Just a Thought...The Positive Side.

Just a Thought...The Positive Side. In school, we learned about magnets. That when two positive or negative ends would meet they repel from each other. The only way that they attract is when opposite ends touch. The magnetic field draws them together. I sure am glad that this is not how life works. It's true they say that opposites attract in life and relationships. But that isn't always the case. I used to think that people of a like mind were doomed to fail in relationships. The same ends of a magnet repelling from each other. I had so many examples and knew too many people who had partners that were the exact opposite of their mate. I myself was always finding myself in the middle when it came to deciding on certain issues, unsure about making a decision because I didn't trust my own judgment. I found that being negative was easy, didn't take any effort to throw shade at others. Family, friends, co-workers, employers it was all the same. I knew deep down inside that I was wrong for doing so but I just didn't the courage to be someone else. Walking the path of righteousness is difficult and I am still learning to navigate it. But what was always a downer for me and made feel even worse was social media. My timeline was littered with stories of negativity. Crimes against women, missing children, murderers, evil forces just blocking my path and I was obsessed with it. So much so it even made me feel depressed about the world around us and what kind of world I was raising my children in. I left social media for a while just to clear my mind. I didn't want my kids to have a harder time than me, I think no parent wants that for their kids. I want to make my mark in this world as an example to my kids that this world is a beautiful place and can be an environment to grow and flourish in not the world the media portraits. So I changed my perspective on life and those around me. I made some necessary adjustment to myself and the world around me. I went searching for positive people, people of encouragement who have learned to live past their fear. They are people of inspiration and motivation. I crossed over to the positive side of living and I have to say that it is a struggle at times leaving behind old habits but worth every effort to be a better person. To those of you on my timeline that has been a constant source of encouragement and enlightens me to and keep me in a better state of mind, Thank you. It is a relief to have those types of beacons of light when lost in darkness. Please continue to do what you do because there are those around you that feel a sense of hope from all that you do. Now that I have had a taste of the strength of God, I will bow to his will and do all that he asks of me. So until we meet again tomorrow, I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart that I am humbled and honored that you allow me to entertain you with my words and observations on life. It means the world to me. Almost forgot to tell you that this was....Just a Thought.

Just a Thought....Cold Weather.

Just a Thought...Cold Weather. Here we are in September and it is still hot as heck here in Texas. I have lived here all my life and shouldn't be surprised. I can fond;y remember as a kid that is used to get colder sooner. Maybe it is me and I have revisionist history. In mind, it felt that once September hit, it would start to get cold. Well, nowadays that sure isn't the case with the heat. It has been in the '90s these last couple of weeks and frankly, I am ready for sweaters, hoodies, jackets and long sleeve shirts. I have always been a fan of the cold weather. Now when it gets in the low teens I enjoy having to bundle up. Yes, people catch colds and usually pass them along to me at some point but to me, it beats sweating to the point of dehydration. I have always dreams of living in somewhere cold like in New York, Colorado just to see the snow. It is very rare here in Texas to see that much snowfall in on setting. The coffee tastes better, the fires are always enjoyable. Maybe I have just lived here for too long and have become jaded by the constant heat in the summer. I see the joy in being in the heat if you lived by an ocean or lake. If you had your own swimming pool. But to me, they have those things in the cold states. I keep watching the newscast on the weather just awaiting the announcement that cold weather is here to stay for another season. So as I get ready for the three most important holidays to arrive, all cold-weather events. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I will break out the jackets, the long sleeve shirts, and beanies for my head. I am hoping that this year we actually see some snow here in Texas this year. Pray for no ice just snow because it is easier to deal with than frozen cold overpasses. For those of you, that love the summer and the heat. You'll have for another couple of weeks but as The Starks would say "Winter is Coming." With that, I will end on a positive note. The State Fair of Texas is only a couple of weeks away. So until tomorrow friends, this was...just a thought.

Just a Thought...Acceptance

Just a Thought...Acceptance. This weekend I attended a birthday for my niece. It was a wonderful turnout and a good time was had by all. Most of the family gatherings always included some kind of physical activity. Whether it was soccer, volleyball or football. There was some sort of sport being played. It was one of my favorite kind of gathering because it was usually my time to shine. I loved playing these kinds of sport with the older guys. They would be impressed with my ability. I would watch my older uncles, cousins trying to play with the younger crowd. Thinking to myself the whole time "Why don't they give it up? Don't they know they are too old to play anymore." I understand why they did it as I get older myself. They still want to relive their youth. It feels good to be able to do something so well that was once so effortlessly easy. But even then there is an age where you can't even do a quarter what you were once able to do physically. I sympathize with pro athletes that one day has to look in the mirror and accept their fate. The physicality of play a sport takes a toll on the body and one day it just isn't the same. Everything hurts, even though the passion and drive are there, the ability to perform at a certain level to excel has deteriorated. This is where I stood yesterday, watching all my younger, much faster and agile nephews move like the wind. As much as I wanted to show that I could still perform in mind, my body just told me no way, Jose. I had to watch and accept that this was their time to shine. That I needed to move on. I sat quietly at times thinking about all the things that I was once able to do so fluidly. Old age and injuries to my body have taken a toll on my abilities to quote "Hang with the young Bulls." I will always the memories of my youth. I can tell the stories of my sandlot days, but don't want to be too cliche. I think that as age has given me more wisdom, it has also taken certain parts of my physical prowess. I accept that I will be this way for the rest of my time on earth but I also figured that I can teach what I know. To me, it was almost just as fun as being out there doing it yourself. As I inch closer to turning forty-five, I've come to enjoy taking it a bit easier. I also find it hard to not listen to that voice in my head telling me to go try and run-pass patterns with these young boys and show them what you got. Then I think about getting up the next to go to work and remember that my body doesn't recover so quickly anymore. I accept that I am not the alpha anymore but I can still be part of the pack. So until tomorrow friends, remember to count your blessing every day and that this was.....just a thought.

Just a Thought...The Weekend.

Just a Thought...The Weekend. Here we are on Friday. Usually, everyone's favorite day of the week simply because it is the bow at the end of the workweek. Plus on the positive margin, it coincides with payday. I mean what could be better than getting paid for the fruits of your labor and having it be on the last day of the workweek. All the more reason to head into the weekend on an upbeat. Saturday is made for sleeping in, sleeping off hangovers and just having the opportunity to be a couch potato. I do fondly remember those days. They seem like an all to a distant memory. You see, for the last three years, I have been working on the weekend to make some extra money. Money that helps keep my household afloat. It's become so cliche when people celebrate because it is Friday when in my world it is just another day to collect a paycheck. The days and the night sometimes seem s to run together and I know it has to affect my home life and my social life tremendously. Many times I just want to sit on the couch and watch Tv or sit and my desk and write but knowing that I have so much to do. I proceed because I know the alternative, I asked God for this, three years ago and his word is his bond. When I needed a job and would have done anything, he gave me this job that I work on the weekends. It has helped me get through some rough times and I feel uncomfortable leaving that security behind. Then there is the holy day of worship, Sunday. The day of Football in America. I sometimes just want to quit working on the weekends but I enjoy the extra cash and the flexibility that it affords me. I am working to change that situation so that one day I will be just like everyone that gets those necessary and fragile days off. So as I fight my sleep to write this post I know tomorrow will be a better day. Until friends I must bid you Adieu. Remember that this was like every other is coming to an end. This was just a thought.

Just a Thought..Breaking Routine.

Just a Thought...Breaking Routine. On my quest to become a better person who is highly passionate about his dreams. I have learned by listening to many motivational speakers and they say this in unison. Getting into action and build a routine will be two of the most powerful tools that a person needs in changing your life. So I have started moving the ball on my dreams with writing this blog, a novel and learning the art of screenwriting. The second was to start an everyday routine. Check that one off the list too. What I have learned that as you build yourself a new routine and it becomes a habit that you must complete the task every day to feel normal. What I have also noticed is that when I break routine it really messes up my schedule and throws my mind off track. To help combat some of the temptations to go back to the status quo is that I have started doing mindfulness meditation every day. It was difficult to grasp the idea of sitting and concentrating in your mind to find total awareness but after a while, it becomes easier to find your self in deep thought. It is with using this that is a big lifesaver when I fall out of routine, if even for one day. All it takes is one day to fuck up everything that you have built up in yourself. I love going out now with the wife or kids on the weekends. I just know to myself that I will fall out of routine and that come Monday that I will need to make some adjustments. I love having a stricter routine because it helps keep me disciplined with my writing, my weight, and overall transformation into the person that I have always wanted to be. I guess that I am becoming accustomed to having some kind of structure in my life. It is a change of pace from living by the seat of your pants. So as I wrap up this post know that I wrote this later than normal because today was one of those days that is meant to throw you off track. Until tomorrow friends, remember to spay and neuter your dogs and cats. This was....just a thought.

Just a Thought...The day the world changed.

Just a Thought...The day the world changed. This day is always hard for so many people. It has to be even worse for someone that actually lost a loved one in these horrific acts of terrorism. I couldn't even imagine being there in the midst of the chaos. September 11, 2001, started out a normal day just like the day before. People will always recall where they were when it happened and everyone has a story. I was actually working the evening shift at a crummy job that I hated but it was decent pay and kept the lights on and food in our mouth. My wife worked for a bank in downtown Dallas at the time and I worked in a warehouse. I would drop her off at work every morning and then come home to catch some more zzz's before I went to work. This was a normal routine, I would come home put on the television. Watch the news then doze off. This particular morning I came home and turned on the television. My local T.V. station interrupted with breaking news of a fire in New York at the World Trade Center. Not too big of a deal, as only minor details were coming in and terrorism wasn't suspected at the time. I laid down with my coffee and watched with interest as now all the news stations were carrying the story. I remember they had helicopters flying around the building when all of a sudden like a rocket from the sky the second plane hit and it was jarring to watch. I jumped up out of bed in shock. Could not believe what I just witnessed and as it started to make clear what was going on the news station broke in with details of another plane hitting the pentagon. Now at this point, all the signals were definitely terrorism. I sit and watched as the rest of America did until the collapse of the first tower. I was petrified at seeing it all and remember weeping for those people in that building. Once the second tower fell, I was in full panic mode. It was disheartening to see that it took than much destruction to bring so many people together helping one another. I will never forget this day the people's whose lives were lost and God willing I'll never have to see something like this ever again. Being 44 on the verge of 45, going back and reflecting on something like makes you realize how blessed I really am in life. Do I have tons of money or fame,...nope. But what I do have is a way of being happy and I am alive and blessed. Remember folks that many people have lost loved one to this tragedy. If you're one of those, I humbly apologize. Never Forget! So until tomorrow this was.......just a thought.

Just a Thought....Learning.

Just a Thought....Learning. I have been on a journey to become a writer. I am trying to write both novels and scripts. I wouldn't even mind trying a screenplay for the stage at some point but as I travel along this path I am learning that there is so much to take in. I know that along from proper grammar and sentence structure there are other things like formatting both different types of media. Screenwriting and novel writing both take patience to write but they also have certain ways to get your point across. In writing in a novel you have room to be as descriptive as possible. With a script it is simpler is better. Don't use forty words to write what you can do in twenty. It's okay to be descriptive but the longer the script the more money if it were to ever get purchased, re-written and actually filmed. I know that I am still raw but like in school, I am spending as much time as I can studying and listen and absorbing as much information as possible. I know the best way is to just write and believe me I am doing that but it doesn't hurt to learn, read, practice to get better. I am definitely doing as much as I can to immerse myself in the craft of writing. There are so many different styles, different classes and I am looking at each to see what ways will best fit me as I go forward with my writing. The best writers didn't start out the best but they had a clue as to what they wanted to write about and found a way to make it happen. You can see patterns and dialogue that would expose you as a novice. I am fine with that for now because I have so much left to learn but I will get better. My writing will get more defined. Like anything, it is going to take time. You can't lose one hundred pounds in a few days. It took time to gain all the weight and it is going to take time to hone my skills. The pattern of using a repetitive word is one thing I am trying to limit. A friend gave me some good tips and advice that pertain to my style. So appreciative of people that are honest and really want to be helpful. Like a kid in kindergarten, I am learning from square one all over again with my Big Chief Tablet and Ticonderoga pencil. I feel so invigorated and anxious that hopefully, God will allow me to live up to my own expectations. With this line, I bid you adieu my friends. This was....just a thought.