Snowy Holidays

Hello from snowy Wenatchee.

This is the season of Good Will and Peace on Earth. Maybe it's just living in rural Americana but the people I run into are all Happy with the Season's Cheer. They take time to great friends on the street or at the coffee house. Most have already finished their shopping and are able to enjoy the holidays. What a nice change. Sure there are some jerks out there, but they are the exception and not the rule.

This is hoping all of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Remember - we all create what we want. Think limitless thoughts for the new year.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Dream Manifestation

Optimism combined with hard work and positive manifestation will create a wonderful life but I have to do the footwork. What is the old saying - Luck is just work hard meeting opportunity.

I work hard when I create a screenplay, story development, seminar or anything in life. I must remember that the work is my part in the equation. The outcome, my dream, will be laid at my feet based upon my efforts.

When I was starting out chasing my dreams I failed to take the initial steps necessary to create my dream. I wanted to jump to the golden ring before any work was undertaken. After years of laying the pipe - a writers phrase - and accepting the results this created I now take joy in the work necessary.

Today - I have put a project "Revealing", that I have been struggling with for 6 months, in the drawer and picked up an older project "Risking" to develop. I have learned so much through my efforts on "Revealing" that will be paid off through my efforts in writing "Risking". In the end both projects will benefit. I am the winner.

What are your dreams you're working toward? Are you laying the pipe necessary to reach your dream? Today - I hope you realize that your dreams are waiting for you to put in the work that they deserve.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Unceasing Optimism

Unceasing Optimism by Tony Ventrella

This post was on the Seahawks Blog site. It has everything to do with Chasing Your Potential.

Nothing good has ever come about without at least one leader showing the ability and the will to get up off the canvas and fight on. I’m tempted to go on and on using boxing analogies but I might bore you to tears if you’re not a fan of boxing.

On Sunday before the Seahawks game I had the pleasure of meeting 12th Man flag raiser Lt. Buck Compton, the war hero about whom the television series “Band of Brothers,” is based. Buck is in his 90s now but still has a twinkle in his eye and an optimistic attitude about his life and his country.

Buck lived a life that would make “Forrest Gump” look like a boring character. He grew up in southern California where he quickly developed into a very good baseball and football player at the high school level.

He grew up quickly mostly due to his father’s suicide in July 1933 when Buck was just a teenager.

In his book “Call of Duty,’ published in May of 2008 Lt. Compton tells the story of his life. After his father’s death Buck went on to succeed at UCLA as a football player, seeing action in the 1943 Rose Bowl game against Georgia.

After college Buck did what every other healthy American did, he joined the service and on June 6, 1944 was one of the first member of the 101st Airborne to parachute onto the beaches of Normandy.

He helped liberate Holland, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, served in the military with baseball great Jackie Robinson and played college football with Hall of Famer Bob Waterfield. Upon graduation Buck went to law school and in the 1970s as a prosecutor for Los Angeles County helped convict Sirhan Sirhan of the assassination of Robert Kennedy.

That’s all I’m going to share here, I want you to read the book, it’s well worth it. My whole point of this story is that Buck Compton was just a normal red blooded American boy who did extraordinary things in his life because he was optimistic and never gave up.

Buck never let anyone pop his balloon and many tried over the years. In our everyday lives we struggle to remain positive about everything from the economy to our jobs to our families to our health. The last thing we need is a person or a situation with a pin ready to pop our balloon, but the reality is the pin carriers are out there ready to pop and we have to be ready.

The best way to be ready is to always look at the bright side of every situation. Seek out the potential in every single thing you see and do during the day. Is it easy? Of course not, if it were easy everyone would do it. It’s difficult but when you succeed you fortify yourself against those negative forces that serve to run you down and stop your progress.

Hang in there, protect that balloon and just for good measure keep a pocket full of new ones in case someone does get to you with a pin.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

SUCCESS!!!

Well the word is coming in that like a lot of the elections. . . my surgery was a success. I have begun to eat solid food, small bites as a test, and walking about. I feel pretty good but a little nauseous which is to be expected. I should go home Friday and start the rest of my life pooping a little more but that is most of what should change in my life style.

Your Life Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Catching up....!

A lot is going on in my life right now.

The biggest thing is I go in for surgery on Wednesday the 27th. I have over 1100 polyps growing in there. Too many to biopsy so they will be removing it. Scary? Yes. Fearful? No. My life style will change a little but not as drastic as I originally thought. I will be laid up for about a month though. I will miss my meetings and the great people I've met here over the last year and a half. But I have to remember that this is the reason I moved here from the Desert. I will finally get my energy back that the chronic infection from Crohns disease robbed from me.

I have been working daily on both my book and screenplay for "Revealing". It's a story that takes place here in Central Washington. Here's the logline. "A reluctant young man learns he is the One when a visitor reveals that he alone can prevent a war between two factions of aliens from a sister Earth." I'm excited about the way the first draft is turning out.

I've also had contact with my old writing partner from the desert. He asked me to cover his script "The Ranch" He is working with a producer and is into to his rewrites. It's coming along great and I'm excited for him.

Well that about it for this month. I hope all is well in your life.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Rules to Live Your Life!

Pete Carroll is my hero as a coach for going against the grain. As far as I initially can tell - he has basic principles that he leans on the live his life by. Rule are good. They allow you to stay on course even in rough weather.

In today's mixed up, self-gratifying world, this is unusual. My rules or principles are; Honesty, Hope, Faith, Courage, Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Love, Discipline, Perseverance, Awareness and Service.

Incorporating Carroll's rules along with mine I gain an assertive expectation to my life. After all these define how I live my life.

“Win Forever!” – In approaching life, day to day, strive to win everyday. Forever.

“Always Protect Your Team” – the team is your relationships; friends, company, workers, family, associations. Your job is to be on your best game. Give 100% to your team. Remain conscious.

“Always Compete” - No slackers here. Be your best. No excuses.

“Attack Challenges" – Prepare every day for the unknown by remaining conscious even in mundane occurrences. These reveal your character. Be professional.

“My mantra is: To Strive for Love, To seek knowledge, To Find happiness, and Yield not to fear.”

I stole this mantra from Pete Carroll. It sums up Chase Your Potential. My personal struggle is to "yield not to fear". I choose to define "fear" these days using the old definition that dates back 4,000 years - "respect". When I have respect for my fears; heights, performing, submitting my writing, being myself - I am to give my best and respect what is in front of me. I live in reality.

What are you principles? Rules to live by.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Something Good

I have become a huge fan of Coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks. His enthusiasm for life and the people in his life is infectious. His energy. His positive attitude. His living in the NOW (No Other Way).

Yesterday I discovered that he wakes up every morning and says "Something good is going to happen to me today." OMG! Think of the power of that simple statement.

For years I woke up and thought "Well this is my life. What's next?" I wasn't exactly negative, but I wasn't setting my course toward the possibility of all the good things that could cross my path.

By establishing the preface that "something good" is coming my way, I tore down my walls of defense agenda. I allowed life to bring the best that it had for me into my life. I became vulnerable to the prosperous gifts that the universe want to bestow upon me. All I had to do was to remain open and welcome the ability to recognize these gifts and take action toward them.

"Something good is going to happen today."

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Where did the year go?

I don't know about you but my year has screamed by. Whoosh! But for the most part it has been all good.

My health is acting up once again. Anemia and Crohns are ever present. But it is a process. I have a bunch of good doctors here in Wenatchee. It is taxing on my energy though. That's a bummer because the last couple of months has been wonderful bike riding weather.

The people here are real kind and the sober community is both active and engaging. We have a 3 day water skiing weekend over the 4th of July attended by about 40+ people. This is a 'outdoors' mentality living environment that attracts like minded people. With the Columbia and its many man-made dam lakes along with the Cascades it's a Mecca for families seeking a better life-style versus the big city live with all of its inherent problems.

I'm writing both my novel and script call Revealing. I am enjoying the journey creativity. I have been in touch with my old writing partner and that has invigorated me.

Well that's about all I have at this point. I hope all is well with each of you and you're living your dreams.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Adventures

I know they come in all forms - large epic and small moments. To me the values is the part that will allow myself to participate.

When I am open with no agenda I am a willing player on the stage of life. I have my major or bit part and I perform when it's my turn. Not wanting to take away from other actors or the audience even.

Now when I am not in the moment and have an agenda I miss or force my cues and I become out of step with the rest of the cast. I push my will because I want to become the director because I am frightened to let life and the scene unfold as it will.

Today I am sitting in Manson WA on the shores of Lake Chelan. I beautiful little town surrounded by vineyards and orchards. The lake is the third deepest lake in the country. Nearly 1500 feet. I am writing a story/script that takes place around here so I thought that I should come see for myself. I know my Manson well be a composite of a number of small towns - poetic license.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Relationship Commitment

I am working with a couple who have been seeing each on and off again for a number of years. It seems that every few weeks they need a break from each other. I wonder if they are really committed to this relationship or has it become a habit?

All 12 step programs have what they call Traditions that were written to hold the group together. Early in the expansion of AA, the founders found that the groups were beginning to loose sight on what their purpose was. Some groups allowed other segments of society: politics, dress code, ethnic, education, profession, etc. to become a requirement for going to that group.

Like a relationship the groups finally had to adhere to a singleness of purpose: for AA it was a desire to stop drinking. In relationships it is the desire to be in that relationship. Unity. Then you can ask about a leader - there is none. A conscious contact with a higher power not a leader per se.

The main question becomes - what am I willing to do to keep this relationship. In other-words, after all is said and done, all the finger pointing, am I willing to do everything to keep this relationship growing? What's the answer? That for the couple to figure out. All the therapy in the word cannot help without two people wanting to be in the relationship.

How's your relationship going?????

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Never compromise a dream!!!

Never compromise a dream. . . . Always compromise on how it will come true.

When I read this earlier today it his me like a ton of inspiration. How does it strike you?

Years ago I was looking for the business that I could run out of my home. I somehow gained the courage to put it out there in the universe. I manifested this "dream" for a few months. I didn't really know how it would materialize, but I just kept thinking and watching. The key it staying conscious.

One day I ran into a unique product. I found a partner, met with the distributors who were at a show in Las Vegas and bingo . . . . I was in business.

Things that work for me somehow get pushed aside by my ego. When I put it out there to the universe and stay open to the power of the universe providing for me . . . miracles happen.

So when I read this quote I was once again kicked in the butt to "get out of the way and allow the universe to provide for me". Duhhhhhh!

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll Quote

I saw this quote on the Seahawks from Coach Carroll - “The better we know who we are, the better we’ll be,” Carroll told his staff. “The more we can embrace the thought of who we want to be, the faster we can become it.”

I think that about sums up the Chase Your Potential philosophy. Until I decide what I want to be - whether it is career, relationship, creative, whatever. . . . until that happens and moves from my head to my heart I am just existing. I flounder like a boat with out a rudder. I just move with the flow. Directionless.

I know about this because that is me - or rather it was me. Indecisive and lost. And after a time I wallowed in my fears. A friend point out that fear was just False Emotions Apprehending my Reality. In retrospect that was my prison.

When I discovered my passion for Coaching and Chasing My Potential I became alive. The push over the next three months is to manifest a select clientele who wants to Chase their Potential in all areas of their lives.

Maybe it's you.

Chasing required Change. Change required Courage. Courage to requires Honesty. All of the above requires Discipline to Persevere.

I love this.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Honesty

Principle One - Honesty - fairness and straight forwardness of conduct; adherence to the facts.

Whoa! That's a lot to swallow. At least it was for me in the beginning of my recovery in 1988. I could not see myself being completely honest 'all the time'. So I had to learn through practice to watch my conduct throughout my day.

This one simple effort spawned responsibilities that I had to the people around me to find the courage to be 'honest' with them about 'me'. And all I had to do is 'adhere to the facts'. I'd let the facts speak for me with no embellishment or minimization.

An amazing thing happened - I stopped living in denial. And - I started becoming an observer of reality. Now to you this may not anything special. But if you had spent your life living in fear of everything - this was invigorating. It changed my relationships with everyone in my life.

It was the first step in becoming a lovable human being. What a gift!

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Chase Your Potential Life Coaching

Hi Guys!

I have spent the last few days putting together my coaching business.

I have a new business card, business flier and a plan for distribution. I am excited to get back into the coaching thinking once again. I have been doing a bit on the side but I haven't done any real personal promotion in quite a while. I feels great.

Anyway I will be covering some of the topics that my clients bring up weekly. The first one will cover the 12 Spiritual Principles that I discovered in the early 90's. They always keep me centered.

Honesty

Hope

Faith

Courage

Integrity

Willingness

Humility

Love

Discipline

Persistence

Consciousness/Awareness

Service

Practice one a day over the next 12 days and you will be amazed how it changes your life.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

New Energy

Hey Folks

Yeah it's spring here in the Northwest. Today is beautiful and full of promise. I'm going on a bike ride this after noon as a reward for working on a couple of seminars.

Rewards are important. We give them to others so why not give them to ourselves.

I have been doing a lot of writing on seminars lately. It's really rewarding for me to continue to grow and put down my thoughts on paper. Self healing in a way. All that I know is that it works for me and manifests new people in my life whether I have know them for years or not. I grow and change so why not my old friends who are a similar path? Let me tell you they do too.

Well I just thought that I'd up date you a little. More later.

Who are you manifesting in your life?

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Paradoxes

"One of the greatest paradoxes of your physical senses is that your eyes actually show you what you believe, not what you see."

This was sent to me the other day and it really strikes home for me.

When Captain Cook was sailing through the pacific on his explorations, some of the natives could not see his ships as they laid off anchor. They did not know that ships of that size existed. They couldn't believe their eyes. So without any exploration he was considered a God. That was the only answer that would satisfy what their eyes witnessed.

What all of this tells me - I see through my experiences. They are the basis of my beliefs. This defines my perceptions of reality.

I sometimes scoff to myself at others perceptions of reality. You may call this my judgement of them. It use to be. I was guilty of judging what others believed. I write this off to my immaturity. As I grew older and gained new experiences I became an observer of life. My reality expanded.

Today I am an observer of life. I am vulnerable to life's dances and dancers.

What do you believe? Do your judgements limit your reality? Become an observer and vulnerable to the endless dance be choreographed every day!

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Your Life-Your Rules! Seminars coming!!!!

I have been neglecting my bless by being fearful of putting on my Your Life-Your Rules! seminars. I have recently been reenergized by friends in Wenatchee telling me that I need to share my eBook with others through by offering seminars.

I have contacted a partner to market it with me locally at first - then spreading out from there.

I am excited.

Maybe it's the Spring weather. I am not questioning it. I will let you know as it develops.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Time Passes

OMG - where has the second month of 2010 gone?

It seems that only a couple of days ago we celebrated 2010 and now it's almost March. Remember we have only 300 days until Christmas.

The sun is out and I have been riding every day of this week. It feels real good to get back in the saddle. I hope that spring is wonderful where you live. We have had an unusual winter. Not much snow this year. It could be real dangerous for the fruit crops if we get a real cold snap after the buds form, so they tell me.

Wenatchee has been real good for me. Health wise I am feeling better. Financially it's a struggle. But I have made wonderful friends up here. All is good. God hasn't brought me this far to drop me on my head. Faith and the ability to recognize his gifts and the power to take right action is the answer.

Where are you with your faith?

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo

Acceptance in Adversity

Someone once said it is easy to be serene when everything is going your way - money in the bank, good job, loving relationship, close friends - I think that you know what I mean. But, the true test of serenity is when nothing is going your way. You are in the storm and it sucks. You're rowing up stream with one paddle. You're pushing the string and it folds under the pressure. Nothing is working. Are you still serene?

Most people fold. They lash out at everyone and everything. Everything they touch turns to mud - aka s&%t!

What is the difference? What I have found is it all breaks down to your level of acceptance. If you think that you have to approve of anything in order to accept it - well you might be walking through a lot of mud - and bringing the mud into your house, spreading it all over you loved ones.

I learned that Acceptance has absolutely nothing to do with approval. It is just reality for that moment. Nothing more and nothing less. It's NOW! No NOW! No NOW!

When I cannot accept someone or something at this moment, and I use this as an excuse to lash out and throw a tantrum - it's my serenity that suffers. Emotionally. Really all that I am at any time is a bundle of emotions. I have a choice how I choose to express them or not. This is the power that I have within my grasp.

For me, this was a difficult lessen to learn. It takes a lot of patience and practice. Don't give up on yourself. In this life, all we really have is love and emotional sobriety.

Your Life - Your Rules!

Namaste Speedo