I often wonder why people make life so complicated.  I hear people tell me life is complicated, their relationship is complicated, their jobs are complicated, even their family is complicated.

Then the other day I was reviewing this new personal development system, which they sold very well, but the program was so complicated.  As you start listening to the program you discover it will take over 6 months to complete.  I know change takes time, but they over complicated the process.

Another example is we are planning a Grad party.  The concept was great and the start of the planning was great, but what was missing is the final plan.  It was quickly becoming complicated, but a quick meeting solved some of the issues. 

I just believe people make it complicated, if you relax plan out all the details so everyone understands the complications goes away.  I remember reading about the complications of sending a man to the moon and back.  The concept sounds good, and they developed a plan and got all the engineers together.  Then they reviewed the plan and took that trip over and over and over again on paper and in their minds.  They still knew there were complications, so during the trip they monitored the progress every minute and made adjustments.  They had control and made it simple in many ways.

Time to make your life simple.  Just plan your day or week and go for it.  Sure there will be changes and surprises just make your adjustment along the day.  You will be surprised without much simpler life can become. Big secret focus your energy on joy and love and it becomes that much more sweeter.

Much joy and love to you and yours

I recently watched the movie Tomorrow Land.  That movie has a very powerful message, every moment is an opportunity for a better future.  The problem is most people are not willing to put energy into the future, they are too worried about today and relaxing. Our future is a reflection of our thoughts and actions.

In truth all our world is a reflection of our inner thoughts.  If you really want to change your life you just change your thoughts.  Don’t you just love how simply that sounds, but then you think that will not work for me.  You don’t understand my life and how complicated it has become and all the things that has happened to me.  I do understand and so does every successful person.

I have studied a number of successful people and most did not have it easy.  They failed and started over again and again.  If you really want to talk about people who put it all on the line, just look at the founding fathers of the United States.  A time when a bunch of people with very little fighting experience took on the most powerful army in the world.  The people in that time were focused on building a better future, and knew if they lost they died.  There was not losing in their minds they just took massive action and believed they could create the freedom they wanted. 

Back to today, you have dreams.  Write them out and start taking action.  I know that takes work and time, which you have very little time.  Here is the real secret, just change your thinking.  Find something better in each moment and take those baby steps on the dream.  When you change your thoughts to positive thoughts a whole new world opens for you.  Fill your days with joy and love.

Much joy and love to you and yours

Today I heard a story about a Senior Class donating all of their funds planned for a class trip to their principal. The principal has a rare cancer and the funds are to be used to help her with medical expenses. Wow what a wonderful group of people.  What a great way to pay it forward.

When I read stories of selfless acts I get all excited and want to help others more.  Then I start thinking why does a selfless act need to be so rare.  It is discussed by many, here are a few interesting quotes.

“Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.”  -John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

“Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, "What's in it for me? “ - Brian Tracy

“Love is when each person is more concerned for the other than for one's self. “ - David Frost

As a parent it’s just natural to love your children unselflessly, so it’s in our DNA.  When you think about helping someone it makes you feel so wonderful.  Giving money is nice, but I want to do more I want to reach out to people closer to me.  Oh yes, I can help a neighbor, clean up a street, help someone in the streets or even a store.  When I start thinking about it, there are thousands of why I can do selfless acts, I just need to start taking action. 

Have you ever seen the movie called pay it forward?  This young kid does one kind act, and the next person does a kind act and it keeps going forward.  I believe we can all make a difference when we do one kind act a day, the more the better.  But let’s just start with one act at a time.  I will brighten your day and life.  You will be so full of joy and love. 

Much joy and love to you and yours

The other night something came on a show that made me really laugh.  I am talking about when you laugh so hard you’re crying and rolling on the floor laughing.  I had to hit replay to watch that part again, and I continued laughing.  A couple of the kids were also laughing, when another son came in and asked what is so funny.  Then he said I want to laugh too.  That just made us all laugh even more and every time someone tried to tell him we all laughed harder.

Sometimes it’s just that little thing the really get you going and it’s so much fun.  There are also the times it’s just my reaction to the event, when someone else sees it they say I don’t get it.  I usually just tell them that it’s ok, I just find it funny.  The thing is don’t take it all so serious and get uptight, relax and enjoy the journey of this life. 

I have even read a few books on how laughter is the best medicine.  I loved one book where this guy was really sick and decided to watch funny movies.  He watched hours and hours of funny movies.  He was always laughing and having fun.  Over time he got better, but his biggest comment is he was laughing so much he forgot about everything else. 

Laughing also a great stress reducer.  A few years ago I had a team of people working very hard for an event.  We worked 12 hours straight and were getting tired and stressed.  I could see it in their faces, that is when we started joking about something that happened.  Next thing you knew everyone was adding to the joke and laughing.  As the event ended and we were leaving someone told me what a great team you have. You all work so hard and have fun doing it.  The team also felt much better as we were leaving.

Go have some fun or watch a funny movie or video.  There are tons of them around, it will bring so much joy and love to your heart. 

Much joy and love to you and your

We all have our life stories, some we share and some we try to hide.  Some of our life stories are truly amazing and some very sad.  Every time I visit with my mother, she shares life stories with me.  One of her favorites is when she discovered they were moving to Alaska for their first tour of duty.  She was worried they would have to live in an igloo.  She always wants to stop her story there, but I push some times and ask what happened when you got there. That is when I hear all kinds of wonderful stories about where they lived and the times they had. 

I love telling my wonderful stories of joy and love.  I have been so very fortunate to be blessed with a wonderful family and jobs over the years.  However, every so often people want me to share sad stories or remind me of sad events.  I often tell them I let that go many years ago, why are you still holding onto that story.  Finally the other day I learned about new trick.  The trick is to turn every sad story into a lesson.  You stop asking the why me question and change it to what is there for me to learn from this event.

 The changing the question around trick works for most events, but I know there are some events it will not work.  You know those hard stories, I know I had a few myself. I know if I think too hard about the event I cry, and asking lesson questions would be out of the question.  I kind of do as I asked my mother, I go a little deeper around the story.  I don’t think about the death of my son, I think of the joys we had and love we shared.  I remember his stories of amazement with learning and playing new games. 

See you don’t need to let life stories control you, you change them and take back the control of your life to one of joy and love.  Take a look at some of your life stories you share and rethink them.  Some you can change to lessons and other you focus on other parts of the story.  As you know all great stories end with and they lived in joy and love.

Much joy and love to you and yours

To be honest my Memorial Day started out as just another day of doing projects.  I got out there to complete my power washing job.  It was the scary part standing on a roof to clean the siding above the garage.  It took me about a few hours to clean the siding and side walk but it was all done and looking new again.  I loved the look, and put everything away, then went to visit Mom. 

As I was visiting with Mom she shared past memories around Military moves and housing.  She loved how they traveled to multiple locations every few years and how see saw the world.  She talked about how my father went off to war and how happy she was when he returned.  She talked about how another war took my brother off to war and how she prayed for him.  He also returned and continued his long career in the military.  When I said it’s time for me to go, I have to go shopping for dinner.  She kissed me and said have fun.

I was kind of worn out from the morning jobs and on my way to shop, I decided I need a nap.  I went home and jumped in bed.  I laid my head down and was out, just for 30 minutes.  Finally I decided to get back up and go to the store.  I picked up a few items and came home to make dinner.  When I came home I put everything away and thought to myself I will watch TV and cook in about 30 minutes.  I was watching a special on Memorial Day.  Just then my son came in and said are you hungry, I said not really I will get up in a few minutes to cook dinner.  He laughed and said, it’s already cooking.  Turns out he picked up a few things himself.

As I continued watching the special on the Memorial Day, I was feeling for all the men and women who have served the military I said a prayer of thanks to all of them.  Just then another one of my sons showed up with crabs.  Soon enough we were all eating crabs and having a great time.  My project day did turn out into a party after all.  I thanked everyone for their joy and love to making this a wonderful day.  I also thanked all the military again for serving our country and protecting our freedom.

Much Joy and Love to you and yours.

Yesterday I was power washing my house, when I noticed the spray of water was creating rainbows.  I laughed and played with making more rainbows.  It’s amazing how the sun shines through the water and you see a rainbow.  Now the big rainbows in the sky are much more amazing.  They a huge and so beautiful to see.  Some people stop and take pictures, so chase them and one little girl years ago sang about a rainbow.

Yes, that little girl was Judy Garland and people fell in love with the song about going over the rainbow.  I always enjoyed the part about how troubles melt like lemon drops.  In truth that was her key goal to live a life away from the troubles she was having that day.  Sometimes those troubles push us to our greatness.  Sometimes the troubles just drive you crazy and you just need an escape.

As for me my over the rainbow experience would be to share joy and love with the world.  I love writing the stories and would love to speak to groups about joy and love.  Someday I will be over the rainbow and I will have the time and funds to create so many programs and travel the world sharing my joy and love.  For now I just share my joy and love on my blogs and books. 

Where is your over the rainbow.  Take some time today and daydream about life and what you would love to do for the rest of your lives.  Create that dream in your mind, then write it down and start taking actions.  Slowing you will turn your dreams into the life your living.

Much joy and love to you and yours

Yesterday after completing a few projects in the house I decided I better get out there and weed the garden.  I changed and went outside to review this project.  Wow, the weeds were taking over the garden, there were thousands of weeds.  I kind of thought if it wasn’t in my garden I would have left them alone, they didn’t look bad.  I got my bucket and started the job, grabbing a handful of weeds.  There were so many, but as I continued I noticed some of the weeds were deep into the soil.  Pulling them would take a tool. 

As I continued my weeding job I had this crazy thought enter my mind.  The weeds I was pulling were visual display of the weeds in my mind.  I decided ok, that is a cool idea, I will pull weeds and think of junk in my mind I want to remove.  My first handful were all the should have thoughts, I pulled with both hands, get out of there I said.  Good thing nobody was around I was really getting into this idea.  Then I started pulling up the poor me thoughts, get out of here you thoughts.  Then I pulled up all the lack thoughts, I yelled I lack nothing.  Then I pulled up the fear thoughts, I yelled I fear nothing.

The garden was looking better and my mind was feeling great.  But I looked again, and noticed those darn roots sitting there, if I don’t get rid of them the weeds will be back.  I went and got my tool and dug into the dirt to clear them out.  Oh yes, and in my mind I dig out anger, hate and lost.  I let it all go and even cried as I thought of some of my pain, I said goodbye.  When I completed the job it all went into the thrash and out of my mind.  I cleaned up everything and watered the garden.  I could feel the plants rejoice with the fresh water and feel of weeds.  I know because my mind was now dancing and singing a happy song of joy and love.

I suggest you give it a try, if you don’t have a garden, just imagine it and pull out all those thoughts in your mind that no longer serve you. 

Much joy and love to you and yours

Yesterday I completed another new book.  This is an amazing true story, which changed my life.  You know the feeling of just going through the motions of life and kind of sleep walking.  Oh there were those fun exciting times, but for the most part I was hurt and just doing as I needed to.  Well my new book is all about feeling that way.

I titled it Stop, Look and Listen – The story about the journey to happiness. I didn’t have the three ghost visit me, but I did have three really real dreams.  One was very nice and the other two not too nice.  The dreams got me to question all of my life, then I thought I was having a forth dream.  Don’t want to give away all the fun.  Let me just say the story opened me up to creating more stories for me to enjoy life and share with everyone willing to listen or read. 

The book is free when you sign up for my email list.  Don’t worry I just send blogs and announcements for new books and events.  I am still working on the automation part, so when you sign up now it may take a little time for the system to email you the eBook.  I hope you enjoy the book and it helps you feel more joy and love.

Much Joy and love to you and yours

Today is another one of my kid’s birthdays.  You know when they think of birthdays, as kids they think of the gifts and party.  As they grow I guess they still love the party and my special dinner, which they pick.  For me I spend special time remembering when they first come into my life.  The day they arrived after months of rubbing the belly and talking to them I finally get to hold my loving present. Let me share that story about this son.

I arrived home from work and we were eating dinner, when my wife said, its time.  I said time for what.  That is when the rush started we called her sister to come pick up the other kids and got ready to rush to the hospital.  The doctor examined the situation and said, it looks close we will give her something to help move this along.  I sat there all night, napping a few times, but every so often I was told its time.  I would jump up and find a nurse, its time I was say, only to be told to settle down. Finally the sun was coming up and I thought about this situation.  You know this could go on all day, your sister is here and I should really go to work. 

I know kind of a silly thing to think about, but I did not have any leave and if I didn’t work I didn’t get paid.  The doctor came back in and said this will take more time and could not tell me how long.  So, I decided to go to work.  I went to work and was working hard, back then stocking shelves and driving a folk lift.  Work was going well and my shelves were looking good, then I heard an announcement, will Pete please come to the front office. 

I rush to the office and asked what is up.  The big boss looked at me and said you need to leave, your son will be arriving very soon.  He said, why you didn’t tell me this before I would have worked out a different schedule for you.  I really didn’t answer his question, I just said I need to go and rushed to the hospital.  When I arrived I ran to the room.  How are you doing, what is the status?  Oh, false call, sorry it will be a little longer.  I said fine I will stay and be with you.  We sat there talking about dreams and plans for our future and our son’s future.  Finally in the early evening the doctor said, that is it we prolonged this situation long enough, we need to operate. 

They gave me an outfit to wear and in I went watching an operation for the very first time.  They cut lay after lay and finally I could see my son.  They pulled him out and he gave this very sweet cry.  His cry was like music to our ears as they cleaned him up and put my wife back together.  I just watched and was jumping for joy waiting to hold him.  Finally the moment came and they handed him to me I held him in my arms and sang a song.  My wife said, let me hold him.  I joked and said, are you kidding you have been holding him for nine months, it’s my turn.  We both laughed and I placed him in her arms.  I thanked God for a wonderful healthy son.

That was the day I received my first blessing from my son Shannon.  Over the years he has blessed me over a million times with his joy and love.  Thank you Shannon.  Happy Birthday.

Now go out and enjoy your family.

Much joy and love to you and yours