Choices

1. I can choose to be happy or angry.
2. I can choose to be nice or mean.
3. I can choose to help or hinder.
4. I can choose to enjoy the moment or worry about the future.
5. I can choose to enjoy the process or stress about the outcome.
6. I can choose to be friendly or standoffish.
7.  I choose my attitude.  No one else is in control of my attitude.

It took me a long time to figure these things out.  I'm working on them daily.  My intentions for this year are:
1. Raise as much money as possible for childhood cancer research.
2. Treat others the way I want to be treated.
3. Promote  Fresh Radio
4. Promote Old School Hip Hop
5. Promote Chill Electronica
6. Read as much as possible
7. Listen more
8. Judge less
9. Give more
10. improve each day in some way
11. Complete a century ride
12. finish more 5k's this year than I ever have completed
13. Smile More, Grumble Less
14. Be Happier than I ever have been

Moments

1.    It’s no fun being angry….all the time….

2.    If I was married to Halle Berry, I would wish I was married to Megan Fox & Paula Patton as well.

3.    If I had my dream car, I would wish it was newer or a different color. 

4.    If I looked like Shemar Moore, I would wish I looked like Brad Pitt instead.

5.    If I was famous I would wish that I was more famous or not famous at all.

6.    If I was a billionaire, I would wish that I was a trillionaire. 

7.    I would buy music because someone else said it was good and most of the time I did not even like it or I don’t even listen to it anymore.

8.    I would be a stay at home dad, then I would wish that I wasn’t so bored. 
9. I will do a better job of staying in touch with my friends instead of keeping myself the center of everyone's attention.  

Why can’t I stay in the moment and be happy with what I have?  It would be a lot easier.  Instead, I worry about things I don’t have or believe I need to have to make me happy.  In the long run, things won’t make me happy in the long run.  Short term, I will be happy with that new CD, but in the long term it will just collect dust like so many others.  Some CD’s were worth the purchase and I will listen to them forever.  I have shirts and shoes I wouldn’t wear since I thought I would mess them up.  One pair of shoes was messed up when I tried to wear them, so protecting them didn’t help at all.  If a shirt I love doesn’t look as good as it did before, it’s OK.  I can either get a new one or keep wearing the old one.  One thing I have changed is that I don’t let people’s feelings about my appearance matter anymore.  I have a beard because I wanted to have one.  I’m not concerned that it’s mostly gray.  Other people may say, “You need to color that.”  I’ve been telling them, “As long as I like it, it should not matter if its gray or purple. “  It is hard trying to feel good in my own skin.  It takes plenty of work.  I finally feel that I’m worth the work it takes to be the best me I can be.  I’m trying to be a better person and stay in the moment, but that takes even more work.  Daily improvement is the goal.  The great thing is that I am improving.      

Changes I've Been Going Through....

1. I no longer feel the need to live & die with any sports teams.  I still enjoy sports, but if a team loses I'm ok with it.
2. I read A LOT
3. I meditate
4. I don't worry if someone likes or dislikes my appearance.  I know my beard is grey.  I still like it.  I'm not changing it.
5. I go into each day hoping to help someone
6. I'm growing my hair to have it cut off for St. Baldricks day on March 8, 2014
7. I retired from Facebook
8. I'm close to becoming a vegan.  If I don't want to cause anyone pain I shouldn't indirectly cause animals any pain either.