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I Am Charli And I Am Special

Let me introduce myself, I am Charli, and I am special. The best place to start is always at the beginning, so here we go. Firstly, my mother, Lindsey, took great care of me while I was growing inside her. She watched what she ate and exercised regularly. I particularly enjoyed it when she took me for walks alongside the river.

One day, a week before I was due to arrive, she took me to the doctor. I heard them talking about bringing me into the world on my due date, August 12th. Well, that just wasn’t going to work for me; after all, I am Charli, and I am special.

Special Charli

So the next day, on August 6th, I decided to wake my mommy and tell her it was time for me to come into the world. I began the process and made it known to her, in no uncertain terms, that this was happening. My mommy and daddy drove to the hospital and were admitted to the maternity ward.

When my grandparents in Florida and Alabama heard I was on my way, they rushed to their cars and started driving. People were coming from all over, just to see me. I told you I am Charli and I and special.

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Charli Elizabeth Hammond Born August 6, 2022

I couldn’t wait to meet my mommy and daddy, so I didn’t wait for the rest to arrive. At 10:28 a.m., I was born and, for the first time, saw bright lights and many people rushing around. They were all there to make sure I was taken care of.

First Touch

They gave me to my mother, and I felt her warm skin and gentle touch for the first time. My daddy, Will, cut my umbilical cord and held me. I knew at that moment that I was loved greatly. Later, I met my Alabama grandparents, Aunt Coral, and my big sister, Aubree. She thought I was the cutest thing, and I love her so. She wants to hold me all the time. I began getting hungry and had my first meal from mommy.

That evening, my grandparents and Aunt Nikki from Florida arrived. They drove 12 hours just to see me. It did make me feel special. The room was filled with love and joy. I am looking forward to my life with my new family.

I Love My Family

My daddy is a hard worker and provides for us. One day he will open his restaurant, and I will help him. My mommy is super-duper talented, and a wonderful writer and actor. She is funny and keeps me laughing. I will be just like her one day.

Now, I know you might think that I am conceited, and cocky, saying, “I am Charli, and I am special” so many times, but it is true. I am special, and so are you. We are all the same and are created by the same energy. We might look different on the outside, but our souls are the same.

Create Your Own Life

Every one of us creates our reality. If we think will have a great life, then we will. You can be anything you want. We can overcome all obstacles because we have God within us. Choose the life you want to live and go live it. We can change it at any time; we just have to change our thinking.

The most important concept to remember is that we are made from love, and we must spread that love around. I want to live in a world that is full of love, laughter, joy, and happiness. It is a world that I choose to live in. I will see the good in everything and everyone. The life that I will lead will be one of lifting everyone up and bringing everyone together. It is the only way to change the world. I will do my part, how about you?

Always remember, you are you, and you are special.

InspireChief9 Comments
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Mr. Peaches and Unconditional Love

One of the most important skills we can learn in our time on this beautiful spinning rock is unconditional love. I believe it is our purpose while we are here. Some of the best examples of unconditional love come from animals. If you have ever had a pet, you know what I mean. Here is a story about Mr. Peaches and unconditional love.

Unconditional Love From Mr. Peaches

I learned of a wonderful story from a friend, Linda who I was introduced to by my wife. Linda learned lessons about unconditional love from a squirrel. Yes, a wild animal that lives in trees and is part of the rodent family. I always find it amazing the different ways God uses to teach us these important lessons.

Around August 2019, Linda was outside her home when she noticed a fur ball on her deck. It was a baby squirrel, about a month old and it wasn’t moving. She brought the squirrel inside and began giving it water from an eyedropper. The baby slowly began to gain strength and progressed to solid food. It particularly loved peaches, so naturally, Linda started calling him, Mr. Peaches.

The Florida Room

Mr. Peaches was raised by Linda and stayed in the Florida Room of her house. For those who have never heard of a Florida Room, it is essentially a closed-in porch on the back of the house with a roof. Mr. Peaches slept in a wicker basket and played by running around his new home.

Since squirrels like to live up high in trees, Linda’s father built Mr. Peaches a beautiful pagoda. He loved his new home. Mr. Peaches would show his appreciation and love by crawling in Linda’s lap and snuggling up to her.

@thelifeofmrpeaches

Love! ♥️🐿🍑 #mrpeaches #thelifeofmrpeaches #lifeispeachy #love #lifeisgooddance #strangepets #squirrels #goodvibes #cutepets #laborday #floridalife

♬ Nature Boy (Remastered) – Nat King Cole
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The Return

One morning, about eight months later, Linda came to greet Mr. Peaches but he was gone. She found a hole in the screen where he had chewed through. It saddened her to think he was gone for good. But not Mr. Peaches … No. Two days later he came scurrying around her pool and climbed on her pants leg. He was back!

They turned the hole into an entry/exit for Mr. Peaches to come and go as he pleased. Soon, Linda noticed that Mr. Peaches had built a dome-shaped structure in the pagoda out of the inside of palm trees. He had made a nest in his new home. Many days he would lie under his dome with just his head peeking out.

He Was Free

Mr. Peaches would come and go whenever the desire hit him. Some days she would find him at home and on others, he was out; growing and exploring. Like our children, animals have an instinct that it is time to branch out independently. In May 2021, Mr. Peaches left and didn’t return.

For almost two years, Mr. Peaches showed Linda and everyone who met him the true meaning of unconditional love. He was always friendly and unafraid and would approach everyone who came to Linda’s house.

Mr. Peaches Is A Children’s Book

Linda was so taken by the love shown by Mr. Peaches, that she wrote a children’s book titled, The Life of Mr. Peaches. He even had his own social media pages on Instagram and TikTok. You can find the book by clicking on the link above in the book title. Mr. Peaches is an example of how animals can be used to teach unconditional love. Maybe one day we humans will evolve and learn to love each other with the same unconditional love Mr. Peaches has.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@halofourteen

InspireChief14 Comments
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What Is Our Purpose

What is our purpose here on earth? It is a question I often ponder, never getting the concise, clear answer I am looking for. Possibly, one day it will be revealed to me in a manner I can understand.

We are all given gifts when we are born. These internal gifts help us make choices about how we are going to live our lives. We feel drawn or attracted to certain vocations. For example, I have always been drawn to providing service to others. It explains why I was attracted to the military and law enforcement.

The Big Question: What Is Our Purpose

Even though I was given the gift of service, I don’t believe it is my purpose here. I saw a lot of the darker side of life during my career. The things I experienced made me angry and judgmental. It was after I retired that I found peace.

I wrote the paragraphs above at the beginning of May. In my post last week, I wrote about experiencing resistance and how it came in the form of writer’s block. Today, the question in my mind is: Am I being pointed in another direction?

When I experience these times of resistance, I believe it means I am on the right track. It is my ego’s way of keeping me from doing something I’m supposed to do. My consciousness is telling me to write, and my ego is resisting. It is this battle that creates the void and silence in my mind. Therefore, when I can’t write, I read.

The Answer To Our Purpose

It was through reading that I not only overcame the resistance, but I believe I found the answer to my question; what is our purpose? My wife began telling me about a fascinating book she was reading, Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss M. D. She read some passages from the book and I immediately understood and connected with what she was saying.

In 1980, Dr. Weiss met a patient, Catherine, who changed his life. Catherine suffered from panic attacks, anxiety, and fear. After 18 months of psychotherapy, Catherine agreed to undergo hypnosis to uncover painful and repressed memories. While hypnotized, she began describing past lives in detail. Her symptoms began disappearing as she recounted more and more past lives.

Neither Dr. Weiss nor Catherine believed in past lives and reincarnation before she went under hypnotherapy. While reading the book, it was revealed to me not only my purpose but that everyone’s purpose on earth is to learn to love during their lifetime. We must love everyone unconditionally. Humans have yet to learn this valuable lesson.

Spiritual Beings

We are spiritual beings in the human body. Our physical bodies carry the soul and will someday die; they have an expiration date. Our soul is energy and therefore, eternal. It is made from the universe and will return after our physical body stops working.

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https://unsplash.com/@pajevictoria

I feel inspired to fulfill my purpose on earth. What am I supposed to learn here during this lifetime? All my readings say we must learn to love unconditionally, everyone and everything while we are here.

There Is Much More

I believe there is much more to this being our ultimate goal. Each of us must learn to overcome our past and the faults we acquired during those times. We must conquer our fears and anxieties, look deep inside ourselves and see what is holding us back.

Are you thinking about how friends and family will react to what you have chosen to do? Do you feel as if you need approval from outside sources? You might even crave approval from anyone.

It is exactly how I was feeling. Before I made a decision, I would picture the reaction people close to me would have to my decision. Then I made one important change; I started listening to my heart. I can feel in my heart if my choices are good and pure. If my heart tells me that my choices are good, God has approved them. That is all the approval that you or I need.

Learn To Love

God loves each one of us unconditionally and only asks that we learn to do the same. If everyone on earth learns to love unconditionally, all killing, maiming, and wars will cease. We have the power to change the world; all we have to do is start using it. Start with yourself and teach one other person the art of loving unconditionally.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@marekpiwnicki

https://unsplash.com/@pajevictoria

Weiss, Brian L. Many Lives, Many Masters the True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both of Their Lives. Piatkus, 2020.

InspireChief12 Comments

Open Your Heart For Infinite Energy

Learning to open your heart for infinite energy is essential in your journey to personal improvement. You can do all the right things and not see improvement. For example, verbalizing positive affirmations and visualizing your future daily, yet you still don’t feel you are improving. Something is holding you back. It could be that your heart is closed, and you are blocking your inner energy.

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Open Your Heart For Infinite Energy

Almost everything you do externally and internally requires energy. Just like it takes physical energy to exercise, it also takes an expenditure of energy to control your thoughts. Dealing with your emotions also requires energy. Getting through the day he asserts a lot of energy. It can be exhausting.

I’m sure you have experienced times when you don’t feel like you have much energy; you are drained. If you feel low on physical energy, rest and a healthy meal can recharge you. Unfortunately, food will not supply you with energy if you are mentally and emotionally drained. Where does that energy come from? Inside you. Yogis call these energy centers chakras. We all have an infinite supply of inner energy.

Love

Have you ever been in love? Those first days of a relationship fill you with physical and emotional energy. You feel as if you could take on the world. The same thing happens when you start a new project; you don’t even think about eating or sleeping. The infinite energy that comes from within you keeps you going.

Conversely, if your relationship ends after a few months, you lose your energy. You become sad and depressed. Much of the energy you do have is spent trying to figure out what went wrong. You don’t need much and spend way too much time in bed.

Where did the energy go? It is still there inside you. You have blocked it. By closing your mind and heart, you have blocked the flow of energy inside you. Learn to open your heart for infinite energy.

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https://unsplash.com/@burzik

An Unlimited Supply

Have you seen those people who seem to have an unlimited supply of energy? They are happy and productive. You always see them out and about. They are positive, glass-half-full people. In contrast, we all know someone that never has any energy. They are the complainers and hardly ever have anything positive to say. If they can bring you down with them, they will. Their hearts have closed and blocked the energy flow.

My Experiences

I have experienced these different energy flows many times in my life. Have you? There have been times when my heart is open, and the energy is abundant. Then there were times when I blocked the energy and closed it off. It happens because we are programmed to open or close based on our past experiences.

If I see a sunset, hear a song, or smell a certain scent that reminds me of a happy time, my heart will open. On the other hand, if those stimuli invoked a memory of a past negative experience, my heart would close. By learning to keep your heart open and let go of your past; you can keep the energy flowing. This energy comes from within your being. It is your Chi, Shakti, or Spirit.

How To Keep An Open Heart

How do you learn to open your heart for infinite energy? It’s simple, don’t close it. Decide that you want to keep your heart open. When you feel your heart closing because of a circumstance in your life, stop, relax, and open it up again. Do not allow it to close. Recognize when you feel your heart closing and open it up.

Life Happens

Don’t allow the circumstances of your daily life to take away your inner energy. Think of life as if you’re standing in a river. Life flows all around you. Experiences happen, but they are only experiences. Like the water, they keep going, ever-changing. Life is a series of experiences that happens to us every day. They are always changing. The river water flows around you, touches you, and then it’s gone. The same water molecules don’t come back, different ones flow behind it. In life, we experience the circumstances, and then they’re gone.

Experiences only stay if we hang on to them and don’t let them go. In the times we react negatively to these experiences, our hearts become closed, and we block our energy. Decide what matters more, an open heart and infinite energy or hanging on to negativity. Keep your heart open and let all things happen. Experience them and let them go.

Cites

Singer, Michael A. The Untethered Soul: The Journey beyond Yourself. New Harbinger Publications, 2013.

https://unsplash.com/@cris024

https://unsplash.com/@burzik

InspireChief6 Comments

Quotes On Focusing On Yourself

Hello everyone! Today I give you some inspirational quotes on focusing on yourself. Don’t forget to like, comment, and follow. Get my monthly newsletters by subscribing below and support my blog by clicking on my links and purchasing from Amazon.

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 Several months ago when I started my blog I wrote a post titled, It’s Not About Me, It’s About You. The purpose of that post was to say to become successful we need to serve others. Some people need the gifts that you have. People need to read the content that you’re writing. It might make them smile, be the bit of inspiration they’re looking for, or provide some information that helps them out. Taking your eyes off yourself and helping others will help you persevere. People are counting on you.

“I think self-knowledge is a key to happiness. We can build happy lives only on the foundation of our own natures, our own values and our own interests.” – Gretchen Rubin

Quotes On Focusing On Yourself

Now I’m going to switch it up a little bit. I want you to focus on yourself. The reason for this is, you can’t fully serve someone else if you don’t completely like the person you are. Your priority is to fix yourself and be happy with who you are. I believe we are all good people deep down inside. We are all different people so don’t compare yourself with others. There is no comparison to you.

“The only one you should compare yourself to is you. Your mission is to become better today than you were yesterday. You do that by focusing on what you can do today to improve and grow.” – John Maxwell

How many of you have watched a commercial and wanted to be like the “perfect” people in the ad? Advertisers use these “perfect” people because they want you to compare yourself with them. By doing so, you feel inferior and want to do something about it. Therefore, you spend money on their products to become the person in the advertisement. That’s just not going to happen.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

“Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power.” – Clint Eastwood

You Are Unique

You can’t compare yourself with anyone because you are unique. Take a moment and look at your fingerprints. No one has the same fingerprints as you. Even though there are 7.8 billion people in the world, no two people have the same fingerprints. Our bodies are made up of DNA and these genetic markers are responsible for you looking the way you do. Our DNA comes from the beginning of time. Your unique DNA is a mixture of everyone in your bloodline. According to my DNA results, I am 1.64% Nigerian. This comes from one of my ancestors who lived approximately 50,000 years ago.

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself and you will be happy.” – Stephen Fry

“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.” – Lao Tzu

I was one of those people who always compared himself to others and wanted to be one of these “perfect” people. I never liked my body type even when I was in perfect shape. My looks were something I always wanted to change despite the compliments that I was given. One of the things that I despised was my voice. I put off starting a podcast for this very same reason. The other day I had a fellow blogger comment that she enjoyed listening to my voice on my podcasts. We just don’t see ourselves or hear ourselves as others do.

“Your life is the fruit of your own doing. You have no one to blame but yourself.” – Joseph Campbell

Fall In Love

Today, go ahead and look in the mirror because I want you to fall in love with the person that you see. The person looking back at you is the “perfect” person because they are the best they can be at that time. You can’t fully serve others or attract others if you don’t like the person that you are. Once you begin to love yourself, you will begin to attract more people to you. There is an old saying, “If you want to fix the world, begin by fixing you.”

“The more you are like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.” – Walt Disney

You Are Beautiful

You are a beautiful person just the way you are today. We are all created for greatness no matter your size, facial features, or your muscle tone. If you want to change something about yourself to better your health, give you more confidence, or whatever reason, I say, go do it. But first, fall in love with the original you. If you’re not in love with the way you were created, you will always be looking for flaws. When you fix one thing another flaw will come to your attention. You will always be chasing perfection because you never loved the original you.

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” – Muhammad Ali

Positive Affirmations

So how can you begin to love the person that you are right now, today? Well, your perception of who you are today is based on your words and thoughts of the past. Since the invention of television, we have been subjected to years of being told we are inferior. So you have to change those thoughts in the way you see yourself. Start today by looking in the mirror and telling yourself, “I love you.” Here are some positive affirmations to help you.

  • I love myself

  • I am joyous, happy, and free

  • I am my own person

  • I am totally healthy

  • I am willing to release the thoughts in me that created these conditions

  • I deserve the best and accept it now

  • I am in the process of positive change

  • I appreciate everything that I do

  • I approve of myself the way that I am

  • I experience love and kindness wherever I go

These are a few examples, I encourage you to change them and come up with new ones to fit you. By repeating these several times a day, over time you will notice a change in the way you look, feel, and act.

You can find several books on positive affirmations. One that I just finished and can recommend is You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. It is a wonderful book about changing your life through positive affirmations. I have added a link to the book on the side or bottom of my webpage.

“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
– Buddha

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading Quotes On Focusing On Yourself. Do you love yourself? Are you programming your subconscious mind with positive affirmations? If so, leave a comment below and let me know. I always enjoy reading your comments. As always, I appreciate all the likes and follows. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list. Just click on the red button above and leave your email address.

This article may include affiliate links. http://www.inspirechief.com participates in affiliate programs and receives commissions when purchases are made through the links. This is at no extra cost to you.

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Everybody Climb On Board!

This Train Is Moving On. You Can Get On, You Can Get Off, But The Train Keeps Moving On! We Are Going To The Top Of The Mountain!

InspireChief24 Comments

The Beginning

I always enjoy the beginning. Where I live, here in South Florida, May 18th, was the day that we saw the lockdown and stay-at-home order brought on by COVID-19 begin to be lifted. Businesses were able to open including gyms (no gyms opened for some reason) and restaurants at 50 percent capacity. We haven’t been hit as hard as New York City or other parts of the world, so things will not change dramatically for us. We have been able to go outside, and exercise; most businesses have remained open.

I look forward to being able to resume my weekly Friday night date with my wife. It will be nice to return to our neighborhood Italian restaurant and actually be able to sit down and enjoy a meal. I wrote earlier about the anxiety caused by the pandemic and how the adversity of the situation also created opportunities.

The Beginning of Hope

As each day passes we seem to get closer to living the lives we lived at the beginning of the year. My offline businesses are beginning to come alive again and I’m seeing more work. This is good because these are what pay the bills and puts food on the table. I’m glad I took full advantage of the opportunities presented to me and started my online business. I love to commence a new project but it can be frightening. I know now that I will have to manage my time better in order to keep everything on track with my businesses and also provide time for myself and my family.

That First Step

I always enjoy the beginning. The beginning of a relationship, meeting a new person who you know will become a good friend, starting to read a good book. To me, the beginning of anything is always exciting. I’m filled with joy and anticipation when a new football season kicks off. It excites me to begin a new challenge. I love the feeling of nervousness and wonderment I get when I ask myself, “Can I really do this?”

I start a new business with the excitement of all the possibilities if it succeeds. I’m quickly filled with feelings of frustration and doubt as I have to learn so many new things. As I quickly overcome my fears, it just adds to the excitement of beginning something new. Starting projects are fine, but nothing compares with finding true love. I don’t know if I’ve ever found any better feeling than beginning a relationship with someone that you know will be there for the rest of your life.

Exciting

That Beautiful Feeling

I wrote last week about The Fateful Day That Changed My Life and how I met my wife. I’ll never forget that euphoric feeling when I first realized I was in love with her. I was walking on clouds for months and wanted to be with her all the time. She was always in my mind when she wasn’t there and would smell her perfume constantly. I felt sad when I couldn’t be with her. When I would first see her after being apart for some time, I was intoxicated by her beauty. Over time those rapturous, exhilarating feelings weren’t there but the feeling of love has remained, even after 28 years.

True Love

The beginning of anything that we do is exciting. For me, it’s exciting because it’s a time filled with possibilities. These possibilities are endless and keep our minds from focusing on the nervousness, frustrations, and fear of beginning to learn anything new. Once you begin anything there are no guarantees of success. It’s going to take hard work and persistence. If you don’t feel happy and excited about your new venture, then you’ll never start it. The fear of failure will prevent you from ever taking that first step.

7 Habits

The excitement and the anticipation of the success you will have will help you to control that fear and choke out those little “Doubt Demons” that are hiding and waiting to come out. As Stephen R. Covey wrote in his best-selling book, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, “Begin with the end in mind.” Begin your business, relationships, or projects with a vision of the outcome you will achieve. I didn’t begin my relationship with my wife thinking, “I hope this doesn’t end in divorce.” We would grow old together. I don’t start a business wondering if it’s going to work. Of course, it’s going to be a success and I can visualize all the people that I’m going to help with it.

I Hope This Works

How do we keep going after those initial feelings of excitement fade? How do we keep our relationships spontaneous and joyful once we settle into our daily routine? Here are a few tips I can offer:

  1. Don’t take your partner for granted. Appreciate every day because we are never promised another.
  2. Enjoy the journey. The view from the top of the mountain is magnificent, just don’t ignore all the beauty that you pass by on the way to the top.
  3. Be thankful. Openly express gratitude for what you’ve been given even when you’re facing some of life’s challenges.
  4. Follow the Golden rule. Treat your significant other as you would want them to treat you.
  5. Write down your goals together as a couple. Discuss your hopes and dreams and construct a plan to make it happen.
  6. Always begin and end each day with love and gratitude.
  7. Do something new that neither you nor your partner has done before. Get out of your comfort zone.
  8. Take long walks and enjoy each other’s company and conversation.
  9. Travel and make new memories. You will live tomorrow on the memories you make today.
  10. Always remember WHY you started in the first place. I’ll never forget the first time I ever saw my wife.
He Says It All

Even though excitement and euphoria fade, whether it be a new job, a new opportunity, or new relationship, you don’t quit on it. You don’t get rid of your car right after it loses that “new car smell.” You honor your commitment to it. Those feelings when you first start something are very thin and fragile. They fade away all too quickly. It’s the true feelings down deep inside you that give you the strength to weather the storms.

Final Thoughts

Do you have any tips or techniques that’s helped you maintain your relationship? How long has that initial euphoria lasted for you? For me, it’s lasted about two or three months. Please leave a comment below. If you have any questions or requests for topics I would love to hear them. If you like this post, click on the little star and feel free to share it with others it might help. As always, my posts are based on lessons I’ve learned throughout my life. I don’t claim to be an expert or professional therapist, I just play one on TV (some of you might actually get that joke).

“This Train Is Moving on, You Can Get on, You Can Get off, But the Train Keeps Moving on! We Are Going to the Top of the Mountain!”

Sharing

I believe in the power of sharing. If I read a good blog that really speaks to me and I believe it will provide value to others, I will share it. I have linked four books that I believe have value. In order to change you, you first have to change the way you think. Leaders Are Readers!

Sitting by the pool or on my sofa with a good book is something I still enjoy. I read all kinds of books, fiction, history, biographies, and motivational. I enjoy the quiet time I get with just me and my book. But we live in a fast pace society today where sometimes we need to combine our tasks. Do you find yourself short on time? Are you constantly saying, where did the time go? You are not alone.

I believe that we all feel like we don’t have enough time to get everything accomplished and what usually suffers is “me time.” “Me time” is especially important to all of us. A shortcut that I have found helpful is my Audible Membership and Kindle Unlimited Membership.

I listen to books on audible while I’m doing other things. I can listen while getting dressed, while I’m working out, and even while I’m preparing dinner for my family. It is a great way to get my reading in even when I have a full to-do list that I have received from my wife. She doesn’t take kindly to me ignoring her to-do list while I catch up on my reading.

An Audible Membership, it’s a win-win for both of us. I can download great books on this and listen to them with my AirPods.   I use my AirPods every time I exercise. They don’t fall out and the sound is great. With Kindle, I can download books, magazines, and my daughters can even download their college textbooks. This is so much easier than carrying a heavy backpack full of textbooks around campus. The books can be downloaded to any device and read with the Kindle app.

Both the Audible Membership and Kindle Unlimited Membership are currently offering a 30 day free trial. You can sign up by clicking on the links and give it a test drive for 30 days free. If you find it’s not for you, simply cancel your membership before your 30 days are up and you won’t be charged.

Do you know someone who is always in a hurry and can’t seem to take time for themselves? We all do. I would suggest checking out giving an Audible Membership as a gift. It is a great gift idea for someone who is always on the go.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. A book that will change your life. It answers the question, Why do some people have everything and others struggle? The answer is simple, they know the secret. It has changed my life and can change yours.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This is an oldie but goodie that is full of relevant life lessons. It is a book that you hear speaker after speaker referred to. Successful people all have the same mentality and know you have to change the way you think to be successful. Only one percent of people set goals.

Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind And Defy The Odds by David Goggins. I really enjoyed reading this book and I found it very relatable. If you want to become more than you are today, read this book. After you finish there will be no excuses. David is just an ordinary guy who made the decision to be extraordinary and was determined.

The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. A must-read for anyone wanting to change their habits. A great book for managers and leaders. Covey teaches you how to transform your thoughts to not on help you, but also to help others. These are 7 principles to definitely incorporate into your life.

I appreciate every like, follow, comment and share. Keep’em coming.

InspireChief4 Comments

The Fateful Day That Changed My Life

The fateful day that changed my life. Almost 30 years ago I sat on my bunk inside our tent in the jungles of Peru. It was 10 o’clock in the morning and as the sweat rolled down my face, I looked at the thermometer and the temperature read 104 degrees. As I buttoned my shirt, I realized that this was the first time I had worn my civilian clothes in three weeks. I looked down at my laundry bag and rucksack which were both full. I was excited because today I was going to Lima for a much-needed three-day R & R (rest and relaxation). I picked up my bags and headed out of the tent into the intense heat of the Upper Huallaga Valley. As I passed the sandbag wall that protected our tent, I turned left and walked down the dirt road that circled inside our encampment. I could smell the food cooking in the mess hall and was thankful I would be eating in a restaurant that evening. I spoke with some of the Peruvian National Police officers while walking past their barracks. I realized and was thankful that the bags I was carrying were much lighter than all the ammunition and explosives I normally carried on an operation. Walking past the helicopters, I waved goodbye to the mechanics and pilots who were performing maintenance. I then turned and walked past the mortar positions and out the gate, which was covered in concertina wire, onto the airstrip. There I met up with my two buddies who were making the trip with me. We were all excited about eating good food, sleeping in a comfortable bed, and meeting beautiful Peruvian ladies. I didn’t know at the time but this trip would change my life forever.

Concertina Wire
Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

I saw the aircraft approaching the runway and was thankful that it was a beautiful day, which meant the flight wouldn’t be canceled because of bad weather. The plane was a gray C-123 cargo plane. It had two propeller engines and was short and fat. We had nicknamed the plane “El Burro” because it kind of resembled a small donkey. I could smell the aviation fuel as the plane taxied to the end of the runway and turned around to prepare for takeoff. We helped unload supplies for the camp and load things that needed to be transported to Lima. By the time we were finished, our clothes were wet, and we were covered in sweat. It was something you just got used to, living in the jungle. I walked up the ramp at the tail of the plane and found a seat at the front of the cargo section. The seats were made out of cargo netting but were still comfortable. I found my oxygen mask which I would be needing later. The aircraft was not pressurized so once we climbed above 10,000 feet we would need to put on our masks and breathe oxygen, if not we would pass out. We called the trip from the jungle to Lima, “Over the Hump,” because we had to fly over the Andes Mountains. We were told that the pilots had to take the aircraft up as high as it could go to get over the mountains. I took a paperback out of my bag and turned to the dog-eared page where I’d left off. I read a lot in the jungle because when we weren’t on operations or preparing for the next operation, there was nothing else to do. I heard the propellers begin to crank up and the noise then turned into a deafening roar as they got up to full speed. El Burro launched forward and gained momentum as it traveled down the airstrip. We were all bouncing around the back of the aircraft, then everything got smooth as we lifted off. In a little over an hour, we would be in Lima and amongst their 5.8 million inhabitants.

The Burro

Later that evening, after a shower and change of clothes, my friends and I decided to go to a British Pub for a good meal and some beers. As I walked in the front door I saw her standing at the end of the bar. She might not have been the most beautiful girl in the room or the tallest, but she was the only person in the room that I saw. I’ll never forget it, she was wearing a white top, a short blue jean skirt, and blue pumps. She was leaning against the wall with her right leg bent and her foot against the wall. She was standing there talking to some other people, but I couldn’t even tell you who she was talking to because the only person I saw was her. There was an instant attraction. I was told that she was friends with the owner of the pub and that she was dating a German who worked for the airlines. I didn’t even talk to her that evening.

British Pub
Photo by Nikola Jovanovic on Unsplash

I went back to the jungle, finished my tour, and returned to the states. About a year later, I was on another tour and once again went to the pub. I was sitting at a table, eating, and drinking with my friends. The pub was packed that night and filled with laughter and rock music. I felt someone tap me on the shoulder and say excuse me, when I turned around it was her. She said she needed to go to the restroom and asked if I could lean up so she could squeeze between my chair and the pole behind me. About a minute later, she came back and I leaned up to let her through. She came up to me, asking to get by, two more times within a half-hour. After the third time, I was thinking that this girl must have a tiny bladder. I remember her saying, in the sweetest voice, “you must hate me.” I just smiled and said it wasn’t a problem. I still thought she was in a relationship so I didn’t bother trying to talk to her, even though I was still very attracted to her. After a few beers, I saw a very pretty girl standing near the bathrooms and decided to take a shot. I went up to her and asked, “Do you speak English?” She replied, “No, but my friend does.” She then pointed to her friend; the girl I had been attracted to. That was all it took and I went up and introduced myself. She said her name was Sofia and we talked and had a wonderful night. I then went back to the jungle and back to the states without seeing her again.

What A Good Looking Couple!

Several months later, I was back in Lima and ran into Sofia. She gave me her phone number and I was off once again to the jungle. A few weeks later I made another trip, “Over the Hump,” to Lima. The Burro had been delayed because of the weather and we arrived close to 6 o’clock. I had debated on the flight whether to call Sofia or not. As we landed I rushed to our office at the airport and decided if it was still open that was a sign I should call Sofia. I found the office open even though everyone would’ve normally left around five. I gave her a call and asked her out on a date. She accepted and even though I didn’t know it at the time, that phone call was going to change my life forever.

Napa Valley

This week we will celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary. It has been 27 wonderful years and has produced two beautiful successful daughters. I want to wish Sofia a Happy Mother’s Day. She has been the best example to our two daughters, is the glue that holds our family together, and always keeps us laughing.

I also want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to my mother, in heaven. She always told me, “You can do anything you put your mind to. You can be anything you want to be.”

InspireChief12 Comments

Yesterday

Yesterday was just that, yesterday. It is gone, finito, kaput, never to come back. It is in the past and considered history. There’s nothing I can do about what happened yesterday. Yesterday was not one of my better days. For whatever reason I didn’t have energy, my mind was not as sharp as it usually is, and I couldn’t focus on things I wanted to accomplish. No matter what I tried, caffeine, energy foods, and supplements, I just felt like I wanted to go back to sleep and my brain was in a fog. As I crawled into bed at the end of the day, feeling like I had not made any progress towards my goals, I gave thanks. I was thankful that I was given that day, thankful that I got to spend time with my family, and thankful for everything I did have. There was nothing I could do about that day except give thanks for being given that day and for what I had in my life. When I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was give thanks for all the things I have, and all the things I will have in the future.

Everyday

I do the same things every morning which begins my day in a grateful mood. I get out of bed when my eyes open, which is somewhere between 3 AM and 5 AM. Once I’m awake, I swing my legs out of bed, sit up, and give thanks for everything that I have. I navigate my way in the dark to the kitchen, giving thanks as I walk. I drink 24 ounces of water and sit down in front of a writing pad and a pen. I then write down 10 things I am grateful for. After that, I send out love from my heart to three people whom, for whatever reason, I don’t particularly get along with. I then say a prayer to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a prayer of thankfulness for my past, present, and future. I then meditate and visualize my future. Afterward, I go for a walk enjoying the coolness of the air, the darkness, and the beautiful bright stars and planets in the sky. While I’m walking I’m thinking about positive ideas and how happy I am. I return home and begin my exercise regimen for the day. During my walk and workout, while I’m breathing heavy and feeling the sweat rolling down my face, I have thoughts and ideas that flood into my brain. These are the inspirations that I sit down and write about. I then pour myself a cup of coffee and begin my day.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The 10 things that I’m grateful for are whatever comes into my mind when I sit down in front of the pen and paper. I Am Thankful For:

  1. My relationship with God. My God provides me with everything from the past, present, and future.
  2. My country. The US gives me the freedom to accomplish anything I dream about.
  3. My relationship with my wife. She has provided happiness to our home for the last 28 years.
  4. My relationship with my son and daughters. They inspire me every day.
  5. My parents, brother, and sister. My parents, who are gone now, provided me with the solid foundation that I built my life on. My brother and sister show me the true meaning of family.
  6. My friends. All the people that have been placed in my life that I can count on for anything.
  7. My businesses. They challenge me every day and keep me learning.
  8. My unlimited income from multiple sources that arrives on a daily basis.
  9. My desire and ability to give. I have the desire to help as many people as I can financially, intellectually, and spiritually.
  10. My life and health. I am so thankful for everything that is happened in my life, both good and bad, and that I have overcome every obstacle with my health.

I have written in my blog titled, Draft Day, about the ability to be gracious and how important that is. I refer back to my blog titled, The Journey, where I wrote about how easy it is to become successful at anything. Success is different for every person, for some it’s wealth, for some it’s love, for others it’s happiness. It’s difficult to measure success. For me, the easiest way to measure success is in gratitude. Be thankful for what you do have. This is why I begin every day by listing the things that I’m grateful for. It begins my day in the right frame of mind to be successful and to face every challenge and obstacle that’s placed in front of me.

Win

What is it that you are thankful for? I encourage everyone to sit down and list those things that you have in your life that make you feel grateful. If you have something in particular that you are thankful for and would like to share, please comment below. I would love to read them. Always remember that whatever happened yesterday you cannot change. Whether it was a good day, great day, bad day, or terrible day, it is gone, never to return. Today is a new day, be thankful for what you have.

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InspireChief4 Comments