The Torch of Knowledge

We must learn from our ancestors, sprinkle in some of our own knowledge, and pass it on to the next generation hoping that they’ll do the same. Shame is having to relearn a lesson from the history of our civilization. We must keep pushing our understanding, perfect it, make it easier to learn, for the benefit of students that will follow in our footsteps.

Life is short - we are but carriers of the torch of knowledge. We’re but messengers in the canvas of our civilization.

Read, learn every day, become all that you’re supposed to be, share your lessons with the hopes that someone will learn from your mistakes. Make tomorrow better from your contribution.

Happy New Year - 2024!

A new year often brings with it inspiration for change. Typically that change is physical but this year we should evaluate our minds.

The person that talks to you most in your lifetime is the voice inside of your head. To some, that voice isn't the most supportive or at least not where it should be. Start paying attention to what that voice is saying and make the necessary changes.

We can achieve a lot more than our mind often allows us to. Let's unleash that potential and become whom we're supposed to be.

May 2024 be your year!

The Inspiration Dilima

(Image created by A.I. DALL-E/Bing)

Many so call artists will wait until inspiration strikes prior to creating anything. The problem with this approach is that inspiration doesn't come easy - it's sporadic. 

I love writing stories on my free time and one of them I've only really worked on when I had the inspiration for it. In a year, I may of gotten 2 pages in... If my goal was to be a published author then I, obviously, cannot use this approach as it would take me decades to complete it. 

For some other stories, I've forced myself to write a little bit in it every second day. I've not only gotten more content in but I would argue that it's actually better than the story I only been writing when inspiration struck.

The lesson here is that if we want to create anything then we need to create it regardless if we're inspired or not. Inspiration often comes when you force it a little bit.

When Bad Things Inspire Change

The Magna Carta (Great Charter) is the most important document ever created by man and it came to life due to the tyrannical reign of a king. This King did such a bad job that a civil war ensued, which he eventually lost, and was forced to sign this document that would ultimately take some of his powers away and give it to the general population.

This document, for those of you who doesn't know, is largely responsible for the freedoms we get to enjoy today.

If this King would of done an okay job, instead of a bad one, then maybe we would never of gotten this document. The inspiration came because this King rub off too many people the wrong way for too long proving that, perhaps, the greatest of inventions comes when people are at their most uncomfortable.

In a way, we have to thank this King for being one of the worse in history as without his contribution we wouldn't be enjoying the freedoms that we do today.

Wikipedia is a great place to go if you want to learn more about Magna Carta or who this King was.

What's Next?

I, like most people, dream of starting my own business but it's difficult for me to plan for it when I'm busy working. All of my time and energy is focused on my work and I have very little desire left to focus on building a business. I like what I do, I'm good doing it and it's comfortable. It is easier for me to work than it is to start my own business.

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
-Alexander Graham Bell

Many have lost their jobs due to this Pandemic/lock-down but there's some good that can come out of this. Now can be a good time to sit down and think about your next big life move. Did you ever want to start your own business? Change careers? Improve upon your existing skills? Use this lock-down as an opportunity to plan your next move. Prepare yourself to hit the ground running when this is all over.

Many of you will simply waste all of this time and wait until it's all over to get back on the same horse you didn't like to be on in the first place. If you have a desire for a better life, after this is all over, then use this time to your advantage.

Fight back! The decision is yours...

Tips on How to Overcome Writer's Block

Writing is one of the most fun activities you can do. There are times, however, when we get mental blocks. No matter how much we try, no meaningful ideas seems to come out. The below are some suggestions that may help you get out of those "dark times". They have all proven useful to me to some degree.

• When you're inspired, write until all the ideas are out of your head. You may have a couple of blogs worth of materials after each of those inspirational sessions.
• Expose your min to new ideas. Watch a documentary. Read a new book. Attend a class.
• Force it. Write anything until the ideas comes.
• Take a nap. It's possible that you've had a difficult day, get some energy back with a nap.
• Use a pen/pencil with paper. The act of writing is often all I need to get started. It's a feeling that can't be replaced with a keyboard.
• Schedule blog posts in advance. Not only will this remove some of the stress. It will also insure you have a steady stream of posts in the event you couldn't write for a while.
• Exercise. A walk is sometime all I need to clear my head.
• Have a balance, healthy, diet. Food is what gives energy to the body. If your physical health is bothering you, those are thoughts that could of gone towards a blog post.

Hope these tips helps to put you "in the zone". What do you do to overcome a writer's block?

The Abusive Werewolf

There once was a Werewolf who didn't treat his girlfriend right;
He would have sex with her and leave in the middle of the night.

Everytime he would leave,
she would clean her bruises and think to herself
she would be better of with an elf.

The morning came,
the Werewolf was back!
...this time with lipstick on his face.

Now she's gone,
the Werewolf is alone;
Owling at the moon
without a queen on the throne.

By Mathieu Hachey

*Picture created by artist Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472 - 1553)

There Are No Limits

"Belief gives birth to passion. Passion gives birth to action." -Daniel R. Castro

We set our own limitations in life. Whether we say we can't or we can, both statement are true because we make it so.

"Don't tell me the sky is the limit when there are footsteps on the moon." -Lana Hamilton

We will never do more than we think we can. To do more, we have to become more. We have to read on a daily basis to expand our thinking and work on ourselves. The book Resolved by Orrin Woodward is a good place to start.

Start today!

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Revision Wednesday
Blog post originally created on December 10, 2013 and can be found here.

Tales of Two Authors

The story goes of 2 authors that was interviewed about their work. One was a successful author and the other was still in the process of releasing his first book.

When asked "How do you get inspired?" to the first, less successful, author he replied "I write when ever I'm inspired, I let it come to me. Inspiration can't be forced, it should come naturally to you." The second, successful, author said "I force my inspiration by writing anything that comes to mind. Eventually, after the gears start turning, ideas creep in for my story and I can move on."

If you wait for inspiration before getting your creative work done, you'll only be productive once every blue moon. When you force your hand, it brings sparks in the creative area of the brain and ideas will starts to flow. Creativity requires more discipline than inspiration.

The Christmas Truce

The Christmas truce was a series of widespread, unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front around Christmas 1914, during World War I. The soldiers exchanged handshakes, played games and gave each other gifts.

The below video is a heartwarming commercial about this event.

Self Awareness is Important

“Until we take how we see ourselves (and how we see others) into account, we will be unable to understand how others see and feel about themselves and their world. Unaware, we will project our intentions on their behavior and call ourselves objective.” –Stephen R. Covey

Reading self improvement materials, or meditating on the subject, help us understand ourselves which in turn help us to understand others. Many don't know themselves; they only know who they're supposed to be. Purpose can only be found by those who understand themselves, not automatons.

Who Are You When Nobody's Looking?

Is the real "you" the same as the "you" you tell others?

During an interview, Basketball player Kobe Bryant said that Michael Jordan gave him the advice of being himself. He said that if he was himself, the world would adapt to him.

If we adapt to the world, then what new things are we bringing to the table? We were created unique and thought how to be a carbon copy of each other!

Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Micheal Jordan (etc..) were all geniuses in their own rights and they were also themselves. They will forever be remembered for their individuality.

It is time for us to find ourselves so that we, too, can be remembered for our individuality.

To the question "Who are you when nobody's looking?" Dale Carnegie said "I'm the person I really hope and want to be."

What is your answer?

Jim Carrey Graduation Speech

Jim Carrey is a great actor/comedian and has recently been honoured in Fine Arts after he gave a speech to a class of 2014 university graduates. The speech was both inspirational and humoristic which made Jim Carrey shine. See it below:

Clay Dyer - The Most Inspirational Fisherman Ever

Some people complain about their short comings while others, like Clay Dyer, make the most with what they have. Which one are you?

There Are No Limits

We set our own limitations in life. Whether we say we can't or we can, both statement are true because we make it so.

"Don't tell me the sky is the limit when there are footsteps on the moon." -Lana Hamilton

We will never do more than we think we can. To do more, we have to become more. We have to read on a daily basis to expand our thinking. The book of the Month, Resolved by Orrin Woodward, is a good place to start.

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Revision Wednesday
Blog post edited/re-posted on March 4, 2015

Questions we should be asking about Work

"1. Can someone overseas do it cheaper?
2. Can a computer do it faster?
3. Is what I'm offering in demand in an age of abundance?"
-P.51 of "A Whole new Mind" book by Daniel H. Pink

Those overseas are becoming more and more qualified to do the type of IT work we're doing. The change might not happen tomorrow but we can't deny the fact that it's going to happen.

Daniel H. Pink went on to explain that the information age is about to give its place to the Conceptual Age.

What this means is that we'll come up with the ideas that will be worked on overseas. Ideas for a website, for example, could be thought out here and sent to India for development.

Developing the creative side of the brain as never been more important. Lets sharpen our mind now to prepare for the future.

If Inspiring someone doesn't work ... Force them

“A Man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” -Benjamin Franklin

If a business doesn't know how to inspire their employees, they will usually end up forcing (or "heavily encourage") them to do it instead. Does forcing someone create a feeling of loyalty or resentment?

To inspire someone, you first need to know them personally. What inspire "person A" won't necessarily work for "person B" which can be a challenge for bigger business. If you don't have time to know someone personally, you don't have time to inspire them.

The book "Personality PLUS" by Florence Littauer is a good start to figure out how to motivate people.

Intimidated by some people

I feel intimidated when I'm around people who I know have accomplished way more than I did. When I approach someone thinking that he's done much and I didn't, my self confidence goes out the window. I learn a lot about myself during those times.

The best way to remove that feeling is to associate with the people we find intimidating. Once we see them fall a couple of times; we come to realize that they are just humans like us!

Have you ever met someone you found intimidating? How have you dealt with it?

A nice spam/chain email

Aren't you tired of receiving spam that make no sense? I sure am, but this time I decided to give this one a shot. I'm glad I did, here's what was in it:



The girl in the picture is Katie Kirkpatrick, she is 21 . Next to her, her fiancé, Nick, 23.
The picture was taken shortly before their wedding ceremony, held on January 11, 2005 in the US .
Katie has terminal cancer and spend hours a day receiving medication.
In the picture, Nick is waiting for her on one of the many sessions of chemo to end.



In spite of all the pain, organ failures, and morphine shots, Katie is going along with her wedding and took care
of every detail. The dress had to be adjusted a few times due to her constant weight loss



An unusual accessory at the party was the oxygen tube that Katie used throughout the ceremony and reception as well.
The other couple in the picture are Nick's parents. Excited to see her son marrying his high school sweetheart.



Katie, in her wheelchair with the oxygen tube, listening a song from her husband and friends



At the reception, Katie had to take a few rests. The pain do not let her to be standing up for long periods



Katie died five days after her wedding day. Watching a women so ill and weak getting married and with a smile on her face makes us think..... Happiness is reachable, no matter how long it last. We should stop making our lives complicated.

Life is short
Break the rules
forgive quickly
kiss passionately, love truly
laugh constantly
And never stop smiling
no matter how strange life is
Life is not always the party we expected to be
but as long as we are here, we should smile and be grateful.