Go on a Miami Vacation for the Time of Your Life

Miami Vacations
Miami vacations seem to be vacations packed along with never ending joy in addition to delight. The only thing to do nicer compared with Miami vacations is going to be saving hard earned cash with them. This may quickly happen to be realized using Travelocity and greatest of pretty much all typically the personal savings happen with relatively modest effort. Save money on every little thing that Miami would present from rooms to sedan leasing and even more. Simply give all the information of your impending tour to Miami and in no time at all you will be presented with several ways in which you can put aside gigantic funds on the rate of your vacation. You’ll be joyful you saved cash as Miami will present you a lot of ways in which to part with those savings. For more information on Miami Vacations from Travelocity, visit http://www.travelocity.com/deals-d8547-florida-miami-vacations. Copyright 2011.

Walking Sticks
Backpacking up a trail or a mountain can be an wonderful feeling. For individuals that like to hike, making contact with nature and smelling the clean air can have a relaxing centering effect they cannot wait to get again. You’ll find gear for that trade that any hiker will need: watering can, food, walking sticks, flares and a first aid kit. Walking sticks aren’t only an element of a hiker’s tools but the workmanship associated with a nice walking stick can be something of beauty. Today, tradesmen make their walking sticks out of the finest materials. For the most serious hikers, artisans will add a compass to the walking stick. Therefore, the walking stick is easily one of the crucial critical tools for hikers.

Dollhouse Kits
Dollhouse kits are numerous and some will clearly be nicer than others. In order to be convinced you are getting the best in dollhouse kits, think about utilizing a longtime source such as Dollhouse City. When you employ such a place you can be positive that the package you buy will fit both your individual manner and your budget. Whatever your own flare is, you can bring it out with the right kind of dollhouse kits to choose from provided you exploit the correct resource. Otherwise, you might discover that you are spending too much for the dollhouse kits you are looking at that will be in the end merely one word; substandard.

Plastic Bottle H2O Coolers and Also Additional Died out Things inside Offices

Of late there was a research of the largely disappearing workplace tools for the current year. The Mains Fed Water Cooler, it seems, is going to be a lot more widespread than the customary large plastic bottle coolers.

Among the additional gadgets that have been exchanged by more helpful kinds currently are:

- USB Hard Drives - the security of web based data streaming along with online document storage spaces is most certainly impelling them out of the way
- Compact Discs - originally replaced by the Memory Cards, nowadays they really are hard to get within your business
- Calculators - exchanged by contemporary cell phone services
- Desktop Phones - there’s no employment as the cell phone is most certainly a lot easier and, effectively, mobile
- Document shredders - seldom employed since a reduced amount of paper is being employed inside agencies thanks to their consideration about getting much more environmental
- Under Desk Rubbish Baskets - as an alternative to trash baskets adjacent to each office desk, workplaces at the moment make available recycle bins with the intent to attempt to become quite a bit more environmental
- The huge desk-top PC’s - these weighty, bulky items of hardware are witnessed a lot less concealed under the desktop or possibly taking excessive space on top of it - the novel tablet computer systems and also cloud networks appear a great deal more splendid plus are exceedingly capable.
- Diaries - the capabilities of the Smartphone’s makes those completely excessive
- Address Book - they’re no longer considered necessary as you are able to maintain all the statistics within your Smartphone rather than taking room upon your desktop
- And last of all - the plastic bottle H2O coolers - these will be taken the place of by the mains fed water cooler that is gonna be installed in the mains fed stream, they don’t only accumulate funds and room, but as well have an infinite amount of water

You in addition to your associates almost certainly have a lot of things nevertheless remaining in your workplace which you no more make use of. Check out and take into consideration everything which has turn out to be wiped out.

Can Gemstones Alleviate Ailments?

Most people see gems (or gemstones) strictly as decoration, such as gemstone jewellery; that is, jewellery to wear just for aesthetical purposes. But gems are also considered to have numerous remedial properties; e.g. (depending on the stone) the ability to promote self-confidence, concentration, relieve headaches and stress, promote a calm mind, and encourage positivity.

We will look at a small selection of gems and their claimed remedial powers. A disavowal before you read any further : The details of this article are founded on a collective belief, so there is no scientific proof as to the efficacy of such gems and their supposed restorative powers.

Amazonite
This gem assists self-assurance and imparts a sense of hope to the wearer.

Amber
This stone remedies physiological stress, calms nerves and improves self-assurance. It stimulates creativeness by eradicating negativity. It is claimed to be effective for joints and help energize the liver and kidneys.

Haematite
A powerful gem that gives boosts willpower and strength. Very useful for balancing the body and spirit. A very grounding gemstone which cuts down stress and is claimed to prevent insomnia.

Malachite
A mighty gemstone that can absorb destructive energies and “contamination”. Useful for people suffering from emotional stress.

Sodalite
Increases the power to commune with and to empathize with other people. Effective for the maturation of intuition and spirituality.

The preceding gemstones are just a tiny selection of gems that are claimed to have therapeutic powers. The only genuine way to realise if these stones can help you is to actually wear them if you suffer from an ailment that a gem is believed to help remedy.

‘I Don’t Know’ is NOT an Acceptable Answer! Now, What is It that You Would Rather Do in Your Life?

Here’s a typical situation. See if you know anyone like this: “He” has a job. Doesn’t really like it a whole lot or is getting tired of the long hours. Doesn’t have much time for hobbies or going to the gym or happy hour with friends or spending time with the family, because he’s always travelling and away from home. Either that or he often works long hours and is so tired when he comes home that he doesn’t feel like going out, being sociable or spending quality time with the family. His friends are slowly getting tired of asking him to come out, because most of the time he’s either away or tired or has some other excuse why he can’t come out. Pretty soon they won’t ask anymore and he’ll come home one day and his friends will have new friends and he’ll be left alone. He knows though that he’s not really happy. He knows that he would rather be doing something else, but he doesn’t know what.

Is it worth it? Life is passing us by. If you are not already, put yourself in this guy’s shoes. To know that there is something else you would rather do in life, but to not know what it is and what’s worse, to let the fact that you don’t know, just linger on in your mind without trying to figure it out? Days pass and turn into weeks, months, years and before you know it, either you don’t even think about it anymore, because you have just accepted the routine as being normal or when you are forced to talk about it, you continue to allow yourself to answer “I don’t know.” And then you drop it.

So why am I telling you this? Because you really have two choices. You can either continue to do what you’re doing and be unhappy and continue to hang out with those so-called friends who are doing the “grind” just like you; all of you, auto-convincing yourselves that there is no better way to live your life than the way you are right now or, you can do SOMETHING about it. ANYTHING! Because there are alternatives to working as hard as you are right now and where, if you so choose, you can make just as much or even more money with less effort. If you want more free time, if you want to make more money with less effort. If you would like to spend more quality time with your family, take breaks in the middle of the day, take a day off whenever you want, get up late, take nice vacations, not have to worry about how much money you are spending…well, you get the message, then the next time someone asks you what you would rather do in life, don’t let the words “I Don’t Know” stop you from living your dreams!

‘I don’t know’ is laziness. ‘I don’t know’ is an excuse not to think anymore. It is not an answer. It is a dead end. It weakens you. It means surrender. It let’s you slide. It sucks the life out of you year after year after year, because you have so gotten used to saying it…about everything, that you don’t even realize it. ‘I don’t know is nothing! STOP IT! And take control of your life before it’s too late. If you are like most people, you will say to yourself, “Well, that was an interesting article. I’ll think about it.” You’ll never do anything about it and you know it. Look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself the truth. But don’t finish the conversation with yourself with “I don’t know”!

You are not alone. Many people feel stuck in their niche in life and don’t know how to get out. Don’t give up. Keep asking yourself! The answer is inside of you, you just have to bring it out? Here are some questions that might help you the next time you find you telling yourself “I don’t know what I would rather do.”:

What were you put here on this earth to accomplish?

What about you is special?

What do you have to offer this world?

What do you love to do?

What are your hobbies? (Could you turn them into a profession? Chances are you could.)

What is your mission in life?

What would you like people to say about you when you are no longer around?

What legacy would you like to leave behind?

What would you like to accomplish before you die?

If you could do anything you wanted to do in this world, (Anything!) what would it be?

My company is dedicated to helping people improve the quality of their lives. We’re the Dream Makers. We make dreams come true. But you have to do your part too. Just like Dorothy, you have to put your shoes on, get ready, close your eyes , click your heels together and say, “There’s no place like where I’d rather be right now.”, believe it, look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself the truth about what your heart is telling you and the next thing you know you will be airborne, your ‘house’ will be spinning, and it will land on top of the wicked “I Don’t Know witch of the West” and then finally…you will be home.

I wish you all the best!

Anthony Lee Smith founded JOLTEN Educational Events & Entertainment with the scope of helping as many people as possible to improve the quality of their lives, or more specifically, with the intention of aiding organizations, teams and individuals in the achievement of EXTRAORDINARY results.

Anthony realized that inspite of the immense monetary benefits the corporate world provided him as an executive in two multinational companies, there was something much more meaningful burning inside him. Since 2003 Anthony has founded several internet businesses and is now a successful motivational speaker, seminar leader, host and actor. Read his story and about the services of JOLTEN Educational Events & Entertainment at http://www.jolten.com

To ask Anthony to come speak at your event or to contat him for additional information, write: anthonysmith@jolten.com

Who Is Wallace Wattles and Why Is He One of My Mentors and Heroes?

Who is Wallace Wattles? Wallace D. Wattles died over 90 years ago so how can he be one of my mentors and heroes?

I had been studying the works of some of the most famous self-improvement ‘gurus’ of recent times and several of them mentioned the book ‘The Science Of Getting Rich’ as the starting point of their own success.

After doing some research on the internet, I came across a brilliant site where I could download a beautifully presented pdf version of the book for free.

I couldn’t believe how short and sweet the presentation of Mr Wattles message was. His work seems to have been the basis from which all the more famous and recent experts sprouted. He even preceeds Napoleon Hill and ‘Think and Grow Rich’!

Over the years I had been developing my own system for achieving my lifes goals by cherry picking ideas from the authors I had read. The conclusion I was slowly coming to had been reached and written down almost half a century before I was born!

In Wallace’s own words, “…if there is a particular book you need to read it will be placed in your hands at the right time.” How right he was.

How many light bulbs went off in my head? 5/5

For quotes, articles, special reports and e-courses by Wallace Wattles, please visit http://www.4-inspirational-quotes.com/wallace-wattles.html

Astrology Compatibility and Zodiac Sign Compatibility Report

Astrology: Compatibility & Relationship

Your relationships are based on all the planets, signs, and houses in your birth chart. It is also based on how they interact with all the planets, signs, and houses, in other people’s charts.

“Relationship astrology” is a part of astrology which analyses just how compatible you are with someone else. It takes into account varied aspects between two people and also the type of relationship it is going to be, or not be.

This type of astrological study can tell whether two, or more, people are emotionally, mentally, or sexually compatible.

Astrology zodiac sign compatibility

Do you know how compatible your zodiac sign is with the person you are in love with? Know more about your love and Sun sign compatibility with astrology report!

A Compatibility Report analyses your relationship/s deeply, and also answers significant questions related to romance, sex, and love. With the report in hand, you will be able to discover how to expand on your relationship and become more accessible to one another.

What your compatibility chart also examines are your strengths and weaknesses, and also what measures you’d take to deal or improve your situation. Isn’t this an amazing potential to know your future better even before it takes off in the direction you want it to?

For more information visit our website and receive astrology compatibility report

This article is written by http://www.knowyourday.com team

Four Meditation Exercises for the Beginner

How do YOU meditate? What works for you? What do you feel in your body? I know I’m not the only one to admit that I have a difficult time meditating. Here are some answers I received from the above question on an interactive Conscious Evolution site last year. I hope one of these methods will help you on your meditative journeys.

Method #1:
Ritual is very important to my meditation practice. In my practice that includes meditating at the same time every day: incense, a lit candle, acknowledging the four directions and an opening prayer and music. I have been influenced by Zen meditation, yoga relaxation and breathing practices, visualization techniques, mantra repetition and even dancing techniques to name a few. My meditation experience changes from day to day as sometimes it is very contemplative of my life; some days I feel connected to nature or I find myself praying for peace, compassion and love. At times my meditation takes me into a void where there is no thought or it can be very visionary where I receive insights about my life and that of others around me; sometimes I even see things far into our future. Every once in a while, I am BLESSED with feeling an all-loving presence that permeates my whole being with happiness and love. What is constant and most important about my meditation practice is that it has become as essential to my life as breathing air is for all of us. Best of all, I have seen how my behavior in my everyday life has become (for the most part-who is perfect?) a mirror of the peace and compassionate feeling I tap into when I meditate. I have been meditating for 20 years. May you have a blessed journey. From Pablo (Evolve Community Café)

Method #2
Good question. I use a very unstructured approach, working toward the goal of making all my waking and sleeping moments meditative. If I am walking (or cycling), I develop a rhythmic cadence of affirmation around some issue (health, harmony, love, etc) and pace the affirmation to my pace. For instance, I like an eight-step pace and this harmony affirmation works well for me, “I am one with the universe and all things in IT. Not my will, but thine be done.”

My hypnosis/hypnotherapy training has taught me that trance induction is easy. I use the following sequence of statements repeated sub-vocally (and paced with normal breathing cycle) to induce both trance and meditation: “Relax now. Release now. Renew now. Refresh now. Live now. Love now. Heal now. Grow now. Peace now”.

I try to be in nature everyday, whether it is watching ants in my backyard or fishing on the local rivers and lakes. That is meditation to me. I also use spontaneous free-associative journaling as part of meditative practice. I picked this up from Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way.” She calls such discipline “morning pages” and there is no doubt that this approach has great power to center one in meditative action and intuition.

I guess what I am seeing from what I am saying is that I am highly kinesthetic and prefer action meditation to passive meditation…and if you hadn’t asked the question, I would not have realized this. Bravo. Hope that makes some sense. Nick (Evolve Community Café)

Method #3
I meditate early in the morning — it’s a big part of my life. About four years ago I went on a weekend retreat in Oxford to the Brahma Kumaris and learned to meditate by Raj Yoga which means meditating with your eyes open. At first it was difficult but Discipline is the key. It calms my working mind and psychologically-wise, I am more at peace. Molly

Method #4
I read this in The Evolution Angel by Dr. Michael Abrams and liked it, so will share it with you.

The angels believe that we lost the ability to communicate with God directly when the churches put in a go-between for communication. These angels give us permission to use God’s name, which is Yahweh, in meditating with God to connect at a deeper level and on an evolutionary plane. Yahweh is the name referred to in the Lord’s Prayer. It is the name in the Judeo-Christian tradition that is said to be so sacred that it is never to be uttered aloud.

If you dwell on this name in your mind over and over, day after day, month after month, all good things will come to you. Do not use the name in an empty, mechanical manner. Repeat the name silently within. Saying the name over and over helps you to overcome that inner chatter.

Here’s how it’s done:

1) As you say the name your thoughts should gradually slow and lengthen. Repeat each syllable rather slowly. Saying each syllable in about a second and then lengthening it to 3-4 seconds with a little rest between syllables. It will feel good when you hit the correct cadence for you.

2) To further enhance the technique, breath in on the “Yah’ and exhale on the “Vay.” Your breath should be smooth, peaceful and in a leisurely fashion.

3) When you get that part down, add in the heartbeat. Visualize and feel the sounds, along with your breath, flowing in and out of your heart.

The Angel’s say that this mediation will fix everything in your life and put it back into balance. You start developing in ways you never thought possible and at an astonishingly rate–with less pain.

Yes. This sounds like the meditation for me.

Dr. Denice Moffat is a practicing naturopath, medical intuitive, and veterinarian working on the family unit (which includes humans and animals) through her phone consultation practice established in 1993. She has a content-rich website at http://www.NaturalHealthTechniques.com and free monthly newsletter.

How Meditation Can Change Your Life in 2006

Are you stressed out? Do you worry about your physical health? Your mental health? Your spiritual health? Do you wish you had less stress and anxiety in your life and more peace and harmony?

Well, I felt all of these things a few years ago and I thought I was going to go crazy or die. I was working 10-12 hours a day, 6 days a week at a very stressful job. I had a wife and two kids at home who wanted, and deserved, my time and attention. I had a mortgage, two car notes, tuition, medical bills, overdue taxes, and credit card debt coming out of my ears!

I was running nonstop through my days trying to take care of everything and make everybody happy but I never had enough time to take care of myself. In bed at night, my heart would pound from stress and anxiety. I worried about my job, my marriage, the kids, the bills, the house, my heath, and even my sanity.

My health was of particular concern. I felt tired all the time. I was gaining weight. My back was always hurting. Climbing even one flight of stairs left me breathless and dizzy. I felt like I was falling apart physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I was really worried about myself but I didn’t know what to do. I tried the gym, several fad diets, home exercise machines, and even time management programs. I had about the same results with each new thing I tried. They all seemed to help at first, but I just couldn’t stick with any of them for very long. I now realize that they didn’t work because they were all short term fixes to a long term problem. I had to change my life.

I knew I had a lot to learn, but I couldn’t afford to buy a bunch of books and everything at the library seemed to be outdated. So I made a habit of stopping at the local Barns and Noble on the way home from work each day. I read everything I could find on stress, anxiety, health, diet, and self-improvement. I felt like a cheat just sitting there reading the books without buying them but nobody seemed to mind. I usually bought a cup of coffee or tea just to ease my conscience a little.

I read a lot of great books with wonderful insights on improving one’s life. Not surprisingly, one subject came up over and over; meditation. I had tried to meditate several years earlier but had gotten frustrated and quit before really giving it a chance. But, I was desperate and determined to try anything that might help.

One book in particular said, “Start right now!” I was too embarrassed to sit in the book store and meditate, but I didn’t want to waste another moment. So I went out to my car, adjusted the seat into a comfortable position, set my watch alarm for 30 minutes, then closed my eyes and started counting my breaths.

That turned out to be a defining moment in my life. Of course, I didn’t have instant success. Mediation takes practice and can be very difficult at times. But making the decision to incorporate meditation into my everyday life changed everything for me.

I continued to stop at the book store each night for a while and split my time between reading and meditating. Nothing else had changed in my life. I still had a stressful job, my marriage, my kids, my house, and bills but, somehow, I was feeling betterless stressedeven more energetic!

No, it didn’t magically solve all of the woes in my life. But once I started feeling more relaxed and less stressed, I was better able to focus on the other things I needed to do to become mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy.

I soon started a daily meditation practice at home. I also began a reasonable exercise plan that included walking, a light workout, and yoga. These things combined with eating right (most of the time), have literally changed my life. I’m now happier, healthier, and at peace with the world around me.

I hope this story inspires some of you to take that first step and begin incorporating meditation into your own life. This is the perfect time to make the decision. What better New Years resolution than to change your life for the better? There are numerous meditation methods and practices out there and a myriad of resources available to you in book stores and on the web. I’m sure you can find something that works for you.

In fact, I’ve compiled a host of information on mediation, relaxation, yoga, and other related subjects at my website: www.imcalmer.com. I would also be very happy to share my own experience. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at mikes@imcalmer.com if you have any questions or comments.

In peace,

Mike Suzuki

Mike Suzuki is freelance writer and software developer who is dedicated to promoting calm, relaxation, and peace. To support this cause, he has developed the ImCalmer(tm) Personal Mediation Timer, the www.imcalmer.com website, and a new eBay store called Im-Calmer-Products. You can reach Mike for questions or comments at mikes@imcalmer.com.

An Algorithm to Remove “Hurt” from Pain

The behavior of pain was enigmatic. Its responses were strange. It was only a pin prick, but the surrounding skin reddened and the child cried out in pain. Yet, the caress of a gentle finger around the injury subdued that pain. A person suffering from the agony of chronic pain reported no pain at all, while focused on painting a canvas. Again, hypnosis caused a patient to report that his pain did not hurt. How could just a touch, or a change in the focus of attention reduce or remove pain? How could there be a pain, which did not hurt? Could such phenomena be explained as clear algorithmic behaviors of the brain? Could such knowledge be used to subdue the distress of pain?

An algorithm was a repetitive procedure, which yielded a trusted result. Recently, a new view of the mind suggested that it was an algorithm, which enabled the mind to race, like a lightning streak, through neural regions. It saw, recognized, interpreted and acted. In the blink of eye. From input to output, it took just 20 milliseconds. Myriad processes converted light, sound, touch and smell instantly into your nerve impulses. A special region recognized those impulses as objects and events. Another region, the limbic system, interpreted those events to generate emotions. A fourth region responded to those emotions with actions. The mind perceived, identified, evaluated and acted. So, the scream followed the injury, as swiftly as a flash of lightning. All of this was powered by intuition, a pattern recognition algorithm.

The algorithmic view received support recently, when science discovered that animals instantly differentiated between millions of smells through combinatorial coding. That discovery won a Nobel Prize in 2004. If a nerve cell had dendritic inputs, identified as A, B, C and so on to Z, it could then fire, when it received inputs at ABC and DEF. The cell could be inhibited for XYZ. It only recognized some combinations. ABC and DEF. A recognition algorithm. This new view of the mind suggested that such combinatorial coding enabled all regions of the mind to respond instantly and logically to incoming information. Such pattern recognition was intuition.

Even with pain, the mind perceived, recognized, interpreted and acted. The brain perceived tissue injuries through nociceptors. A neuron, which carried this pain message had many incoming dendrites. These branches informed it of neighborhood pain, touch, tension and much more. The neuron received a kaleidoscopic combination of inputs. If the neuron responded to combinatorial coding, it could fire for neighborhood pain to report sympathetic pain. Sympathetic responses by neighboring pain reporting neurons could increase the child’s sensation of the pain of a pinprick. The neuron could become inhibited when it received a touch message. The combinatorial coding algorithm could explain how the child’s pain reduced, when its parent caressed the regions surrounding the injury.

Similarly, the response to an emotion was an algorithmic action. If fear was generated, a deer bounded away. A bird took flight. A fish swam off. But, such escape was hardly possible by heading into the predator. An algorithmic intelligence remembered, evaluated and instantly chose the best of multiple escape routes to increase distance from danger. That region responded to pain, with a massive search for escape routes to avoid the pain. While nociceptors selectively reported pain, the action region generated a powerful drive to escape from it. That algorithmic drive was the “hurt” part of pain. Hypnosis was known to still that drive. A similar result was reported for an older surgical procedure, which cut the neural link between the perception of pain and the dynamic response to it. Both treatments had patients reporting the disappearance of “hurt.”

Pain was an awful affliction. Chronic pain sufferers had to endure it over extended periods. Physicians recommended the acceptance of pain as a solution. They suggested that a patient’s attitude was also critical to the treatment of pain. But, “acceptance” and “attitude” were difficult concepts. How could one accept continuing pain? How could a subconscious attitude ever be changed? This was where an appreciation of independent algorithmic processes of the mind helped. Practical steps could yield a trusted result. Remove the “hurt” part, the distress, of pain. Learning “acceptance” was a worthy endeavor.

The mind had the unique ability to see itself. Across centuries, sages looked inward and recognized their own feelings and thoughts. In the same way, it was also possible to identify your own drives. The key was awareness. And, the insight that identification was possible. The vital secret of the atomic bomb was just that it was possible. The drive to escape pain was a unique entity. Its operation had recognizable symptoms. By consciously identifying its physical symptoms, a patient could learn to identify it as a distinct mental event. Identify the tensions of the urge to escape, of the impatience, of the desperation. When the urge was recognized, it vanished. Later, this drive became a familiar entity, which vanished, on recognition. Recognition and practice stilled the “hurt” drive. The pain was there, but it did not hurt anymore. Which went on to prove that even “acceptance” could also be an algorithmic process.

Abraham Thomas is the author of The Intuitive Algorithm, a book, which suggests that intuition is a pattern recognition algorithm. This leads to an understanding of the powerful forces that control your mind. The ebook version is available at http://www.intuition.co.in. The book may be purchased only in India. The website, provides a free movie and a walk through to explain the ideas.

From The Ashes

The man plopped down on his chair, defeated.

His father’s maxims bit his ears and nagged him like tired Christmas jingles.

“No pain, no gain. No guts, no glory. No risk no reward. Gotta’ pay to play. You never know until you try.”

On and on.

He sat, dazed, in a semi-trance, half-comatose, half numb, with tinges of remorse and disappointment punctuated by an occasional anxiety spike.

He couldn’t believe Dad had been gone almost five years.

It seemed like yesterday that they would gather on the back porch to celebrate the victories, cry over the defeats and laugh about both.

Dad always delivered the perfect line, the stern encouragement, the voice of wisdom that transcended the man’s annoyance over the unflappable demeanor that smiled regardless, win or lose, rain or shine, day or night.

“I’ll have to face this one alone,” he thought, smitten with a mix of terror and sadness.

As if he knew how.

A familiar paralysis crept over him like a slow-moving shadow, unobserved, adding darkness in tiny, imperceptible stages until it blocked all light, held him bound to his history, prisoner of his doubt.

His eyes drooped, his hands fell limp, his neck crooned forward, listless and heavy.

“YOU’RE JUST AFRAID,” the voice bellowed in his head. “IT’S NOT REAL,” it continued, “never is, never was. You know better.”

Startled awake, the man let his suppressed smile come through.

“Yeah, Dad,” he reflected, “I remember. Nothing to fear but the fear itself. Easy to say, not so easy to doespecially after having your butt handed to you on a platteragain.”

Still, the grin lingered, chased out some of the cobwebs.

“Funny how fear works,” the man mused, drawing on memories. “Freezes us into inaction, negates powerful lessons, shuts down our creative juice.”

All these and more, he had bantered at length on the porch over …unsweetened ice tea and fat, salted Heinz pretzels in a big brown box.

He wished he had one now.

“Failures come and gopart of life,” Dad preached. “Same as triumphs. Not the failure that sets you back, son, only the fear of failure.”

The man struggled to apply the notion to today, beaten once more, beaten and tired, a space where the desire to quit and pack it in held court in full regalia, so many jesters and wannabes heckling their own loserisms, taunts and jeers.

“Told you soshould have listenedbail while you still canget a real jobnyah, nyah, nyah, nyah…”

“Only the FEAR of failure…”

Dad’s mandate.

“That’s all it is.” The man wrestled in his mind. “I have failed many times and so what. I might succeed on the next one. Failure’s not so bad, unless it traps me into never starting over.”

The man looked around the room, as if to conjure the image of his father, an involuntary shudder rippling down his spine.

“I know, I know,” he spoke out loud. “Sometimes it just takes me a minute.”

He pushed himself erect, picked up his chin and settled his gaze on the picture on the mantelpiece.

“I know,” he repeated. “I know.”

That’s A View From The Ridge…

About The Author

Author Ridgely Goldsborough invites you to subscribe to The Daily Column, a heart-felt collection of stories that inspire hope and courage. Please do so at www.aviewfromtheridge.com.

ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com