Think about this one...

Yeah...I know...it's been too long and I will apologize in advance for the heavy topic but it hit me today...

I hate cancer.

I hate cancerous people.

I have known people who I have loved dearly who I have lost to the former.

I have known people who I have loved dearly who have lost themselves to the latter.

Usually, the people who live in the latter have some discontent in their lives. I get it...we all have it. I am not trivializing it or being patronizing. You have problems. They are hard. You feel you aren't getting a fair shake. It's OK to lick your wounds. It's OK to seek comfort. It's OK to seek mutual discontent. Misery DOES love company. You are being human. It's OK...

It's not OK to spread your discontent. C'mon people...it's time to take a count of your energizing inventory. Focus on what you have...not what you don't. Actually...scratch that...you can focus on one thing you don't have...Cancer.

This post is not intended to be dark or preachy (yeah, I said preachy). Sorry if it came out that way...just trying to keep perspective on things. It's like one of those eye trick exams where they ask you what do you see. What do you see? If you change your perspective, the picture tends to look a whole lot better.

Go ahead and say it

Editor's note; Sorry for the long delay in getting a new post out. That thing called "real life" got in the way of my writing.


Psssst...want to hear a secret?? Would you like to know how you can make a huge difference in someone's life?

It really is quite simple and it never fails.

I know the suspense is killing you...

Here it is...

Give a compliment to someone. That's it...that's all you have to do. Now it has to be heartfelt, real and well deserved but that's the one thing you have to do (there's that one thing from Curly coming back again)to make a difference in someone's life.

Think back on how you felt when you worked on something and someone recognized you for it. It felt pretty good didn't it?

Here is the really cool part...when you compliment someone for what they did...you will feel better for making that person feel better. It's a personal positive viral reaction (I should copyright that one).

Go ahead and try it. I dare you.

Remember though...this is secret between me and you...please tell everyone.

Someday...

Editors note; Every once in awhile, I am going to throw down some of my writings from the past. Sorry in advance if they don't make a lot of sense...they do to me and served a purpose when I wrote them.



Someday, past thoughts will be remembered
Someday, new memories will be made
Someday, past roads will be covered
Someday, new territories discovered.

Someday, past songs will be sung
Someday, new melodies will be created
Someday, past games will be replayed
Someday, new events, there will be play.

Someday, past friends will be found
Someday, new loves will find again.
Someday, past hearts will be whole
Someday, new souls will be complete.

My only wish is that
Someday comes.

What is right?

cre·a·tiv·i·ty

–noun

1.

the state or quality of being creative.

2.

the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination: the need for creativity in modern industry; creativity in the performing arts.

3.

the process by which one utilizes creative ability: Extensive reading stimulated his creativity.

There are not many formal definitions of words that actually make for good reading...but #2 really does. Think about it...."to have the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships of the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc." We are talking powerful stuff here...the stuff that moves mountains.

Each and everyone of us is creative in our own way. Let me say that again...EACH AND EVERYONE OF US IS CREATIVE IN OUR OWN WAY! I know there are some people out there who say to themselves..."I am not creative"....but I have news for you...you are.

We are born with creativity.

When my son was small, he was playing with a box and pretending it was a car. So what did I do...I did what any sensible, sound, logical, left brained parent would do...I bought him a car so he could actually play with a "real" car rather than use his imagination on the box. I didn't mean to go left brain on him and take a little piece of that right brain real estate away but I did.

The next time you see something like that...let the right brain go for a little while longer...you'll never know what could happen.

And the next time you are thinking that you aren't creative...think back to when you were a child and you let your imagination run loose on the right brain playground.

We are all created equal...we call equally can create. Go create something.

Everyone has the power to be creative. There is not a single person on this planet that isn't creative because creativity is an individual attribute that can be displayed in an infinite number of ways.

Creativity is at its peak when we are children. As we grow older, the rules of society try to diminish our creative skills. Case in point, when my son was a young toddler, he was pretending a box was a car. So what did I do (as any good parent would've)? I bought him a car so he could actually play with a car rather than pretend the box was a car. Sensible, rational, sound choice...right? Sure...very left brain. But...I actually took a part of my son's right brain away. A box couldn't possibly be a car, right? Oh...but it was for my son. I wasn't trying to left brain him...I was just trying to do the right thing (by society's measures).

Look, I am not saying never buy your kids a toy car...all I am saying is appreciate and encourage the imagination it takes to make a box a car.

We are all created equal...we all equally can create.

Pretty cool, huh?

Ray Kinsella is no CEO

I am in advertising. I've always loved the power of it. It has the ability to move people to make decisions. It plants the seed of choice.

My primary purpose and goal when I work with clients is to help them define their brand and then help develop stories to promote that brand. It's a pretty cool gig when you think about it.

I truly believe that every business needs to advertise in some way. I really don't care how they do it or what medium they choose...as long as they do it.

It still boggles my mind. There are still business owners out there that honestly feel that their business is a baseball diamond in the middle of a corn field in Dyersville, Iowa.

"If you build it, they will come."

They honestly feel that all they have to do is open their doors and people will flock into their business. I got news for you...that ain't gonna work. There are too many competitors telling their stories about the "why" factor for their individual business. The "why" factor is THE reason people shop in that store, utilize a service or purchase a product.

It's not about the bricks and mortar...it's about the "why." We make decisions from the heart and then try and justify them with the head. To start with the heart...there needs to be an emotional connection...and you don't get there with just an open door.

Terrance Mann would agree.

Enjoy the Ride

No matter what your age is...no matter what your stage is...

Life is a roller coaster.

There are times when you are riding high...heading to the top baby. And then in a split second...you are heading down so fast that you don't even have time to scream.

Faster and faster you plummet towards the earth but just before you hit the bottom...you are propelled back upwards.

When you are feeling on top of the world...something usually happens to bring you down a bit. I think it is life's way of keeping balance and keeping us humble. Conversely...when you are down and out...there is no where to go but up.

It's actually harder to stay up than it is to dig yourself out.

It's scary and it's daunting...but at the end you always say...let's do it again because it is exhilarating and it makes you feel alive by attacking every fiber of your being and tantalizing every one of your sensory touchpoints.

It's cliche' but true...it's not the end of the ride...it's the ride itself that keeps you going. Do yourself a favor...enjoy it while you can.

Keeping it Real

What are "real" people?

Real people are people who are in your life that offer true unconditional friendship and/or love.

There are no hidden agendas.

There is very little drama.

They genuinely care.

They have a sense of the greater good.

They have a sense of humor...especially about themselves.

You enjoy hanging out with them.

They are very smart but you wouldn't know it because they don't brandish it like a sharp sword.

They are successful.

They are comfortable in their own skin.

You can always rely on them.

They keep you grounded.

They have big hearts and engaging minds.

They are all about substance and depth.

Know people like that? If so, hold these people close to you. Don't ever take them for granted. They are there to help you become a better person.

I am blessed to know a lot of real people. As a matter of fact, if you knew Cos, you would know what I mean.

This ain't no reality show...this is a show of reality!