Songs of Inspiration

Music is one of the most motivating and inspirational ways for me to feel the creativity of life flow.  This first selection is just amazing.  Set to Rob Dugan's Clubbed to Death, the  Kurayamino Mix, ptxgarfield put together an amazing animation of the formation of the Solar System.  I can watch this one over and over...

This next selection is The Zephyr Song, by one of my favorite bands, The Red Hot Chili Peppers.  I've always loved this song, plus the video is pretty damn cool. 

Enjoy the selections.  I know I will. (just to note, all rights reserved to the original artists.  Thanks to Google and Youtube for letting me share!)

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We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.

- Harrison Ford

Douglas Clark
-Head writer, The Inspiration Engine

I think this just goes to show you that even when you think you've totally lost, there's still a chance to start over.  You should make it your mission in life to improve yourself as much as possible.  At worst, you'll only get better...

Hang on a Second!

Dost thou love life, then do not squander time,
for that's the stuff life is made of.
Benjamin Franklin

Have you ever just felt like no matter how busy or pressed for time you are, you need to just take a second out and stop?  The world careens around us, seemingly out of our control or influence, which it is, but your life lies in your control.  You should take that control and use it to your fullest.  Don’t worry, the world will always command your time, demand your attention, and be a force you cannot deny or ignore. So if that’s true, why give it your undivided attention, 24/7?  The simple answer is you don’t have to.  Taking a few moments out and diverting your attention to something that Really, Truly matters is not a crime and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

Today is a great example of this.  I was dropping my little one off at school.  She has been having a bit of trouble the last two weeks getting it in gear in the morning despite my prodding.  We were a bit late but I just had to stop and give her my total attention, look her in the eye and ask what was wrong.  We both needed that.  Now we agreed to talk about it more later, but that moment of shutting the world out was important.   Not only does it show my daughter she is important, it shows I know how to prioritize and give attention to what I value.

Sometimes recognizing what we really should be giving our attention to can be difficult.  There are clues and warnings, signs and symptoms, but if we don't take a moment out every so often, you'll totally miss those signs.  It might take a conscious effort at first to make yourself pause fo a moment and just look at what's going on around you.  You know there's an old saying, "if you don't look up once in a while, the world will pass you by".  It's true, what's even worse is the things you care most about will also pass you by.  And the people and things we truly care about make life worth living in the first place.  Don't let them slide through your life unnoticed!

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Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.

Pablo Picaso


Nothing gets the inspirational energy flowing like motion of the mind!

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Friendship needs no words - it is solitude delivered from the anguish of loneliness.

Dag Hammarskjold

There’s something about a true friend that is more valuable than all the money in the world.  A true friend will not only be there when you need them, but also tell you the things you need to hear when you’d rather not hear it at all.  True friends know that friendship isn’t all about happiness and smiles, it’s about integrity and respect.  If you’ve ever know someone that never bothered to tell you the truth, or shied away from the hard issues, or maybe they were only around when things were going well for you, they might just be ‘fair weather’ friends.  We’ve all known the type.  They’re the ones that ask for favors, only tell you things you want to hear and don’t seem to contribute much to your wellbeing. 

True friends are there through the worst parts of life.  My best friend helped me out when I was really in a bad spot.  At the time, I was literally homeless, and although he was 3000 miles away, I at least had someone to talk to on the phone.  It might not seem like much, but when it seems all is lost, a voice of encouragement can be priceless.  It’s been a long time since I slept on that street corner, but I’ll never forget who my real friends were then, and now.

Sometimes it’s hard to develop real and true friendships.  Make no mistake they can be hard, but real friendships are always worth the effort.  Those of you who have a true friend know exactly what I’m talking about.  Those of you who don’t have a true friend are really missing out.  I realize developing a lasting relationship takes time, but truly, the payoff is so worth it.  Getting out and getting to know new people is the first step.  If you feel closed off and disconnected from the world, get out, start talking to people and open yourself up t o the idea that having a friend can make life So much better!

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A man must be master of his hours and days, not their servant.

William Frederick Book

Often times it seems like we're slaving away to pay our bills, work for the boss, do other people's will when what we really should be doing is living our lives for Our purpose.

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Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.

- Oscar Wilde


Have you ever known someone that is always a fun time to be around?  I have and it's great to have them in your life.  But we've all probably known someone whose company to absolutely dread.  That's unfortnate, but hey, there's no  law that says you Have to be around those people, right?!

It's Friday, let's have a great weekend!

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Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit

- Vince Lombardi

I’ve talked about Potential before, but right now I feel there’s merit in discussing it once again.  You see, personally, I feel I’m at a crossroads.  There are times in every person’s life where things must or need to change.  This change could be caused by external forces or internal desires.  For me I think it’s a little of both.  Change can be good, especially if you’re ready for it.  That’s where Potential comes in to play. 

What are you capable of doing?  What can you accomplish or achieve?  Well if you even for one moment believe you can get close to your goals, let alone reaching them, well that’s Potential.  It’s not only what you think you can do, but what you think you can push yourself to do.  And the task or goal can be almost anything, whether it’s changing your mindset and perspective, or learning to play an instrument or earning a higher degree.  And that leads me back to my situation.  I recently finished my Master’s thesis and earned my Master’s Degree.  It was a long time coming, but I did it.  Believe me, when I was finished I felt a mind drain that was palpable.  But you know what, shortly after that I realized that I wasn’t relaxing after a hard fought achievement, I was feeling malaise because I needed a new challenge.  And that’s when it hit me.  I had more to offer, I had more Potential to live up to. 

Now maybe I push myself a bit too hard, maybe I am too critical.  Or maybe I know deep down inside, somewhere in the back of my mind behind the memories of T-ball, learning to ride a bike, Swedish Fish, Yankees baseball games and muscle cars, is the long-ago learned lesson that I CAN achieve great things, so long as I never give up trying.  Because as strange as it may seem, I don't have to succeed to reach my Potential, I just have to ensure I make the Attempt!  Will you give up, or will you Try?

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If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.

- Katharine Hepburn

Now I wouldn't advocate breaking the law, but sometimes, you just have to really let loose and have some fun.

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We will either find a way, or make one.

Hannibal

There are always going to be people that will say it cannot be done.  The naysayers, the disbelievers, the ones with no drive or ambition are the ones that try to dissuade others from accomplishing something special.  There is society and life in general that seem to stand in the way of progress, possibility, logic even.  Sometimes it may even seem like fate and the universe are against you, holding you back and subverting all you efforts.  And for the pessimistic personalities, it could even be said that existence itself is against you.  Well, sometimes that may seem very true.

But it doesn’t have to be.  Finding a way to make the impossible possible is hard, extremely hard.  Achievement takes original thinking, imagination, courage, resolve.  I can’t really imagine what went through Hannibal’s mind when he realized that to keep Carthage free he had to defeat Rome.  That would have been a tall order for anyone.  Now I’ve never had to invade an ancient military superpower, but I’ve had some pretty difficult obstacles to overcome.  Being completely broke, alone in a city with no friends and family, and yes, even homelessness.  To say it was hard to come back from that is an understatement.

How hard is it to start over? I can tell you it was stressful, disheartening, and painful.  However, as it turns out, starting over and making a new way was not as difficult as giving up would have been.  I’m not one to quit, I don’t think I know how.  It’s really just a matter of understanding what is really important, what really matters and what I really want.  If you know those things, finding a way, or making a new way is not so impossible as you might think!

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The best revenge is massive success.

- Frank Sinatra

To me, it's a waste of time trying to tear down and destroy your opponents or enemies, because that does nothing to build you up. For my effort, I'd rather work on myself and be the best Me I can be. What do you think? Is it better to try and bring someone else down, or build yourself up?

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