong, I do not need people’s opinions of me to get me value.  I know I am a great guy.  The point is, as I journey through my life, will ‘me being me’ be a good thing for society?  If not, then I need to re-evaluate who I am and/or are becoming.  I stay true to myself but must be doing so that will benefit those I encounter.  The challenge to myself and those I encounter has been made….to continue to improve myself which will benefit society.  And in doing so the world will receive one tiny hug….and perhaps gain another Tim 🙂

~Destiny is your choice~

The past week or so have enlightened and awaken me to many things in my life.   The biggest reason is because of Joe Vitale’s “The Missing Secret” who I attribute a lot of my thoughts.

I know I won’t recall everything or every thought of the past week or so but want to at least skim the surface on what’s been whirling around my mind.

Success:  Each person has and should have their OWN definition of success.  What bothers me, both within my own self and others, is the excuses we come up with to not be achieving our ‘success’.   Working in an education and athletic environment, I have heard a long line of excuses from people.   My immediate internal response is do something about it quit making excuses! haha!  As I heard in the Missing Secret that Viatale quoted someone (the author’s name escapes me)…”the cause of success is withing the individual”.  Wow how true that statement is and causes a deep pause within myself as I, just like others, have limited myself BECAUSE of myself!  It’s not because of where I’m from, who my parents are, where I went to school, how tall I am, etc etc…..but because I have been my one and only roadblock to success!  ME….how could I do this to my own self! haha

“What happens in your life isn’t as important as the meaning you give it”.  As Vitale pointed out, regardless of what happens in our life, it is never the reality of what we have made the situation.  ‘Life’ goes on, we all have bumps and bruises, but it goes on.  How we react to what happens is 10X more meaningful than the what we think of the situation.

Piggy backin on those same thoughts, “the meaning you give something reveals your beliefs”.   Think about that one for a second….think of what meaning you give things…does it reveal a belief you have about it?  Of course it does….the key is to stop and listen and evaluate whether your belief(s) are good beliefs in your personal growth?

have great ideas but never follow through?  I’m definitely like that! I have TONS of great ideas but don’t use the energy of the idea to propel me forward.   By not acting now, the momentum and energy of the idea subsides leading to not getting it done.   There is no failure except for not doing something.  Note to self…..Get er done!

That’s all for now….have many many more thoughts on the past week.  I have a lot of personal growth ahead…but at least I’m moving forward! 🙂

~Destiny is your choice~

So many I visit with refer to things of the past – choices, situations, people, etc.   My view of the past is this: its the past!  Oh I’m not saying never remember things of the past, but I do believe in using the past for positive things in my future.

For example, bad things have been done to me in the past, people have said or made me feel bad in my past, and admittedly I have made some stupid choices in the past.  As some will dwell on the negative things of the past, I have used the past as motivation and/or an evaluative tool in making changes for my life today.

One of my analogies I use in these situations is:  I view my life as a book.  We’ve all read books at some point and some of us have read books that we’ll refer back to, or reread, at some point.  Whether it’s the Bible, Sports Illustrated, a steamy romance, or an action thriller…if/when you reread it or simply replay what you’ve read in your head, do you go back to the bad or unpleasing aspects of the book?   In the same token that’s how I view the past in my life.  I love to reminisce about the good times in my past, or reread chapters of one of my favorite books such as Deepak Chopra’s “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success”….but rarely do I reminisce about the bad things in my past nor reread a chapter/article that is not pleasing to me.  So again, I approach my past as a chapter in book…only going back for either good memories or re-learn something.

~Destiny is your choice~

Disgruntled with life? your job? your income? your relationships? Everything comes down to this: the beauty of life, whatever life you live or want to live, boils down to CHOICES. Think about it, every second of every minute of every day your mind processes choices you have to make. Get out of bed or hit the snooze. Brush your teeth or not brush your teeth. Wear a red shirt or wear a blue shirt. EVERYTHING is a choice! And yes it applies to your situation, your relationships, your wealth, etc. Choices we make will impact, either directly or indirectly, the various aspects of our life.
You may have heard the phrase “Life is simple” or “Life is hard” – I’m not saying life will always be easy, carefree, abundant, etc all the time….but what I believe is the effects of the ‘negative things’ that come into our lives can EASILY be dealt with by the way we handle things, the way we think about things, the CHOICES we make in how we view life.

~Destiny is your choice~

The time has come for putting my thoughts in words.   Not that my words or thoughts are golden, but they help me in my own life…which I am solely responsible for.  From time to time I will jot down in my life journey blog the feelings, thoughts, and musings of my imagination to provide insight and reflection of who I was, am, and will become.

One of my favorite photos taken in Hawaii in November 2007 began my quest to unlock “The Secret” and put me on this journey to seek what I deem a ‘better life’…..for me.

~Destiny is your choice~