✍ 1987 Digital Cam

Everything in this life is momentary and impermanent. Now read it again, but this time say it out loud and personalize it... EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE IS MOMENTARY AND IMPERMANENT. Good job! Accepting this statement as absolute truth permits life to be lived to the fullest. No more taking it for granted on a daily basis; You have my permission to enjoy every aspect and appreciate every moment! Knowing everything comes and everything goes is wonderfully freeing! For there is a time and a season for everything in your life. Accept it and find peace. Reject it and gain nothing, but a life full of sorrow and disappointment. Attempting to hold on to the people around you and the material possessions you've purchased can NEVER give you joy. Why? Because it's all fleeting. People live and people die. Possessions are made and possessions fade. All things come and go like the wind. Every single thing is temporary. Therefore, NONE of us can actually own anything in this life....

At the end of every day on my thirty minute commute home from work, I like to spend the majority of the drive reflecting. Sometimes it takes the entire half-hour; other times it only takes a few minutes. Doing this over the past several months has really helped me and I believe you can find value in it as well. I call the method I use  The 1-2 Rule . Basically, all you do is name 1 positive thing you did that day (no matter how small or large) and take pride in that accomplishment. Then think of 2 things you could have handled differently, coming up with a better more viable solution and vowing to not make those same mistakes again. It's simple, yet effective. We all have strengths about us. We all have areas of opportunity that need improving. By acknowledging both, you get to know your true self on a much deeper level than just the surface. Being honest about your faults and failures teaches humility. It shows strength and a maturity that many people in this day and age ...

Recently, my wife and I visited an IHOP. It and Denny's are two of our favorite places to eat when we go out for breakfast. Waiting in line to be seated is something they usually don't ask of us, but due to the busyness that morning, we ended up hanging out in the lobby for about fifteen minutes. Once we were shown to our table, we sat down, looked at the menus and ordered our food and drinks. As we talked back and forth, I noticed a family of seven being seated a couple of tables from us: a man and woman in their thirties and five kids ranging from (what looked like) four to about seventeen years of age. They were all very well dressed and mannerly; your typical American family. I continued talking to my wife about plans I had for the day and ideas I wanted to run by her. She mentioned how delicious the coffee tasted, pouring more into her cup from the carafe on the table. Although the conversation between us was flowing steadily, I found it strangely odd how noiseles...

Where do I begin? I guess I'll start with apologizing to you. I'm sorry for everything I'm about to say, not because it is false in any way, but because of the bluntness in the delivery. The majority of these frustrations, I've kept bottled up inside me for too long. Well, that phase is over. I'm done letting you hurt me. It's time for me to be completely open and honest with you about everything. So here it goes... For starters, you are appallingly selfish and conceited. You have an abundance of loving people around you who care for you. And your family? They're amazing! Yet, you never have any time for them. You're always telling me you want to give them more of your attention. You tell me how important they are to you. But your actions never match up with your intentions. The only thing I ever hear coming from your mouth are words that never amount to anything. You know what? Most people would love to be in your shoes and have what you have. Bu...

" Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. " - Dalia Lama Most people may be surprised to hear this, but... You don't need a reason to help people. It does not require an incentive, a reward, a payback or a return of any kind. You do not have to obtain a PHD, millions of dollars or loads of possessions. Honestly, all it takes is a willing heart and a selfless act. It doesn't have to be this over-the-top grand gesture. It can be something as simple as a hug. Helping others not only adds value to the person being helped, but provides the helper with a feeling of contribution as well. No matter what you hear from the world around you (especially in the media) you aren't here for yourself alone. We all need a sense of belonging; being apart of something much larger than ourselves. Helping others provides this. Be honest. Do you want to live in a world where we are not there for each other? It's easy to celebrate with others during the goo...

Growing up, my father and I were not very close. Over the past several years, our relationship has changed a lot for the better. I personally think it's because the older I get, the more we have in common. Living a simple life with less is definitely a topic we both wholeheartedly agree on. I remember how extremely eager I was and the level of excitement I felt after first stumbling upon minimalism this Spring. I not only wanted to share this amazing feeling and eye-opening experience with my wife, but the rest of my family as well. My gut feeling told me that my parents would find the minimalist lifestyle to be just as intriguing and appealing as I did. So after being completely captivated by Josh and Ryan's story in Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things, I offered my mom and dad a copy of the movie. After finishing the film, they seemed to have experienced the same enlightenment and realization as the wife and I had. We were ready to concoct, commit to...