With practice and training – EVERYTHING is possible. This is the silver lining to any success. Practice makes perfect as the old adage goes. If you want to succeed, if you want something bad enough – it is always possible. The catch is – you have to prepare for it.

Chance favors the prepared mind

When your moment comes – be prepared. Practice. Train. Be ready.

Superior feats of human talent did not just ‘happen’. It took practice. It took training. And of course a lil’ bit of luck. But luck is simply luck unless you are prepared.

Impossible you say?

The guess speaker at my ceremony talked about the decisions you make in life. He discussed your essence and he focused on one’s character. He also highlighted one of my most favorite concepts that is near and dear to my heart and my life condition.

Attitude.

Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.

It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.

I never said anything in life was easy. Hell it’s damn hard. We always tend to focus on the bad. Focus on it in the moment it happens, focus on it after the moment and focus on it even as a past event. Heck, we even focus on the bad to spoil a possible good future event.

It doesn’t have to be.

Focus on what’s good in your life. Focus on what you love about you and your world. Focus on your ‘HAVE’s, not your ‘HAVE NOT’s.

I’ve blogged and talked about this awesome individual before. Nick Vujicic, the man with no arms and no legs – no worries. He is a motivational speaker for all walks of life. He shares his travels and challenges he has met with having no arms and no legs. His attitude is what separates him from the rest.

His unconditional, unwavering shining smile and positive presence still moves me every time I see a new video of him.

He makes my worries and my ‘problems’ seem so miniscule and trivial compared to his life. Instead of being a victim of a circumstance be championed a full and profound life.

So. How’s your attitude today?

I 110% believe in the idea our mind, our thoughts, our choices, and our attitude determines our life’s results.

Mediocrity and ‘settling’ will only get you what you ask for.

Being realistic and ‘following suit’ will only get you the same.

‘If you continue to do what you’ve always done, you always get what you’ve always gotten’. A powerful but extremely simple concept that the people of the world can’t quite grasp.

I’m not only a fan of motivational quotes and metaphysical books, but I’m also a fan of Will Smith. I’m a fan for many reasons, but mostly for his outlook, for his attitude, and his sheer drive.

I’ve been witness to his success from the days when he was a low-named, unknown rapper with his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff to the prolific Hollywood icon he is today. I don’t know about you, but he must have done something right? Luck may have played a small part in his success, but his CONTINUED success stems from something greater.

I think he is the walking, talking, breathing representation of what positivity is and what the ‘no-quit’, ‘don’t-settle’, and ‘out-work’ mind set can get you.

Never settle.

Never quit.

The only reason ‘It’s never been done’ is because some quit trying. Surround yourself with this aura and people like this and you’d be amazed at how different and how amazing the world really is.

Happiness is a choice, not a situational result.

Thanks Will.

I just read Who Moved My Cheese? I think I read this book wayyy back when I was in management for a certain retail business – whew I can’t believe that was over a decade ago!

I loved the book then, and I still love it now! It delivers such a great message, in such a simple and basic way. It’s almost rudimentary how simple the story is. It’s child-like, but the message is so great.

Change. It’s the ONLY constant thing in our lives.

People and their lives are ruled by this one very important rule. You either embrace the idea, ignore the idea, or fight the idea. Each instance will elicit a different result.

It truly amazes me how the happiness in my life is so reflective of me and my battle with change.

How about you?

How idiotic we all act and feel.

I am just as guilty as the next person to complain. Complain, moan and gripe about how ‘difficult’ or how ‘miserable’ something was simply because the standard I expected wasn’t met, or my spoiled lil’ world was shaken by an unplanned disturbance or ‘inconvenience’.

Do we ever stop to think how amazing our lives are? How lucky we are to live in this day and age with all the ‘conveniences’ and ‘amenities’ this world has to offer.

How quick and automatic we are to lash out when the ‘quick’ and ‘automatic’ doesn’t work in our favor.

Louis CK hits the nail on the head:

Take a step back and breathe in what you’ve been given. I think we all could use a lil’ more amazing and a lil’ less unhappiness in our lives don’t you think?

Thank you.

Image Source: Tears From A Grateful Heart

Here is a small slideshow of pictures we took when we visited Washington, DC:

Never Forget

I really hate how life teaches you things in reverse order. We learn life backwards, but we have to live life forwards. We always learn the lesson second, and live the experience first.

I would really love to have learned the hard lessons first.

That way I wouldn’t lose.

Do yourself a favor, hug those you love. Tell them you love them. Call those you love, tell them you love them.

Forgive everyone.

Accept everyone.

Attempt to regret nothing.

Life your life with love in your heart, and let love live in your life.

Life should never be so busy that you forget those you love, those who matter, those how ARE your life.

Even if they are across the nation, in a foreign country, or just down the block. Make it a priority to tell them how you feel. Be honest. But above all be there. Just be there.

I of course stole the opening line of this post from The Bucket List, one of my all time favorite movies.

The movie includes a touching and surreal-like song (for me) by John Mayer – Say:

Live your life with passion.

Don’t let life get so busy you forget to stop and smell the roses. Don’t let life get so busy you forget the people in your life who deserve your attention.

Getting the wind knocked out of you… can really change your perspective.