What do you say to taking chances?

What do you say to taking chances?
What do you say to jumping off the edge
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
or a hand to hold
or hell to pay?

What do you say?
What do you say?

Kara DioGuardi / David A. Stewart
As Performed by Celine Dion

I've been finding great inspiration in these words. Maybe its time to take some chances... whatd'ya say?

http://www.kovideo.net/music/video/Celine-Dion---Taking-Chances/2151.html

http://www.celinedion.com/

Extreme Makeover Home Edition... the best stuff on TV!

I just can't watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition without getting emotional. I get tears in my eyes every time! I love the show because it makes me realize how much I have to be thankful for. It also exposes me to wonderful people around the country who are striving to make a difference in their world despite the obstacles around them. If you haven't watched the show before, don't prejudge it as just another reality show.
http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=index

Tonight's episode featured the family responsible for Angel Boy Art.

http://www.angelboyart.com/

What's holding you back?

Words to live by from quote from my friend and life coach

"Living a life with no regrets is trusting ourselves enough to know that we always make the best decisions based on the information we have at the time. Hindsight is always 20/20, and it is unfair to judge our decisions on what we didn't or couldn't know then."

In life we are blessed if we have even one close friend. I have several. Gloria Swardenski is nearly a lifelong friend, but also my own personal coach. I think I was her first client years ago when she started her coaching business. Want to learn more about this remarkable woman?

Here's where you start: http://www.gloriacoach.com/

Irreplaceable

To the left. To the left. Everything you own in a box to the left.

Here in Elkhart (http://www.elkhartindiana.org/) we just elected a new mayor this past November. He will be taking office in January. Within a few days of his election he announced that he is taking applications for ALL positions within the city government. No one's job is above consideration. This of course has all the city offices feeling pretty insecure about their jobs. I'm not sure that insecurity is necessarily a bad thing! Often times we become complacent when we think things are steady and secure. It isn't healthy to live in fear, but I think there is something to be said for not taking what we have for granted. Like Beyonce says, don't you go on thinking you're IRREPLACEABLE!

What areas of your life have you become complacant?


Want to hear Beyonce sing it? http://www.videocodezone.com/videos/b/beyonce/irreplaceable.html

Nothing ever happens on my street.

When I was a little boy I had this small picture book with the title of "Nothing Ever Happens On My Street". Each page showed the same little boy sitting on the curb of his urban street with his head in his hands and a scowl on his face. He looked entirely bored and discontent. On the first page he mumbled the words of the title, "Nothing ever happens on my street." The rest of the book showed him in the exact same pose but a keen eye observed that on each page interesting and exciting things were happening all behind him, around him and nearly right in front of him. It was sort of a "find the difference" book. It was designed for a child to examine each page carefully and find out what was different in that picture than in the preceeding picture. I LOVED that book. I found it humorous and fun. Even as a young boy I realized that the true message of the book was that boredom and discontent is a choice. A blinding choice. The attitude blinds you to all the interesting and exciting things actually going on around you. If anyone knows how to get a copy of this book, I would love to own it once again.

Today.... don't let self-imposed boredom and discontent blind you to the wonderful world around you!

Green and Growing

My favorite quote is by Ray Krock, the founder of McDonald's Restaurants. My first job was with the Golden Arches. On a plaque by the registers was this quote:

"When you're green you're growing. When you're ripe you rot."

I love it. Its one of the guiding principles of my life. For now...just ponder it. I'll write more later.

Joel