In whatever goal you desire, you need to make sure you understand how to use the tools š necessary to bring about the change you seek. One of the places I āwithdraw ā to ā¦ one of my top 5 āsoulā places. A place where I INFUSE myself with the āessence of life ā – VITALITY.
If youāre an Artist, you may feel the same way, too. Maybe, you donāt think of yourself as an artist šØāšØ but you feel the same way too.
I believe every individual is an Artist, within. We ALL have the ability to CREATE.
Without taking periods of withdrawal, I can feel vexed, angry and out of sorts. If I donāt take this ātime outā ā¦ I can become sullen, depressed.. even hostile and anti-social.
I believe ALL artists NEED to have ādown-timeā. And what is that?
Itās time To DO NOTHING. Yes, do NOTHING!Adopting and defending the RIGHT to DO JUST THAT – NOTHING. Doing nothing is NOT Trivial matter.
Itās not easy to do because everyone around you ā¦ the rest of the world is on a ābusyā paradigm.
Do you dance?
Do you sing?
Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon-light?
Sense of SELF.
To love and live this VALUE, it takes COURAGE, CONVICTION and a good dose of RESILIENCE. A lot of times, this time, space & quietā¦ strikes family and friends as WITHDRAWAL ā¦ from them.
It IS.
This could fall into the categories of being an āassholeā
So be it.
I believe everyone is so concerned with being VIRTUOUSā¦. ALL caught up in the VIRTUE TRAP.
Sometimes, this is ESSENTIAL to being your BEST. Producing your BEST work. There are powerful pay-offs to be found in staying stuck ā¦ and deferring nurturing your SENSE OF SELF.
Sometimes.
Like you, I strive to be good, to be nice, to be helpful, to be unselfish. Like most people, I want to be generous, of service, of the world.
But hereās the thing: sometimesā¦ what I REALLY WANT is to be LEFT ALONE.
And I am very blessed
Because almost all the time,
Those that I find most valuable, GIVE me that. They understand. Itās important for me ā¦ it allows me to re-chargeā¦ to re-energise ā¦ to re-calibrateā¦. To Re-thinkā¦. To Think more effectively.
Hiding away. Withdrawal from others isnāt a bad thing. It does not make you less virtuous. It does not make you bad. What it does do is ā¦ re-energiseā¦ re-vitalise ā¦ re-charge YOU, so that you give the BEST of YOU to those that need you.
It was more of an invite, not a requirement. Jesus, gave his disciples a choice ā¦ he gave them the freedom to decide for themselves.
He gave them the option to say ānoā
In other words, he allowed them to keep their dignity. He gave them respect. As you know, the ānoā Answer is perhaps the greatest expression of self respect ā¦ the greatest expression of dignity possible.
So ā¦ as a Christianā¦ as a believer, like I am, let me ask you some questions :
ā do you follow him?
ā are you going to follow him?
ā Why / why not?
If Beauty is balance & symmetry. If Beauty is truth. Then, it follows that truth is balance & symmetry. To be balanced & Symmetrical is to be God-like.
Ask, Seek & Knock.
Many individuals do not like to ask questions. One reason is that they donāt want to depend on someone else. To ask, makes them feel a sense of humiliation.
Personally, Iāve been asking questions since I was a toddler, some of which certainly makes me look like a fool. My insatiable CURIOSITY gets the better of me all the time as I donāt really ask questions for answers but for better understanding.
Hereās the thing, To ask, you may run the risk of indicating:
ā You donāt know.
ā You ran out.
ā You donāt understand.
ā Youāre not prepared.
ā You need more information.
ā You came up short.
ā You canāt find it.
ā You failed.
ā Youāre not sure.
As Christians, we should never be afraid or shamed of asking ā¦ of asking questions. Not asking questions, undermines our need for God.
Jesus says we should ask ā¦ we should knock ā¦ we should seek. And why?
Because asking puts us back in alignment with God. It assumes a ātwo-way relationship āā¦ a NEED-Relationship with him. You could say a āhand-to-mouthā spiritual existence.
We live in modern Societies that tries to satisfy every desire ā¦ with instant gratification. Over time, this constant rush to fill every felt need of the individual ā¦ rips ā¦ steals the soul of a person.
We eventually get our soul back but ā¦ at a price.
āAnd what is this price?ā You may ask
I will answer that question with a question: What do you think is the āpriceā you pay ā¦ for losing your soul?
Balance & symmetry brings you closer to harmony … to beauty …closer to infinity. Just like mathematics does
Can you live without knowing the answers to questions? Many are simply not willing to live with questions.
To have questions, brings down your aura. It leaves us feeling vulnerable, weak, even needy.
Questions open up holes to others where they may not have perceived to beā¦ it raises doubts with regards to our theology or our lifestyle.
If youāre anything like me, you have many questions about life and living. You have questions for God and seek answers from him.
Sometimes God answers us with questions . Sometimes, we get questions from God. questions that may leave us humbled, awed, speechless, weak and believing.
Believing, not because weāve Found the answer but because weāve seen God.
I have more questions now than when I started. Iām sure you do, too. That does not matter ā¦ that is not the important point.
What matters ā¦ is that you, meā¦ we ā¦ christians ā¦ SEE GOD.
It is only when we allow ourselves to SEE GOD that we discover the TRUEST ANSWER to ALL our questions.
And do you know what the truest answer is?
Well, It is to ā¦ WORSHIP HIM.
We must ALL follow him. We must ALL follow the man who said the greatest Leadership statement ever made –
āCome.. follow me.ā
I know I AM. Whoās with me?
May God continue to shower his blessings down on you
Until next time,
Christians believe in Jesus Christ, their saviour.
Do you believe in him?
DO you believe in God?
No one can play āyouā better than – YOU. Be, You.
Reactionary.
All human behaviour is fundamentally, REACTIONARY.
We are ALWAYS Reacting to something or someone. Many businesses thrive on this Reaction and the predictive futures of this reaction.
We stop reacting when we are dead. Have you observed people who have āstoppedā. Theyāre like walking zombies ā¦ they effectively live like they were dead!
Not healthy. Not recommended.
So, I believe ALL human thinking is, in a way, reactionary.
And we, as individuals, as communities, as nations ā¦ have to react to accepted ideas propagated by those who control communication platforms.
A yellow door maybe? Perhaps you like the colour yellow.
What is your colour blind?
Progress.
Hereās one accepted idea: PROGRESS.
What does that mean?
You hear it regularly thrown about by large corporations as they exploit the resources of developing and poorer nations. As they force archaic working policies on our fellow civil citizens. And their request: that we just stand by idly and accept.
Without a voice. Without a reaction.
Progress in technology ā¦ progress in pollutionā¦ progress in pornography ā¦ progress in freedom of speechā¦ progress in behaviour ā¦ and so forthā¦ are not All that good.
Well, because the HUMAN NATURE does not change. The term āprogressā is a human invention. There is no evolution in the human character and ā¦ in the human mind. Human Relationships still take time to form.
Does that mean that you need to stop the change?
No.
Change, in itself, is not necessarily good. Just like stability. Change can be good or bad, just like stability can be good or bad.
Everything in our lives ā¦ our human life ā¦ every problem is a question of Quality and not quantity.
And yet, the progress has technology and importance of numbers and logic is of paramount importance. This is a very distorted approach to viewing progress as it primarily uses a very deductive and logical framework. At the expense of intuition, of matters of the heart. Of feelings.
All for the sake of Progress.
As part of a healthy inclusive discussion, we should be encouraged to listen to all sides of anything or anyone claiming that something should be adopted.
The pros and cons of the idea or creation or technology should be debated and āthrashed outā before it is implemented.
This should be a normal part of any healthy discussion.
Letās look at one example:
Where is your “Hulk?” The Hulk is very reactionary and he expresses his ANGER in a very destructive way.
Positive anger is also termed āConstructive anger,” Also known as passion.
People with passion is reverred.
Throughout historyā¦
Passion has overthrown tyrants and freed prisoners and slaves.
Passion has brought justice where there was injustice.
Passion has brought kindness & care where there was savagery.
Passion has created freedom where there was nothing but fear.
Passion has helped souls rise from the ashes of their horrible lives and build something better, stronger, more beautiful.
Passion is that fire š„ that grows into lasting
Hope and faith that there will be a
ā¦ better tomorrow.
Soā¦ it is what we choose to do with that inner fire š„ is what matters
And ā¦
We should not be afraid to express it ā¦
So as to react to and question all ideas that sprouts āprogress ā as their mantra.
Not everything that says is contributing to āprogressā is necessarily good for you.
We should all be wary about just accepting all the benefits espoused by new technology and not sitting down to discuss the limitations or risks in the short & long-term.
I AM.
I an Entrepreneur of IMAGINATION.
Through Mastery of Self, I am able to be an Agent of Creative Destruction to allow the release of new ideas … new thinking … and a new Meaning.
Meaning is the NEW MONEY.
Coaching conversations..
Over the years I have listened to many individuals. Listened to their stories.
Over the years I think I have had in excess of twenty thousand conversations with people of all ages. From teens to ninety-year olds.
Over the years I have had many coaching conversations. In these coaching conversations, I have helped increase individuals awareness of how their perception of events in their lives either propel them forward or hold them back.
I have listened to others and the way in which the stories they tell ourselves have the power to hold us back or propel us forward.
As an example ā¦
The bottom line is that I wouldnāt be the person I am today if my hearing hadnāt been terrible when I was young. Neither would you.
This is why taking the time to properly frame our narratives and the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves can be so critical.
Keep your dreams alive .
Snd if youāre going to dream … Dream BIG.
You serve no one by being and thinking small.
Think BIG!
Re-frame in away to move forward ..
Self-pity for being dealt a bad hand is easy.
Self-awareness is what brings with it empowerment and insight.
This, important first step is sometimes hard.
The first turns your past into an anchor, while the second turns it into the wind that fills your sails and keeps you moving forward.
Is there some piece of your story, personal or professional, that youāve been able to reframe in a way that moves you forward, instead of holding you back?
Wonderful question for all to ponder. Iām one of the most self-aware person you will ever meet, but that is nothing new to me as I have been this way since I was a kid (from the adults who knew me in my youth).
Everything happens for a reason. Success is not an accident. It is based on the Aristotelian Principle of CAUSALITY. Today, we call it – āthe Law of CAUSE & EFFECT.ā
Cowboy š¤ House.
Hereās one Iād like to share – I was raised by my grandparents as my biological Dad died when I was 4 years old, trying to save a person from downing ā¦ and was overpowered by the victim and drowning with that person). My biological mother was only 16 and had a choice to have an abortion but I thank her and God that she didnāt.
Her decision to give me life has allowed me to not only live but to do what I do – predominantly, helped people, help themselves building their bridges from where they are to where they desire to be over the last 3 decades.
Anyways, I grew up in a large extended family – grandparents, grand uncles and aunties, uncles, aunties, cousins and siblings and ā¦ visitors and extended family visiting.
My home was always full and was always noisy. Our neighbours used to call our home – the āCowboy Houseā.
We didnāt have much of anything – food (there were no less than 10 people to feed every single day ā¦ and I do not know how my grandparents managed to do this), didnāt have much material possessions (my grandmother used to sew my school uniforms) ā¦ but the home certainly had a lot of love.
There was a lot of storytelling and sitting around talking almost every night. It was just part of the home ā¦ part of the culture.
Because there was so much noise, most kids would not be able to concentrate/focus. But, I told myself way back in early Primary School that I will teach myself to study/do school work/read in ā¦ noise.
My teachers couldnāt understand how a kid (me) could get Top Academic Results every year.
Most kids/people need peace and quiet to FOCUS, so we are told. āHow does Paul do it?ā I would over hear some teachers say. In my adult life, I have continued to learn/read/focus in any environment, no matter how noisy or ridiculous is.
The only photo I have as a baby with my biological mum. One of my 3 Mums in my life.
Focus on what you can control
I remember my grandfather telling me many things (he was a very wise man) ā¦ saying something to the effect –
āPaul, focus on what you can control ā¦ and do the best with what youāve got ā¦ donāt be part of the problem, always be part of the solutionā.
Iāve always applied that in my life, not focusing on insufficient resources and constraints .,. But on HOW I can do better with what I have. That philosophy along with many others, has helped me create the life Iāve always imagined and realise short-term and long-term goals.
Growing up in an family environment that had very limited resources (except for love ā¦ the home was always infused with LOVE), has allowed me to almost always have an overall attitude of personal optimism and enthusiasm.
I completely understand the psychosomatic relationship – psyche and soma – mind and body ā¦ better than most (hence sculpting a Physique worthy of representing Australia at 2 x World Natural Physique Championships and placing in the Top 5 in consecutive years).
I am fully aware of how the body is the physical manifestation of the mind or in other words, the body expresses what the mind is concerned with. Iām a strong believer that life is many things ā¦ and one of which is that life is a self-fulfilling prophecyā¦. That you usually get what you expect.
My ātoughā upbringing has allowed me to develop a healthy self-expectancy and eliminated all forms of excuse from my vocabulary as ā¦ I expect to win, almost all the time. I have no doubt the so-called āluckā is the intersection of preparation and awareness.
Leadership ability begins in the home … children learn character building in the home
Be the best character you can be … for YOU, first .. and then for your kids
my two children a number of years ago
Life ā¦ a very real game but not a gamble.
I look at life as a very real game .. but not a gamble.
Part of what I have done over the last 3 decades is help people, help themselves build their bridges. I have learned and taught many things. It seems that every individual tends to receive what he or she expects in the long run.
From my experience and deducing from other peopleās experiences in my life so far ā¦ it would appear that you may or may not get what is coming to you, or you may or may not get what you deserve – BUT YOU WILL nearly always get what you expect.
As someone who has mastered the art of body re-engineering (building muscle and reducing body fat to < 4%), believe me when I say, there is an intricately close connection between your mind and body ā¦ a negative thought can cause your ālookā (that you get judged on) to go from excellent (Top 5 and finalist) to awful.
Iāve learned and mastered much of the āmind-body-heart-soulā interface connections and one important one is this – mental obsessions have physical manifestations. Basically, you BECOME WHAT YOU FEAR – you get what you expect – you are that which you expect to be!
Hereās the thing – since all individuals are responsible for their own actions and cause their own effects, optimism then, is a choice.
Choose well, my adult friends.
Balance & symmetry brings you closer to harmony … to beauty …closer to infinity. Just like mathematics does
Optimism, Enthusiasm, Faith & Hope.
What is needed is : continual fueling of – OPTIMISM, ENTHUSIASM, FAITH & HOPE.
Each is a synonym for – having a HEALTHY SELF-EXPECTANCY.
So, my question to you (if youāve made it this far) is –
1. Do you have a healthy self-expectancy about things in your life?
2. Do you expect the best for you – in life and as a way of life?
3. Do you look at problems/constraints as opportunities?
With regards to question 3 above, try this little exercise and let me know your answers –
Make a list of your KEY problems/constraints –
> the ones that block your professional and personal fulfillment.
> Next, write a one-or-two sentence definition of each problem/constraint.
Now, rewrite the definition, only this time view it as an opportunity or exercise to challenge your creativity and ingenuity (some refer to it as āre-framingā).
Hereās a tip: view the solution as you would if you were advising one of your best friends.
So, where does your thoughts stand in relation to your Self-Expectancy now?
Write in and tell me all about it.
Thank you
Yours in care, compassion & trust,
Paul
A fridge magnet š§² I bought almost 20 years ago.
Practise this.
Why has society demonised anger? Why is it that we (especially Men) cannot and not encouraged to āget angry?ā This is hammered into men right from when we are toddlers. Why? Why have we only focused on the destructive results of anger?
It is just as much a valid emotion as being happy, sad, excited, joyful etc.
Yes, thatās right, he has been a great friend. Not a lovey-dovey friend, not a particularly nice friend, far from being a gentle friend. No, anger ā¦ is a very, veery very LOYAL friend.
Anger has always been there with and FOR āmeā. Anger loyalty reminds me with ease when i have betrayed myself enough. It is there to stop anyone or anything from taking advantage of me, beyond what is reasonable.
āReasonable ā here would refer to my imaginary boundaries/tolerance limits of certain suffering.
To me, Anger is fuel. This is a KEY aspect of the power of a loyal friend.
Anger,
I love this quote. Increasing your awareness is parameters to having clarity and success in your life.
SEARCH. Become the BEST ‘searcher’ you can be.
One day .. you may find ALL the answers you’re seeking for YOUR questions to give ‘meaning’ to your life.
A wonderful book says –
“Seek and ye shall find;
Ask and ye shall receive.”
True.
This friend loves me.
This friend LOVES ME.
And, I have come to love this friend, all the way back to consciously recognising him when I was about 9 years old.
Yes, it is a form of powerā¦ a powerful energy. When we feel it, we almost always want yo do something about it – hit someone, throw something, break or smash something, punch a wall or spew out profanities to the person.
Why do we do everything to it ā¦ except LISTEN to it. I mean, we are taught to ā¦ deny it, bury it, hide it, lie about it, medicate it, ignore it or simply muffle it.
Why donāt we just allow ourselves to feel and express it just like we do with other feelings?
Anger not only summons courage, but it points the finger and shows the wayā¦ an alternative way. To me, anger is a sign of health ā¦ good šitality.
Unlike what most of modern societies espouse, I believe anger is a good thing. It means youāre alive. Anger is part of our inner voice ā¦ it is meant to be listened to.
Not ignored.
As fuel, we can embrace the energy of anger to turbo-boost our actions to where our anger points us. Hereās the catch that many struggle with – anger is meant to be ACTED UPON, not ACTED OUT.
Highly likely if youāre one of these, youāll certainly have a healthy relationship with your friend – Anger.
It awakens me.
Re-read that last sentence again. Let it sink in.
Every time I get angry, it reminds me that I am being courageous and expressing something that is pushing me towards my perceived boundaries. Should I tolerate it, extend the boundaries or ā¦ resist.
It AWAKENS me.
It is a a tsunami o that annihilates and with that destruction, signals that death š of our old life. Anger is the springboard that springs you into your new life.
To me, anger is envigorating. It helps INFUSE me with the āessence of lifeā – šitality!
It is a tool, and like all tools, when used in the appropriate manner, allows you to CREATE something with it. It is not something to MASTER. Anger, instead should be something used as a resource .. to be tapped in to and drawn upon.
For example, I have used my loyal gym training partner & friend – āAngerā to accomplish record-breaking lifts & intensity in my workouts . He has always been there. He helps me āclimb mountainsā and achieve small goals in the gym. As a tool, I TRANSMUTE my loyal friend, Anger into the various mediums of Art that I express my love through.
Anger, my loyal friend, has also been the wind under my wings when I need to summon courage to fly.
I cannot live with my loyal friend.
I need him.
Every single day.
Anger, I pray š that you visit me again. Soon. I need you to fill up my senses. As John Denver sings in his song āAnnieā –
ā
You fill up my senses,
Like a night in a forest;
Like mountains in springtime,
Like a walk in the rain;
You fill up my sensors,
Come fill me again;
Come let me love you,
Let me give my love to you;
Let me drown in your laughter,
Let me die in your arms;
Let me lay down beside you,
Let me always be with you;ā
And you should, too.
Embrace your Anger. Make him your friend.
Dance with him. Get to know him again, if you have to.
Let him point and ā¦ show you THE WAY.
Thank you
Until next time,
P.
Maybe all the answers to your questions lie within YOU.
Your mind, your consciousness.
Maybe, it is not about seeking answers but simply asking more questions. Maybe questions are asked simply for discussion and debate … to help fuel our capacity to RE-IMAGINE … a better future.
A future that is NOT based on the doors of the past…/ future based on alternate possibilities of the future.
A Future based on the future, not past.
He died when I was 19. Six years after his wife, my grandmother died.
I spent a big part of early childhood with my grandfather. He didnāt say much but he had many little ācoaching conversationsā when appropriate (I later realised what he was doing after he died in my late teens).
At University (almost 30 years ago now whilst doing my second degree in Accounting/Business Management ), I read a book by the author Ken Blanchard called āthe one minute managerā. I realised then, that the management style my grandfather was using in relation to raising me and the family household, was the same as what the author was espousing in the book.
I cry. I cry for my Dad. I cry inside. I cry for many things. I cry ā¦ invisible tears. Tears that would fill multiple Olympic-sizes swimming pools. I cry for all those suffering from injustices in this world š. I cry out for justice. From God.
A Manās Man.
The best manager I have ever worked for was the CEO/Managing Partner of a Top 20 Accounting & Business Advisory. I was there for about 3 years and was some of the BEST years working as an āemployee ā.
This man, was a Manās Man … a Clint Eastwood demeanour with a Tom Hanks (heart .. when appropriate). His physical presence was intimidating. He was a former Australian ranked boxer and his reputation for results preceded him.
Everyone was scared shitless of him. They trembled in their seats when they heard him coming down the passages and everyone avoided him.
Accept me.
I found him fascinating and I loved him and his management style. I thought about why (after I left) and it was because he reminded me of my grandfather.
I didnāt buy into the fear and the water-cooler stories about him that became part of the Firmās Legendary stories. So, I decided to āget to know himā.
Beauty & Ugliness entwined. there is no beauty without the ugly. there is no right, without the wrong. There is no particle without the wave. There is no logic without the insane. There is no ying, without the yang. Learn to embrace BOTH SIDES OF YOU ā¦& seek BALANCE & SYMMETRY. Through & with GOD.
No need for Sir, call me Bob ā¦
As he walked by the cubicles in the morning, I would yell out – āGood morning Mr E…!ā The other staff couldnāt believe it… I actually spoke out snd greeted him.
The first time … I would hear his footsteps pause and … then continue. The following morning, I did the same. He did the same.
On the third day .. he stopped and then said –
āWho is that?ā
I stood up from my cubicle and replied –
āPaul ā¤ļøalentine, sir!ā
He laughed and said –
āNo need for Sir, call me Bob... snd a good morning to you, too.ā
From then on, each time he walked passed by Cubicle, he would call out my name and we would end up having chats. Matter of fact, he preferred me to handle many of his clients and over time, we would become very good friends.
It got to stage where, he would only allow me to interrupt him in any meeting he was in. No one else in the Firm could do that. There was a level of TRUST that he had in me that no one else got.
When he had to āSign offā on Reports and Files … he would go through othersā files with a fine-tuned comb, asking many questions. With mine, he just wanted me to give him the āgistā or executive summary (usually one page of the Risks and my personal assessment)
He would always ask me one question –
āAre you happy with me signing Paul?ā
I would say yes or no.
He would act accordingly.
Who are āYOU?ā
Learn to love ā¤ļø YOU, first.
The One-Minute Manager.
The āone-minute managedā approach is to be very FIRM in your values & principles snd DO NOT compromise on INTEGRITY. EVER.
This is communicated EFFECTIVELY. There is no ambiguity. … ALWAYS communicated CONSISTENTLY, CLEARLY and CONCISELY.
Integrity is what most Good Leaders have. But, RE-INFORCED integrity is what GREAT Leaders have. They NEVER sacrifice their MORALS & ETHICS in ALL that they do & say and say they do.
That is the One-Minute Managerā¦. On Enthusiasm Turbo-Boost. That is what the world needs right now ā¦ more GREAT LEADERS in all KEY areas of life.
āWhat is your message ?ā I ask.
What is the message you leave to the world, when you ā¦ leave this world?
The one-minute manager approach primarily relates to the FEEDBACK being TIMELY and SPECIFIC. For example, when I fuck up with something on a client, I would hear his footsteps come towards my seat. I would feel his presence snd his hand rest on my shoulder (as I looked at my computer screen). I could sense his frustration snd he would say –
āPaul, you fucked up. Learn from it. Donāt do that againā
And then he was off. He was the first to reprimand me and āpull me in lineā as soon as the incident occurred.
The reverse is also true. When I did a great job and exceeded clients expectations, I would hear those same footsteps again …
His hand on my shoulder, looking in my eyes and saying –
āGreat job Paul, well done. Keep it up, son! Take the afternoon off!ā
My salary increases in 6-monthly reviews were in the top and I had one of the best corner cubicles in the Firm. Many other staff were jealous but … I learned that TRUST is one of the foundation stones of any relationship.
Iāve almost always adopted this Management style in almost all my dealings with people, as an employee, managing groups/teams .. and as an Employer, managing egos.
Do you trust – YOU?
Out of interest, what are your top 3 to these :
1. What 3 words describe your Vision for your business?
2. Do you believe in YOU? 3 strengths you have as a Leader?
3. Do you TRUST āyou?ā
4. Do have a need to be ālikedā by everyone? Do you have a need to be āagreeable ā with everyone?
Againā¦.
What is YOUR MESSAGE?
This is one of the KEYS to almost ALL successful communication to any audience: know your message.
With my gritty Viking Pirate š“āā ļø Intelligent, caring & compassionate daughter, Olivia. She has heard me say many stories ā¦ over and over again.
There is Powerš„ in Storytelling.
Iāve always loved storytelling.
I remember sitting with adults when I was a kid, Listening to their stories. They would say –
āPaul, why donāt you go and play with your cousins & friends outsideā
I would reply –
āNo, there will be time to play with them laterā
Iāve listened to hundreds of other peopleās stories when I owned & managed my Family Gym for 7 years.
I love š telling stories.
I believe there is power in storytelling.
My wife and kids. I Storytell until they get fed upā¦ then I know, they know.
It begins in the home.
It begins in the Homeā¦. Practising the art of Storytelling, that is.
Home is where the foundation of storytelling starts. I recall listening to my dad & his close friendās tell stories around the Kava bowl. In the home, I got a strong šŖ foundationā¦ Of a past that lends my existence a place, a sense of belonging, a historical context.
Home is where stories get passed on for generations. I have continued with this šalentine tradition. My two kids can retell the stories I tell .. because they have heard them countless times. And as my daughter says –
āDad, it keeps changing all the timeā
And I say –
āAaaahhhā¦ yes, my dear ā¦ that is where facts and imagination fuse in the optimum placeā
Home is where I was told that I am built like & physically intelligent like my grandfather, Ben Valentine. A powerful & skilful National heavyweight boxing champion, going undefeated for 3 years in his prime.
Home is where I heard stories of my quirkiness from early age & my creative & innovative nature in my early youth. I heard stories of my country of birth through the filter of my own genealogy.
Struggles, family migrations, family triumphs, as well as ancestral successes & failures were taught to me through the history of my šalentine Family.
In my Home now, it is a place where I build my own legacy: through my love š for history & storytelling, I have shared & will share more stories I was told in my youth with my children.
Always, adding my generationās story to this šalentine Novel in progress. Iāve always believed the REAL histories of families arenāt the records of births, deaths & marriages. No, to me ā¦
ā¦ they are the stories told after dinner, while having chocolate or dessert. So full and satisfied.
For i have learned many things so far, and one important one is the importance of LEGACY.
Legacy is fueled by USā¦ in our family. It is fueled by ME. And all this evolves from our historyā¦ our family stories passed down ā¦
I tell my kids that one day they will bear the šalentine torch š¦. They will continue to write their chapters if their lives through their storytelling.
Knowing that they have a very strong identity and they will continue to shine the torch š¦ and build on the legacy that they inheritedā¦
Through the strong foundation of the šalentine Family history through storytelling.
I am still the current Torch Bearer of the šalentine Family and I make a toast to all future Torch Bearers of my family and all families ā¦
Carry the Torch with pride & Live & Die with dignity.
For some, life can feel empty if they donāt find or grasp a higher callingā¦ a āpurposeā in life. These are the people who seek for answers in all kinds of places, some of which would be less than ideal.
Here is the thing about these types: They know they are looking for something, but they donāt really know what it is. Almost like a headless chook.
They have lost their zest for life ā¦ that essence of life, I call Vitality.
To me, purpose gives the Individual, hope ā¦ the strength to continue past obstacles and unexpected changes we face every day. In some views of life, hope is all we really have.
To find Purpose, I believe one has to find it WITHINā¦ but get inspiration, EXTERNALLY, from others.
Everyone looks to better themselves & strive to live a BETTER LIFE. Most think that to do this, they need to only acquire more VALUABLES.
Stop ā!
Change your viewpoint: life should not be about acquiring more Valuables, instead, should be about making yourself more VALUABLE. We are alive on this planet to primarily, GIVE or express ourselves through sharing, in some creative outlet.
Believe in love š. Give love. Receive love. Do all thoughts & actions with love.
For me, it is GOD.
Success, like happiness, cannot me pursued. Release all desires to achieve success as a self-promoting goal/target. This route, taken by many will not give you the opportunity to live a FULL LIFE. It wonāt bring you full success.
Success, true success, in any field, only comes through the pursuit of something greater than you ā¦ an idealā¦ a standard that allows you to surrender to a higher power.
Lifeās purpose does not require intense cognitive power. It is not something that you can THINK your way to discovering. Thinking leads to overthinking, which is what many in this left-brain dominated modern societies celebrate – should I try this? What if it turns to failure? Would this work? What if it does not bring income? and leads to non-action or procrastination.
From my experience, I can gracefully admit and share that there is NO āONE WAYā ā¦ THE WAY for me was not Found by simply looking for itā¦ but by DOING ITā¦ by LIVING what I LOVE TO DO.
We all have a light that helps us see as we journey through the paths we choose in life. My light is God. What is yours?
This Diamond called CLARITY.
Success, in life (& any pursuit in life) comes to those who face their fears and TRY NEW THINGSā¦ without being glued to the end result. What you get, then, is something that is a KEY foundation stone to your building of success: CLARITY.
If is only when you take on the role of the VIKING or PIRATE š“āā ļø in you, that you sail out to EXPLORE uncharted seas. It is through exploration that you discover this gem ā¦ this diamond called CLARITY.
Results come only with repeated ACTIONS, done with sufficiency and appropriateness. Wondering and dwelling on what to do and not actually ādoingā, pushes you even further away from reaching your ultimate purpose in life.
In finding my path, for example, I stopped watching tv many, many years ago. And as modes of communication increased, I taught myself to block more of these modes out. Just as I manage what I eat for my body for optimal physique conditions, I manage input into my brain.
Beginning with me, myself snd i snd the Holy Trinity within me : the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit. I did and tried everything – fine-line sketching, body sculpting, writing poetry, writing books, photography, blogging, podcasting & public speakingā¦
I even tried doing NOTHINGā¦. Snd appreciating the emptiness of nothingā¦. Ams trying to create SOMETHING FROM NOTHING.
I learned and discovered my TRUE PASSION and that is ā¦ speaking and sharing NUGGETS OF VITALITY.
There is now CLARITY, where confusion existed. There is PURPOSE where once was WONDERING and over-thinking.
The WAY to find your purpose is NO WAY. It all comes down to energy .. to that life source ā¦ to Vitality, the āessence of lifeā. The source for this brave discovery you intend to make is from the whispering of your heart.
You will experience more joy .. snd more inspiration when you listen to and follow the guidance of your heart. Hereās the challenge: you need to not only listen, but listen, WELL.
Energy is your fuel and you can find this energy to live ā¦ to live out your dream š“ with purpose and meaning. The next step is to explore creative and new ways of expressing and sharing this energy of creativity that comes from within.
My fridge magnet.
Have courage. Continue to fuel your courage … every single day of your life.
Embracing Passionate Living.
Iāve helped hundreds ā¦ no, thousands of individuals for close to 30 years now, many of these people the top of their fields ā¦ very successful in their own right.
But, I have noticed that sometimes, at the top of their success wave, some of these individuals acted and felt as if there was still something missing in their lives.
I heard many reasons why they felt that way. I strongly felt (for some of them), that they were feeling that way because they were trying to stay with the one thing they thought they were meant to be doing.
I felt that this way of thinking š¤ was a self-imposed ceiling ā¦ a self-limiting belief ā¦ that blocked their journey towards reaching their full potential.
I donāt just consider myself – an enthusiastic World-Class Problem Solver or a 2 x World Natural Physique Champion ā¦ I actually wear many hats and play many roles ā¦ so apart from being a husband of 20 + Years and father to two kids ā¦. I create.
I love creating through many mediums of expression: I actually create in multi-media, I sculpt, I design, I write (blogs & poetry & books), I coach, I conduct virtual talks & seminars, I design & create my podcast, I fine-line sketch, I educate and share ācoaching conversationsā, I dance & I do martial arts š„, and share NUGGETS OF VITALITY ā¦ but most of all ā¦
I continue to DREAM š“ā¦ and fuel my IMAGINATION. My goal is always to not only continue to imagine, but to IMAGINE, BETTER.
All of these constant daily activities brings me joy and helps express my PASSION FOR CREATING.
Hereās a little secret to living a BETTER LIFE: consider learning to and embracing PASSIONATE LIVING. Work towards doing what you truly enjoy doing and this, I believe, will guide your path towards finding Purpose.
Sometimes, you need to simply jump in and giving things a try. Sometimes, we just need to shoot before we take aim. Sometimes, picturing yourself after having āgiving it a goāāand thinking or saying our loud –
āJust DID IT!ā
Would bring you an amazing sense of satisfaction. It is the DOING and the courage required & summoned that is the way to overcome the feeling that you are missing out on life.
Not a nice feeling at all.
One of my Top Students to have not only achieved and exceed her initial goals but has gone on to share and guide others with the education she learned from me & my programs.
There are endless opportunities in life and is only limited by your imagination.
And through this discovery, through this courageous Viking/Pirate adventure, you will also realise that it is a JOURNEY TO LOVE š. It is this journey that is the process of becoming increased AWARENESS , to fully be AWARE of this flow of the essence of Life .. of this Vitality ā¦ this Energy from your heart.
Hereās my tip: BE MORE LIKE A VIKING and/or PIRATE š“āā ļø.
This energy ā¦ you wonāt see it ā¦ and it is not something that is tangible as what you can taste, smell, weigh ā¦
It is more something that you FEELā¦ that comes from within ā¦ something INTANGIBLE.
Be awake when that message comes.
All the very best in being more like a Pirate & Vikingā¦ as you sail and Captain your ship through the changing seas of life.
Cheers & ahoy!
The old capān Viking Pirate š“āā ļø muscled monk
Find the Vikingā¦ or Pirate in you. It is there, embrace it and ā¦ sail your ship towards your purpose.
Western Medicine saves lives. However, I donāt think you should dismiss alternative medicine . Intangible, immaterial treatments can have real physical benefits, especially, in the harnessing of the Power of the Mind. My Vitality Infusion Programs do just this: balancing the wholeness and interconnectedness of the mind-body-heart-spirit axis.
Is there anything we read, hear or see āthe truthā anymore? THere are so many lies propagated in the media in todayās world. There is one truth – if a lie is being told and repeated enough .. the lie will eventually be believed to be a truth.
What is the truth when it comes to the covid-19 virus? There are many questions that should be asked and no question should be left out and put in an āout-of-the-question ā basket. With so much information at our fingertips, and most contradicting one another, one of our biggest risks is is our inability to sieve through the bullshit to ā¦. Find the Truth.
I just donāt know what to believe anymore. One minute, one āexpertā says one thing ā¦ another minute, another expert says something else. Even the so-called experts and professional analysts cannot agree on the truth. They usually speak from their own self-interest and try to sell their āversion of the truthā.
What have we learned in the aftermath of this pandemic?
A question I ask is – why has the containment of this virus š¦ done already ā¦ like six months ago? Why has it taken so long?
Do you dance? Do you sing? Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon-light? Teach yourself to love, YOU, better.
What have we learned in the aftermath of this pandemic?
What has each individual country learned and what have we learned as human beings? One obvious thing is that the biggest threat to our existence is not something huge like a war or terrorist actsā¦ it is the very very small (viral or bacterial) that we should be more fearful of. We should be more scared of the INVISIBLES ā¦ of what we CANNOT SEE with our naked eyes than ā¦ what we CAN SEE.
If you look at probabilities, there is a high probability (greater than 90%) that the virus originated from the Wuhann Lab, in China. The likelihood that the virus originated from āa Labā is high. Then, it follows that, the likelihood that it originated from the Wuhann Lab is very high.
A question we should be asking is – was there a prior epidemic of this virus ā¦ that has allowed this current viral strain to be very effective in spreading? If it came from the Wuhann Lab, what were the protocols/internal controls used at the time? Why was this allowed to happen? On the other hand, if it wasnāt the Wuhann lab, we should be told that it wasnāt. If it was from nature, we deserve to be told. If it was from another lab, we need to know that , too. Why arenāt the governments giving us answers to these questions?
In other fields, say, in manufacturing, if a machine worker narrowly misses death when using a Machine or only loses a limb or his/her life, most businesses would do everything possible to NOT LET that happen again. In a factory setting, they would put up clear signs, get employees further training, counselling, boundaries indicated, protective gear and so forthā¦
And why? It was a ālucky break ā and control measures put in to mitigate the worst situation (losing a life) does not happen again in the future.
Why werenāt the voices that were raised in concern or this virus back in 2015 not listened to and taken seriously? What protocols were overlooked leading up to this pandemic? Why was the process off-shored to China? Did our current systems allow this? Who was responsible for this system at that time? Why hasnāt people brought to justice yet? Who is responsible for this pandemic? Governments collectively?
What say āU?ā
Is this going to be another case of INFLUENZA?
ā¦ and we will not find a cure and eliminate it but will just have to live with it.
Will it become part of our new ānormal ā like the influenza virus has become? Living with the FLU virus has been a huge cost to governments and nations. Imagine the cost of living with the Covid forever? The cost to peopleās well-being and the economy will be astronomicalā¦& possibly incalculable.
** Hereās the thing:the ABILITY to ELIMINATE the disease goes down the longer we delay to have EFFECTIVE RESPONSESā¦ to take control of its spread. It will be too late when large numbers of people catch this disease and their mutations and selections will result in adaptations that we just could not possibly manage.
Then weāve got a HUGE PROBLEM!!
Medicine has come a long way. Yes, it has. The pertinent question is ā¦ is this going to be another case of influenza? I feel it will be.
If you look back in history, you will find that hospitals were dangerous places in the 18th century. One eminent Victorian surgeon commented that –
āa patient laid on an operating table ā¦ is exposed to more chances of death than the English soldier on the field of Waterloo.ā
18th century medicine was not very effective. With all our advances in technology and medicine, can we say that 21st century medicine is āeffectiveā in itās management of covid?
In the 19th century, Mary Wortley Montagu went back home with the smallpox inoculation/vaccine from Turkey but had a difficult time finding Doctors who would share this with people, given many were not willing to destroy a significant stream of their revenue. Even if it was for the good of mankind. Doctors were looking out for their own self-interests.
After the French Revolution, patients with similar symptoms were grouped together in wards. Doctors started to recognise and treat illnesses as ENTITIES in themselves rather than regarding complaints as being inseparable from individuals.
Is this happening in todayās world? Are beds and access to medical treatment going to be a ābidding war?ā will the beds And medical professionals only be given to those with money as it was back in the 19th century?
Everything has a frequency, everything has a resonance. What is your resonance? What resonates with you?
Medicine ā¦ using vocabulary of the Military.
Also, in the late 19th century, medicine started using the vocabulary of the military, referring to diseases and germs similar in concept to enemy invasion.
Words like breakthroughs, defeats, and destruction and āletās fight thisā. Nowadays, they use phrases like āweāre in this togetherā. Like many other scientific metaphors used in the past, these images operated both ways:
Reflecting how illness was conceived
Affecting how foreigners should be treated
Back then, wealthy nations tried to defend themselves against infectious immigrants just as bodies had to be protected against viruses or microbes. This analogy was used. Question is – is it still being used today?
You see, diseases had usually been blamed on foreigners and this case of covid is no different. It also provides new grounds for rationally explaining old fears.
And what are these āold fears?ā
Prejudices against race and cleanliness could now be given a āscientific labelā. This was utilised by many wealthy nations back in history. Is it still being used now?
Is this one way of the government setting up a screening program to assess citizens health? Are our DNA (through swabs) just another way of science and governments finding out more about each individual? How can this be used against us?
Could the increased awareness through advertising, as āmedical security ā really patchy vetting procedures ā¦ say, to allow rich immigrants easier process into more wealthy nations? Is this simply a tool to help curb unwanted immigrants?
What do you think? Have those entrusted to lead – companies, multinationals, communities, countries āplanting treesā and preparing for abnormalities in the future?
Governments have had a history of controlling diseases by curtailing individual freedomā¦ which is the same objection given by anti-vaccination supporters.
In science, often what seems straightforward in the labs proves quite complex outside the labs.
Over a century ago, Robert Koch, the German bacteriologist, shot to fame for identifying the organism responsible for Industrial Europeās biggest killer – tuberculosis (TB).
Even though Koch proved that nobody could catch TB without first, being exposed to the TB, he was unable to explain why only about 10 % of people became infected. What sort of rates exist for the covid? Apart from age, are certain races more at risk?
During Kochās time, it was found that the āCure rateā for TB, proved lower than had been hoped. The enemy agent (similar to the covid strain identified today), had been identified but it seemed to leave many potential victims unscathed. Back then, many concluded that many individuals were somehow tainted in advance or had pre-existing conditions that made them more susceptible to getting covid.
Over one hundred years later, society has learned to ālive with the disease ā – TB, that is. TB was, only recently, given an identity as a contagious disease that circulates in squalid city slums. A mark of inferiority rather than aesthetic vulnerability.
At one time, to contract TB, was to invite scornā¦ it was a matter of shameā¦ making it out to be that patients had been picked out rather than innocent victims of neural microbes.
TB was as bad a stigma as contracting syphilis, blamed on prostitutes. Society attitudes stayed this way until towards the end of the 20 th century. Cancer became the new TBā¦. The big C that could not be mentioned by name.
Given how long it has been for us to respond to the covid strain and managing it, it is highly likely that, we wonāt find a cure ā¦ but instead, just learn to live with disease, like we did with TB, over the last one hundred years.
Believe or not believe.
Get your ass off the pole of the fence (stop sitting on the fence!)
Choose.
A lot of deaths.
A quick reference on Google on world-stats indicates that as of 9th July 2021, there were a little over 4,000,000 covid-related deaths, with the USA heading the tally with > 623,000, followed closely behind by Brazil at 530,000 and then India at > 400,00 and so on. Australia has just under 1,000 deaths. So, there has been over 4 million deaths in just over a year since it began.
A lot of deaths.
In 1999, the American Institute of Medicine published a landmark investigation called āTo Err is Humanā. It reported that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of preventable medical errors.
Lucian Leape, a Harvard professor put it higher (at 120,000 in America alone) estimated that a million patients are injured by errors during hospital treatment.
In 2013, a study done & published in the journal of patient safety put the number of premature deaths associated with āpreventable harm ā at more than 400,000 per year (in America, alone). Compare this to the number of deaths caused attributed to Covid and it is comparable. But, no one is alarmed at this knowledge because not much is said about it and so not much is known about it, by the majority of people.
Preventable harm included –
misdiagnosis
Dispensing wrong drugs
Injuring patient during surgery
Operating on the wrong part of the body
Improper transfusions
Falls
Burns
Postoperative complications
Peter J. Pronovost, professor at Johns Hopkins school of medicine testified at senate pointing out that the deaths was equivalent of two jumbo jets falling out of the sky every day for an entire year! Comparing and saying –
āEvery two months, 9-11 is occurring.ā
Can you imagine, news headlines repeating information of deaths caused by the crashing of two jumbo jets EVERY DAY! It would cause utter chaos .. that could lead to an up-rising. Possibly. The public has lost a lot of trust in the medical systems and are turning to alternative medicines in droves. Question is why has it got to this point?
Why do we tolerate these numbers ā¦. These stats in preventable harm in this area of life when we would not tolerate it in any other sector? We donāt tolerate the covid-related death toll numbers, so, why has the medical profession knowingly or unknowingly, hid this information from the public ā¦ year after year?
Upon further study, you will find that the numbers put preventable error in hospitals as the biggest killer in the United States – behind only heart disease and cancer. Can you imagine that?! Third highest!!
And these are just numbers for the USA, what about when we add all the other numbers from other countries? What sort of numbers would that total to? Highly likely be greater than the 4,000,000 reported deaths relating to covid.
This Affects ALL OF US.
But those numbers are incomplete and definitely higher now.
However, it is not just the number of deaths that should alarm us, there is also the non-lethal harm caused by preventable error. Back in that 2013 study, this equated to about 1000 preventable deaths AND 10,000 preventable serious complications per day ā¦
The problem is not a small group of crazy, homicidal incompetent doctors going around causing havoc. Medical errors follow a normal, bell-shaped distribution.
They occur most often not when clinicians get bored or lazy or malign, but when they are going about their business with diligence and concern ā¦ but these mistakes STILL happen!
Imagine the flow-on negative effect it had on the patient, their family and friends, their community and wider.
Being wise is the the power of discernment. Improve this
The Biggest Risk right now, as I see itā¦
Strong Social connections allow for a better and longer life. There are decades of evidence from communities suffering the reverse phenomenon: the gradual loss of social ties.
A study by James House, published in the journal SCIENCE concluded that social isolation is as dangerous for health as obesityās, inactivity and smoking. The evidence was as strong as in the landmark US government report that in 1964 officially linking smoking with lung cancer.
The House report says that social isolation is actually more dangerous than lack of exercise and obesity. This is the biggest risk right now, as I see it ā¦ in most western societies- deaths exacerbated by social isolation due to covid restrictions.
This is probably the single most powerful behavioural finding in the world.
Social isolation is indeed a death sentence!, I believe, as much a threat to iur survival as hunger, thirst or pain. If individuals are deprived or it – āhuman contactā (as imposed by covid restrictions), the extreme case is we can start to become attached to innanjmate objects. This is demonstrated by Tom Hankās character on the movie CASTAWAY, who has a meaningful relationship with a volleyball he calls Wilson.
Will this pandemic lead to increased purchases or innanimate objects for companionship? More sales for the IT industry?
Lesson: this AFFECTS ALL of us.
Why do so many mistakes still happen?
Well, I will leave that for a future blog.
So many questions still left unanswered, about our past ā¦ our present ā¦. And our future.
But, as they say ā¦. That is JUST LIFE.
You can choose to enjoy your āone lifeā and worry about what YOU CAN CONTROL ā¦ and NOT WORRY about what YOU CANNOT CONTROL.
May God continue to shower his blessing on you and your family and loved ones,
Transference of Wisdom from a Father/Mother to their son/daughter is. a key factor in raising a morally-upright, compassionate human being.
WISDOM.
An old friend made that comment on a photo I Put up on Facebook of my son. He said –
āThe Apple doesnāt fall to far from the tree … like Father-like-sonā
I hadnāt heard this phrase since my youth. Something, Iād overhear the adults would say in conversation.
Got me thinking … about the vital role a Dad/Father plays in a childās life, in teaching his son/daughter āLife Skillsā, emphasising the necessity of learning the Art & Power of Discernment.
What a responsibility! I mean, am I actually qualified to give my son/.daughter advice? For most answers to Life Matters, I turn to the Complete Source: The Bible.
Being part of a larger family in the community youāre part of is a key complement to raising good citizens.
The beginning of knowledge.
In the Bible, we are told that the beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord (proverbs 1:7).
So, remember, before you can pass on knowledge, it is important that you have gained the necessary knowledge in the first place.
So, the first questions we need to ask ourselves are: do you believe in God and do you fear God?
In proverbs 1:3, we are told that before a father can pass on advice, he himself must know the meaning of that āfear of Godā … that reverential awe and the wisdom to which it leads.
Giving advice to a son/daughter on ādoing what is right and just and fairā can only come from a person who fears God and holds him in awe.
Passing on the instructions of good decision-making to my daughter is fundamental to my role as her father. Much guidance is given by the Bible.
Wisdom stems from the discipline of Character.
I also ask myself the question of what is the GOAL of a Fatherās advice to his children?
It is clear to me that the Goal of a fatherās Godly instruction MUST be spiritual and must stem from the insight learned in Proverbās WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE or UNDERSTANDING.
But, I donāt believe this wisdom is from Academic Achievements measured by membership to University boards or clubs or some Ivy League College. No, I believe this āwisdomā goes beyond scholastic wins. It goes to a place few dare to go.
That place is – MORAL RESPONSIBILITY. Getting there is difficult. Staying there is far greater a challenge.
Like Father – like son.
The Power of Discretion and Discernment.
It ALL boils down to decision-making, the mastery of this Art. Many Leaders and would-be leaders spend years at universities trying to learn the many tools that assist and help them make decisions.
And still, get it wrong!
The feeder to this art is reflected in the disciplining of the Character, characterised by the person living a ādisciplined and prudent life.ā
To live prudently means to make decisions that are NOT based a whim or changing appetite but knowing right from wrong. This is the skill and power of discretion or discernment. Exactly what the Bible, Proverbs prescribed.
Out and about with the future Mr Valentine
Respect for the Miracle of Life.Ā
So, what does this mean when we (as a Father or as parents) have to educate our sons & daughters on HOW to make wise choices?
Whenever I make a decision in my childrenās presence, I have a āwalk-through ā how I arrived at that decision (s). I let them know the THINKING š¤ BEHIND THE INTELLIGENCE. I mention the KEY components like – the initial assessment of risks; the consequences it could lead to if not addressed with mitigating controls; the probability/likelihood of the consequences occurring (with and without mitigating controls) and the possible impact, to self and others.
And then factoring in what my heart ā„ļø & soul tells me too.
Such instruction DOES NOT presume that the child somehow already knows whatās best. So, if youāre thinking of having kids or have very young kids, I believe that parents need to instruct and educate them from the earliest years.
They must be shown, trained and taught to tell the truth rather than lies; to respect the property of others rather than take for themselves; that harming anyone else is unacceptable;
And … to hold and RESPECT THE MIRACLE OF LIFE... whether it is flora or fauna or human, in respectful and highest regard.
All the very best in your decisions, big and small and may God continue to shower his blessings on you and your family and cherished ones.
cheers & ahoy from beautiful Sydney, Australia!!
* Dr. of Muscle/Energy Aesthetics & šitality/ā¤ļøOve *
Children need a good framework to build their character on. Your instructions as a parent and the guidance given in Proverbs in the Bible are great tools āļø to harness.
Think š¤. To Really think, does not only involve the brain š§ . It involves the mind, the heart ā¤ļø, the spirit and the āessence of lifeā – šitality. It includes the blessings of Wisdom.
Changing lives. Empowering people. One life at a time. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.