No Matter How Good It Is

A situation beyond my control hit home this week.

No matter how good it is, no matter how you are working at life, things can still jump up and slap you in the face.  No matter how hard you dream and hope that things will be better and enjoyable as they were, another's action can zap your strength and hope away.  

I need to step away, not share the details, just focus regain control and reach out in faith... a faith I lost and need to find it again, so I step away.

Keep me in mind, I want nothing more than to enjoy time with you.

Support Your Team, but to what extent?

As I write, I'm sitting in Orlando, Florida, a long way from my home in western Massachusetts, listening to morning talk radio.  I always thought of Florida as that warm, sunny place in the south where oranges grow and northerners move to when they are tired of the snow and cold.  The home of northern transplants.  As we are less than two weeks away from the next Super Bowl game, I'd say, there are few fans and supporters of the New England Patriots around here.  Wow!  Anybody but New England.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

I guess that is what happens when you are part of what might be referred to as a professional football dynasty.  What is this, the 7th time Brady and the Patriots are making a trip to the big show in recent football history?  Only the 2nd time in franchise history for the Atlanta Falcons, seeking their first ever NFL title.  Nevertheless, the talk on the radio was not about the Falcons, it was all about the hate of Brady and the Patriots.  Why?

Why don't we celebrate those who are the best at what they do rather than knock down the very elitist  of the bunch?  Whether it be sports, business or just friends?  Most who read this will not know who Robert Griffin III or Mike Smith are, or, how about one of my personal friends, Bjorn Aberg?  You probably don't know them, but they are, or were, a few the very best athletes in the world, buy you've never heard of them.  Why? because we only focus on the very, very best and many work to knock those few down.  Why?  I don't know, I don't get it and in my opinion, that's pretty stupid.  I guess because they are the money guys and they are better than your home town heroes.

Come on folks, it's a game.  Granted a big money game for the investors and owners, but it is still a game that is meant to entertain, not cause hate and discontent.  Celebrate their greatness.  Celebrate their abilities.  Learn to copy the work ethic of most of them and be the best you can be, at what ever it is you do.

Bjorn Aberg
1992 Albertville Olympics

By the way, Robert Griffin III is an elite NFL football quarterback.  One of the best in the world, calling the plays for the Cleveland Browns for most of the 2016 season.  True, as a team, they didn't have a great year, but who else do you know that is good enough to be in the top 32 quarterback in the world to lead an NFL team? As a goalie parent, I know well how fans feel about hockey goalies.  When a goal is scored, it's likely the goalies fault...  NOT necessarily.  Mike Smith is a goalie with the Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey league.  Mike minds the net for the team with the worst record in the 30 team NHL...  As a team that are struggling badly, but Smith has a very respectable .915 save percentage and has won his last 2 games in net for Arizona, he's one of the best goalies in the world.  My friend Bjorn, who I worked with before I retired from Evergreen, Colorado, was one of 47 skiers in the world who qualified for and skied in the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France for Team Sweden.  Should be enough said, that when you are one of only 47 people in the world good enough to ski in the Olympics, enough said.  Bjorn qualified for the gold medal round by placing 10th in the trials.  He told me, if you are not #1 or #2, it's just like doing a job you love....  All the money is being #1 or #2....  despite his falling in the second run for the gold medal and finishing 16th overall....  Bjorn is a #1 class act guy in my book, he was good enough to be there.  Love your team and your heroes for their abilities.

If we were only that good.  What if we just set out to praise expertise and encourage those trying.  Cheer when our teams wins, shake hands as good sports when they don't.

- - - 


Check out my Scentsy Web store at: http://DanGreeley.Scentsy.us
Want to join my amazing team of consultants?  http://bit.ly/JoinDan

Never, ever, forgets nice how amazing you are and can be!

Giving Thanks

Have you ever been frustrated, mad, or upset with the way things are?  How about the way people are?  I have.  Have you ever posted a rant or a story about what made you upset on Facebook or Twitter?  I have.  Nevertheless, it really didn't help me with the problem.  In fact, it may have allowed the original problem to become a bigger problem.  A becoming a bigger problem means people now may be looking at me as a winner, bitcher, complainer, or someone trying to deflect the problem rather than resolve it.  Been there, done that.

Ever notice how the news is always negative and stirs up emotions, even if the news if fake or false?  Why is there so much negativity and why must we share it?  Why must we respond?  I think because of emotions.  I think, we think, it will make us feel better if others agree with our negative feelings and or feel sorry for us.  Well, I use to think that, now, most the time, I don't think people really care at all about the rants, bitching or complaining.  A few really do care, they don't judge us, and are there for us.  Others are too into themselves and don't really care, whatever.

Want to really begin to feel better for the right reasons, give thanks.  Give thanks to others in need, despite what they are doing, or what their circumstances are.  That might be hard if they are one that you felt has wronged you, easier for those you don't even know.  Sometimes it will go unnoticed by anyone but you.  You'll know you did right, despite all else, and that will bring good feelings inside, because you did it for the right reason.  Life is too short to go the human emotional route, what a waste of time and effort, none of which you can ever get back.

If you start doing things selfishly, with only you in mind, you won't feel it and you won't make a difference because others will know that deep inside, you still just did it for you.  If you do it because it's the right thing to do, without the need for reward, you will step forward as a better person.  Ever pay a grocery bill for someone that really looks like they are in need?  Try it.  Ever pay (and maybe even pump the gas) for an elderly person that could use the care and help?  Try it.  I don't give money to panhandlers, too many crooks and fakes essentially stealing from those in legitimate need.

My dad often repeated an old saying that goes something like "too soon we get old, to late we get smart".  As I have gotten older, I realized all the time I wasted not listening and learning...  just as he said.  In many ways, life would have been easier, happier, and more fulfilling if I had given more and taken less.  If I had focused more and concentrated less.

On the other hand, it is NEVER too late to start, the old, the frustrations, the negative feeling can all vanish if we just start giving and being happy.  Renewal is possible.

It will be a good year, especially as I give thanks.

- - - 


Check out my Scentsy Web store at: http://DanGreeley.Scentsy.us
Want to join my amazing team of consultants?  http://bit.ly/JoinDan

Never, ever, forget how amazing you are and can be!

The New Mary Had a Little Lamb

This poem crossed my desk, the author is unknown to me, nevertheless, I felt it worth sharing with all to read...

The New Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day,
Twasn't against the rule,
He made the children laugh and play,
To have a lamb at school.

And then the rules changed one day,
Illegal it became,
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak his name.

Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years,
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We only heard shots from guns followed by the tears.

What must we do to stop the crime,
That's in our schools today?
Let's let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray.

- - - 
Check out my Scentsy Web store at: http://DanGreeley.Scentsy.us
Want to join my amazing team of consultants?  http://bit.ly/JoinDan

Never, ever, forget how amazing you are and can be!

Write Your Own Happy 2017 Story

I've been mentally working on, well, thinking about, how I'd like to write a book.  I just haven't really gotten it all straight in my head how to do it.  My friend Phil Geryshak once told me to just write something every day ....  ah, a task easier said than done. Nevertheless, I'll keep working at it.

Tonight, my daughter shared a post that I think I'll also use to up my writing ante...  it seems fun and inspiring, and hopefully, it won't fall to the wayside as old school New Year's resolutions. I thought it is so good, I should share with everyone, even though this is not my original idea. The concept is simple and easy.  Start with an empty jar and a small pad of mini note sized papers...  maybe even colored 3" x 5" cards... colored will make the end result more joyful!

The goal might be to write something "good" every week or more often if you wish...  in the end, you will see what a "good" year you actually did enjoy.

It's so very easy to get caught up in the drama, the negative or the unhappy.  I urge you to ensure you are nothing but positive and good in your mini stories.  No blah, no woe is me, only positive and good.  What fun it might be to use those notes to write your own "My Good Life" blog in 2018.  Please, please, please... share your stories with me, let's change the world for the good in 2017.

- - - 
Check out my Scentsy Web store at: http://DanGreeley.Scentsy.us
Want to join my amazing team of consultants?  http://bit.ly/JoinDan

Never, ever, forget how amazing you are and can be!

Merry Christmas, with a Touch of Old School

This has not been the easiest of Christmas seasons for me, the Christmas spirit never seemed to break through and bring in the joy and happiness of the season.  I've tried, nothing worked.  Whatever your faith and beliefs are, I did use to go to church.  For a very long time, I have fallen off the wagon so to speak, and perhaps, that has something to do with the declining mental state and life turmoil.  I'm sure it is not the entire cause, but, I'm also sure it has played a role.  A little after 11:00 pm tonight, after all others in this household had long ago gone to bed, I was searching for a church online with a midnight Christmas service.  Don't they do that anymore?  In any case, I did not find one close enough to go to, but I did catch some semblance of what I was looking for on TV of all places.

I finished wrapping gifts I had gotten.  I won't go into the details, but I think part of my issue with Christmas, gift giving, and how we do things today, is that I don't like the way it is done... it is not personal or with feelings at all, at least in my humble opinion.  Meaning no disrespect to how you or anyone else celebrates, I'm just not a fan of how disrespectful, impatient, and the lack of love in the world today.  Maybe it is just me.

I remind myself all the time of the teaching I have received of some of the best teachers in the world on personal development.  I remember times in the past where I would wish or pray for things "as I wanted the", or thought they should be.  Maybe that was not always the same as God had things planned, or in his timeframe.  I first heard it from Jim Rohn, he said: "don't wish for life to be easier, wish that I were better".  I keep trying and that is what keeps me going.  The tension in my shoulders is getting unbearable, I need to get a lot better, soon!

So at some time this side of midnight, Christmas Day 2016, I got a little bit of Christmas spirit.  I went in and spruced up the 3 trees we have (down from 17 last year) only because my wife came home for a few weeks and wanted a tree and my son Tyler came home from his job in Florida, and he has the decorator touch, wanted one too.  They all decorated a few days ago, I had little involvement, no spirit or desire.  Tonight, I finished them to look like the amazing trees we use to have.  I'm hoping, when the Carol and the 3 boys awake and come down in the morning, they will enjoy them.  I know I like them a whole lot now and am really missing all that was wasted this year with my lack of motivation....  what a waste.

It reminds me of the stories I remember that back in the day, even before the time when I was a kid, kids would go to bed at night on Christmas Eve in anticipation of Santa coming.  Santa would bring a tree, decorate it and leave a few present for the good boys and girls.  That may have happened when I was young, I just don't remember.  I do remember waking up about 3:00 am, finding that Santa had been there and waking my sisters up (or they woke me up)...  we'd finally wake my parents about 4:00 am to open presents.  Never knew why they didn't get much sleep.

So, here I am at 3:07 am, the trees are finished, Santa has arrived, things are more or less cleaned up and it's time to catch a few winks.  Merry Christmas to each and everyone that may read this... I'm hoping your Christmas is a special day in your heart and that the New Year will bring forth your wishes, desires, and lots of happiness.

Never forget, the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus, first and foremost, however you celebrate it.

My main trees grouping, 2016

My kids 2016

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas

In this season of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, it is also time to reflect upon our own lives. I have never felt so alone and at such a loss for the Christmas spirit than I am this year and tonight.  With so many blessings around, it seems impossible, but I am in such a void.  I want you to never suffer the pain, life is too short for the drama, complaining, the me, me, me attitudes and not really carrying about others.

I love my kids, grandkids, and others, but feel at a loss for the ability to do anything for them that makes any difference.  Nothing seems to matter or make a difference.  I seek prayers and caring.  Give of yourself to others, that is all that matters.  Someone out there cares and is in need to be a part of something bigger than themselves, I will find them.

My children, whom I was able to spend part of Christmas Eve with

Give someone a hug, and mean it....