A Great Investment

"I could see changes coming so I invested in myself."

• David Remington
  

A Great Investment

There are lots of things that impact us from day to day. Some things impact us physically and some things impact us mentally. There are things we have control over and there are other things that seem to have control over us. But how do you tell the difference? After all, it appears as if most things happen to us, or around us, and all we can do is react after the fact, but I've found that that's not the case.

My daughter called me the other day and talked with me about having her wisdom teeth removed. "We spent a lot of money getting my teeth straightened and I don't want them to be ruined." She said.

So, we made arrangements for fly her out to our home in Utah and have Dr. David Remington, our orthodontist, remove them. I was pleased to have the chance to sit and talk with him for a while. We're good friends and I always learn a lot from our conversations.

I asked him how things were going in his business. I've always been impressed with the way he's operated his practice. When I was his client and he was straightening my teeth it was amazing for me to see how busy his office was. But, now things were different.

"Braces are a luxury." He said. "When the economy changed I could see that I'd be in trouble if I didn't make some adjustments to my business. So, I made an investment in myself. I updated some of my skills and knowledge; now I offer a whole line of new products and services so my business is good." He has been impacted by a changed economy but what he did through foresight has made a huge, positive impact.

So how do you tell if something has complete control over you? It's easy. You simply make a decision that it won't. Then you implement your plan to exercise your free will. We're all impacted by things that we can't control, but we can always control our reaction to what's happening around us. What you decide will have a huge impact on you as well as on those around you. Make an investment in yourself today. There is no greater investment!

Making Assumptions

"To 'change his future' is the inalienable right of freedom loving individuals."

- Neville Goddard

Making Assumptions

I woke up early last Wednesday and looked out the window. There was the snow Allison predicted would come. Shaking my head, I turned and walked away just in time to hear one of my dogs provide me with a whimpering request to go outside into the confetti falling from the sky. When I opened the door for her, the cold made me shiver a bit. But, I knew the shiver was caused by more than just the cold. I had a lot of business to complete this day and I knew that the icy roads would not greet me as a friend.

Still, the shivering seemed to awaken my senses and I remembered one of my favorite Neville Goddard quotes, "What you see when you look at something depends not so much on what is there as on the assumption you make when you look." I looked out the window again and saw something different. The snow was still there, but my relationship with the snow was changed.

Most people believe that what they see in the "reality of the external world" because they don't know how to focus and condense the powers of their mind to see something different. Strangely enough my experience with the snow showed me once again that it isn't difficult for anyone to change their view and awaken to a whole new sense of adventure as well as a new future that is easily available to them.

I've found the following steps to be very helpful in changing my future and creating a life full of self fulfilled freedom; they take very little effort and an application of imagination. If you'll simply try them, you'll find that your old world will vanish as you simply turn your attention away from it.

First, you have only to concentrate on what you want within yourself. See it! Give it reality in your mind. Make it an objective fact and then focus your attention on it until your desire appears to have achieved the distinctiveness and feeling of reality. When you've done that, then the form of your thought will have all the sensory vividness and form of reality. It will become a visible fact in your life.

Second, if you assume you are what you want to be, your desire is instantly fulfilled and, in fulfillment, you won't be longing any more. Believing and being are one. Your dream and the new you have become one and the same. In other words, what you have dreamed yourself to be can never be so far off as even to be near. That's because nearness implies a separation! Your dream isn't something you work for. It's something you already possess. It's assuming the feeling that you are already what you dream.

Finally, give thanks for the gift you've received. Since you haven't worked for what you've become, it's a true gift! And, if you choose, every day can be a gift whether the view out of your window is clear and warm or cold and snowy.

As Allison and I drove along, I smiled to myself knowing that although the day had started with my false belief that the roads would not greet me as a friend, the day I created gave me roads that led to fortune and renewed friendships. I had assumed a day filled with joy and success, lived as if it had already happened, and ended my day with deep gratitude for a wonderful day. May I assume you'll do the same from now on?

Sweet Adversity

"Self Pity is the worst possible disease that can affect mankind."

• John Huntsman
  

Sweet Adversity

I walked down the aisle near my office in the middle of the afternoon, just as the sun was beginning to wane. Just before I got to my office door I came across a colleague who also seemed to have the brightness of her eyes fading at the same pace as the sun. I stopped and spoke with her.

"What's wrong?" I queried.

"It's just been a long day. It seems as if every transaction is so hard these days." She said.

"I know." I said. "But the great thing is that over the past three years we've had the chance to become much better at what we do."

"You're right." She replied. "I think we've learned more in that time than most people learn their whole career."

I smiled and turned to walk away thinking, "isn't it nice to be able to change the way you think and instantly feel better?" And, I was reminded of something just as important.

When I look back on my life it is clear to me that I've grown most when facing challenges. But, it's just lately that I've begun to see adversity as a friend rather than a foe. Perhaps that's why I was so inspired when John Huntsman said, of his mother, "She died very young of cancer and her mother before her died of cancer. But on my mother's tombstone in a little Utah town are etched these words by Shakespeare: Sweet are the uses of adversity."

If you're like me, there are times when you've felt alone; perhaps in your own heart, in your job, or family. And, you know that you'll be tested and retested by adversity again and again as long as you live. But, you can bounce back if you can keep telling yourself, I know I can make it, I know I can make it. Then without hesitation go out and do something for someone else and put your arm around them. If you'll do that then you'll be able to defeat self pity, you won't feel sorry for yourself. You'll be doing just the opposite, you'll be feeling love, and you'll have God's feelings with you at all times.

All From One Seed

"Seeds from Tooele Valley Nursery"

• Wade Anderson
  

All From One Seed

I spent a lot of time this last summer keeping up with my friend Jeff Geer. I loved talking with him on a regular basis because of his excitement. He's one of the most avid gardeners I know. In fact, his wife Linda said, "I think he's torn every plant in our yard out and has replaced it with a vegetable."

When I'd talk with Jeff his whole face would light up as he'd tell me of how his plants were growing large and producing much more food than he ever imagined. "I love coming home at night and walking outside into my back yard. I grab some of this and some of that and then walk into my kitchen and make a fresh salad for dinner! I don't even have to go to the grocery store much anymore."

I've been thinking about this for the past week or so because another friend, Wade Anderson, was kind enough to give me some vegetable seeds. He knows I'll store them carefully over the winter and then put them in the ground this spring. I love getting the seeds for two reasons. First, they'll provide us with fresh food to eat and to share over the spring, summer and fall. Second, they remind me of the real meaning of the "Law of the Harvest."

I love the Law of the Harvest. You know, it's that little saying you've heard over and over again, "You reap what you sow." But it's much more than that! Its real meaning is, "What you do comes back to you multiplied."

When you think about what can come to life as a result of one little seed, it's truly amazing! One small tomato seed can produce many more tomatoes and hundreds of more seeds. But don't forget, this applies to more than just gardening.

It applies to everything we do in life. It's a law you and I should keep in mind all of the time. Every word and every action is like a small seed that can produce many more actions and many more seeds. And, it works both ways. You can produce seeds to produce both good and bad results in your life. I don't know about you, but I prefer to have tasty vegetables growing in my garden. The weeds just don't make me happy at all.

We can all be happy if we simply keep the Law of the Harvest in mind. Just live its tenets: First, make sure you're starting with the seeds you want to grow. Second, place them in the environment where they'll have the best chance to grow well. Third, cultivate them on a regular basis. Fourth, harvest them when they're at their very best. Finally make sure to enjoy your harvest with as many senses as possible so you'll get the most satisfaction you can.

Loving Life, Gaining Satisfaction

"I'm doing what I like to do, not what I have to do."

• Allen L. Smith
  

Loving Life, Gaining Satisfaction

I was in a meeting trying to concentrate on the matters at hand, when one of the men at the table made the comment, "I've retired now three times. I came out of retirement to do this because it's what I want to do; not what I have to do." With that statement, my whole focus shifted.

I was now listening for more wisdom to come out of his mouth. I wasn't disappointed.

"The primary purpose of life is to help mankind." Allen said a few minutes later.

I've spent the better part of two weeks just thinking about what he said and wondering how many of us really understand what he was saying. Do I?

I was sitting at another table with a teen aged boy less than a week later. I was getting to know him. "What is it you'd like to do more than anything else in the world?" I asked.

He was having some trouble and I wanted to know what he really wanted to do with his life. I didn't want to know what he thought I wanted to hear and I didn't want to know if he could recite what his parents wanted him to do with his life.

He didn't have an answer right off. I think he was caught off guard.

"What are you willing to give your life to? I continued.

"I want to help people." He replied.

"Everyone says that." I said. "That's not enough! It's too vague. What I really want to know is what you want so much that you won't let anyone or anything stand in your way as you work to get it."I persisted.

"I always thought I wanted to play in the NBA." He said.

"That's not true! You let yourself get kicked off the school team this year. So, you didn't really want it. You were pretending to want it."

He looked across the table at me with a thoughtful stare. I could see the answer working from deep inside his mind and heart getting ready to crystallize and reveal itself.

"I want to be a doctor!"

There it was. He knew what he wanted all along, but he didn't know what to do to get there. So we spent the next hour or so creating a plan with steps he could take to get there. I watched the excitement build inside of him as his map to become a doctor grew before his eyes. It's a wondrous thing to watch an idea change the world!

As I drove him home I had to ask myself, "Are you doing what you really want to do with your life?" I looked at the young man in the seat across from me and answered with an emphatic, "Yes." Many times we don't get paid money to do what we really want to do. Our pay is something much more valuable than that. It's a deep sense of satisfaction that can't be obtained in any other way.

Moosages

"Moooooo!"

• The Pillsbury Dough Girl
  

Moosages

It's the first snowy morning of the season! It's real cold outside with blowing snow. I know it's time to get up and out of bed, but I'm not really feeling it. I don't want to leave the warm comfort of my bed and I definitely don't want to go outside, so I just pull up the covers and close my eyes to savor the comfort. But, my bliss isn't long lived!

A noise begins to tickle my ears. It's faint at first; but it grows in frequency and volume quickly.

"Moo. Mooo. MOOOOO!"

I know what it is immediately. It's a moosage.

The Pillsbury Dough Girl is telling me that it's time for her breakfast. I roll my eyes contemplating my situation. I never dreamed that I'd be taking orders from a fat cow at this stage of my life! But I've learned a lot from the personal moosages delivered by my cow. Today's moosage is about learning to be selfless.

This is a lesson that isn't a very easy lesson to learn for most of us and my experience is that most people can't learn it without making a strong commitment to a personal principle or to someone else. It's that commitment that makes us see beyond ourselves and expand beyond our present capacity. Such stretching doesn't come all at once, it comes a little at a time. It comes mostly because we have no idea of the growth we're about to bring upon ourselves.

After all, when we make the largest commitments in our lives our vision isn't real clear. We're blinded by the fact that, "it's just such a cute little calf and it's so adorable." We know that it will grow in to a huge, hay gobbling cow, but we just can't see it at the time due to the excitement of the moment.

For example, when I purchased this cow I never took the time to consider the genesis of the traditional cow name, "Old Bossy." Oops, I'm sure I have that wrong, I think it's "Old Bessie." But I'm pretty sure I've heard of another cow named "Bossy the Cow." Oh, never mind, you get the point; that's my cow's nick name now.

I hear her calling. I'm not happy about having to go out into the cold. Still, the moosage is clear: next time you find yourself doing something you don't want to do, but you're doing it because of the commitment you've made or because of your love for the other person, know that you're stretching to become a better person as a result. Then, get a little smile on your face knowing that you've got it better than I do. At least you're not being bossed around by a cow!

Overcoming Obstacles

"There was something in the road."

• Annie Butterfield
  

Overcoming Obstacles

My daughter Annie is in the process of learning to drive and a couple of nights ago, just after she had driven home from the barn where she was riding, she told me that she'd seen a pile of dirt in the road. "It wasn't a large pile and I knew it wouldn't be a problem for me or the car so I just drove right over it." She had done the right thing in not allowing an insignificant obstacle to slow her down and it reminded me of the old saying, "Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill."

Many times, a person without a lot of driving experience will see a small mound of dirt in the road and panic; not knowing what to do. That can cause a whole new chain of events that may prove to be of much greater danger than the one originally faced!

Sometimes, even those of us with a lot of experience find small bumps in the road of life that tend to derail us. I've found this to be true in my work; especially when I'm faced with a task that I don't really want to do or that will take a great deal of time and effort. It's not that I don't know what to do, or that I can't do the work, it's just that my mind begins to grow the task into what appears to be a huge mountain that I can't possibly climb. And, that alone causes a chain of events that can become a much larger problem than the task itself!

I was thinking that if I faced this issue, you may face it at times as well so here are some steps that I've found to be helpful:

First, I try to recognize that I've become trapped in front of a "gopher hill." (I use the term gopher hill because I'm involved in a war with gophers in my yard and they've become the bane of my life!) I also use that term because their mounds are instructive to describe what I think is happening. A gopher mound has a sort of semi circular shape. So, if I was very small and stood in front of it, I could easily believe that I had become encircled without a way to escape. I must recognize that what in my mind appears to be true is simply an illusion.

Second, I've found that my largest hurdle is always just getting started. Once I begin to work on the task, that has been overwhelming me, I find that it isn't nearly as daunting as I had imagined. Since I know this about myself I've posted a sign in my office that says, "It's the job that isn't started that takes the longest to complete."

Finally, once I start I make sure I stay the course and focus on the task to get it knocked out and put it behind me. When I've completed it I allow myself to feel the relief and warm sense of accomplishment. That's also when I remind myself that I'll see many other gopher mounds in my life and that I am skilled at not letting them derail me.

As I keep following these steps I hope to become more and more like Annie. I hope to see a small bump in the road and just drive on past it as if it doesn't exist. And, I hope that what you see in your life will be small bumps as well!

Become Invisible

"I told him it was kind of him to come and he said it isn't kind. It's who I am."

• Jeff Barton
  

Become Invisible

This is a tale of two men. One is the CEO of a major global corporation. One is a company courier who has delivered the newspaper to the CEO for many years. One man travels the world and has shoulders broad enough to carry the weight of heavy responsibility. One man travels the corridors of the corporate headquarters. On the surface their lives have little in common; one is highly visible, larger than life, while the other lives a life of simplicity and virtual invisibility. But, there is more than one kind of invisibility.

The first type of invisibility is the type that would lead individuals to think that they aren't important in the total scheme of things. It leads all of us to question our individual worth at one time or another. It makes us wonder if anyone notices or cares about us. It is a perceived lack of relationship or connection. It is the possible invisibility of the individual.

The second type of is invisibility of separation. It is the invisibility between what a person says they are and the way they act. It is also the lack of barrier between people; the integrity of conviction.

In this tale it would be easy see potential barriers between the two men, to believe in the invisibility of one individual. But, in this case it would be wrong!

The Courier had delivered the newspaper to the CEO for these many years in a quiet and unassuming way and when he reached an age of greater than seventy years he decided to retire. So, the company planned a retirement party for him and invited everyone to come; including the busy CEO. Who, I suspect, most didn't expect to come. But, come he did!

And, when my friend Jeff Barton had the chance to talk with the CEO at the celebration, he said, "It's kind of you to come." To which the CEO replied, "It's not kind, it's who I am!"

So, I wonder who you and I are. Are we the kind of people who live a life of invisibility or are we the kind of people who live a life of invisibility?

Do we think that we don't matter? Do we think that what we say and do doesn't matter? If your answer is yes, then reflect on this tale again and again until you make the determination to be sure that you have this same integrity of conviction; the desire to remove all barriers between you and others as well as between what you say and what you do. When you do, you'll discover your own greatness as well as your ability to make a great difference in the world. So, will you please join me in becoming more invisible today?

The Greatest Revolution

"My father was a soldier in Mao's army."

• Marshall Ding
  

The Greatest Revolution

I was sitting at a table in a large, beautiful house in Holladay, Utah. Holladay is an upscale neighborhood in the Salt Lake City area; I was in the same neighborhood where at least one NBA player lives. In fact, the player's back yard shares a fence with the yard of the house in which I was sitting. The owner of the house was sitting across the table from me and I was getting to know him.

He's Chinese. I knew that. I could tell that he wasn't "Chinese American" because of his accent. He wasn't speaking Native American English. But the English he was speaking was very good and I could tell he'd been in the United States for a long time. I just didn't know how long yet.

I also knew he'd been in the USA for quite a while because his son was sitting not far from us. His manner was American. His dress was American. He was a typical American Teenager; his eyes rarely left the floor and he didn't say much. He was getting ready to have a bit-to-eat and then study.

I was studying his father. I listened to what he was saying. I was dazzled by his story.

He had come to the United States at the age of 27, just after he completed Chinese Medical School. He was skilled in the arts of natural healing. He has a medical practice in the Salt Lake Area. He has done well for himself.

"I'm living the American Dream," he said to me.

"My father was a soldier in Mao's army. I came here because I wanted to be free to pursue my dreams. I wanted my children to grow up here. I've done well."

"The thing is," he paused for a moment.

"The thing is, all you have to do is work hard, save your money, and make good decisions. That's all I've done. It's what all of the immigrants I know do. I've talked with immigrants from Russia and all over Eastern Europe. There are a lot of them here. They all ask me the same question, "Why don't the people who live here get it?"

"Get what?" I replied.

"Why don't they understand what the American Dream means?" He said. "My father fought for his dream and that's why I've been able to get a good education and provide well for my family. He, along with the others he fought with, believed that revolution meant that you could never stop changing and learning. You have to continue to work to become the best person you can be."

I could tell he felt very deeply about what he was saying to me. His words sank deep into my heart. I can still hear them vibrating throughout my body. They're repeating themselves within me as, "My personal revolution means that I can never stop changing and learning. I must continue to work to become the best person I can be."

After all, that's the greatest revolution. It's the greatest discovery: You and I can change our circumstances by what we think, do and then achieve. So join the personal revolution, reach within yourself and discover your ability to create a wonderful future again and again.

Have Your Ice Cream and Eat it Too

"He died at ninety-two, about a week after he got his diploma"

• Brent Sutherland
  

Have Your Ice Cream and Eat it Too

When I was in college I discovered an ice cream parlor that had the best ice cream I'd ever had. It was famous, iconic business on 2100 South Street in Salt Lake City called Snelgrove's. Everyone in town knew about it and recognized its huge ice cream cone sign as marking a place where you would receive superb service and exquisite ice cream made with the best ingredients available from family recipes.

It was created in 1928 by the Snelgrove family and by the time I discovered it, the business was moving into its third generation. But Laird Snelgrove, its second generation steward, was still actively involved in the day to day business. He knew every detail of the operation and treated every person working with him as a member of the family. And, he knew what "family" meant.

As a young man Laird enrolled in college at Utah State University. While he was in Logan studying, his father, the founder of Snelgrove's Ice Cream, called him home because he needed him to help run the business. And, without hesitation, Laird returned home and threw himself into the business.

He learned all he could learn from his father and worked tirelessly. By the time his father passed away Laird knew the business inside and out and had developed relationships with all of its customers. The business was a major part of his life, but it wasn't his whole life. He had made a commitment to himself to finish college so pressed on to get his degree.

Every small business owner knows how much time and effort is required to maintain and grow a business and Laird's commitment to complete college was tested. He took classes when he could, grew his business, raised his family and became an icon in his community. He never retired from his role in any of these areas of his life.

In fact, when he was ninety-two years old he completed his college degree at Brigham Young University to become the oldest graduate in school history! When he attended commencement he didn't attend alone. He was surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, business associates, employees and friends. He was surrounded by all the people in his life that he'd been teaching and mentoring over many years.

His graduation is the perfect example of how a person is a student and a teacher throughout life. His graduation is the perfect example what it means to be dedicated to personal dreams and goals while focusing on the important relationships in life.

So, if you've ever gotten to the point where you feel as if you're too old or too busy to do what you want with your life, don't give up. Just stop of a minute and remember that Laird Snelgrove received his college degree at ninety-two, spent the following week giving advice to his employees and then passed away having been true to himself and his family. Who said you can't have your cake; I mean ice cream and eat it too?

Compounding Steps

"I do a lot, but it doesn't seem to amount to much."

• Marv Shafer
  

Compounding Steps

It's easy to forget. Sometimes I need photographs to nudge my memory. I stare at the photo wall in my house and see images of what was hanging there. There are three little girls covered in bubbles sitting joyfully together in a big jetted tub, all giggling. Now, these same girls would be hard pressed to sit in the same small tub! Same girls, same tub, but a lot of water has passed through the tub since that photo was taken.

I look at the photo again and wonder when those little girls grew up. I know they did because I can see the change, but I don't remember them turning to women over night! That's the way it feels.

I look across another room and see my friend Marv talking. "I do a lot, but it doesn't seem to amount to much," He says.

My mind passes through a portal where I see my first daughter beginning to take her first steps. I feel the warm rush of memory envelope my entire body as I reengage with the excitement of her first small steps. She did a lot and those steps didn't really amount to much, but the excitement I felt was genuine. I knew it was the dawn of great progress.

Her progress came step by step, bump by bump. What I tend to forget is that before she could walk easily without falling down she crashed a lot. She also got up a lot. Now, after many years, she gets up easily and rarely falls down and when I watch her now, it's easy to forget those first small steps.

Why is it that we can't remember the importance of first steps? Why don't we allow ourselves to be impressed with the small steps we continually take each day? Why do we think we should be able to take one small step today and then run a marathon tomorrow? When I break a marathon down into pieces it's plain to see that it's only completed after a huge number of small steps, not one twenty-six mile step. I don't know of anyone who can take one step like that!

I'm sure you don't know anyone who can take one step that big either! So, perhaps you can give yourself permission to be a small child again. Take one step and then allow yourself to be impressed! Know that you'll fall down. Know that you'll receive some bumps and bruises along the way. Also know that if you just keep getting up and taking more steps you'll get where you want to be. It simply takes time and continued effort.

I know that the time it takes to reach your desired destination is sometimes hard to deal with because it's easy to forget where you came from. I'm sure you're like me and need to give your memory a little nudge from time to time. You need to be able to see the progress you've made.

Photographs are a great tool for this. I have a couple of photos that really help me when I feel stuck. They're old photos of me as a young child. When I don't think what I've done amounts to much, I pull those aged photos out and look at them. They allow me to see the truth.

I've grown and accomplished a lot. You have too, so don't be fooled! Look at your aged photos and then feel the warmth of remembered accomplishments rush through your body again and again. It'll get you excited for your next first steps!

Crackling Crust and Soft Center

"I have more friends than I ever imagined I had."

• Ken Smith
  

Crackling Crust and Soft Center

To most people my friend Ken Smith doesn't appear to be an emotional or soft hearted man. In fact, I'm sure most people would refer to him as a crusty old man. And, I can see why they would think that about him. At first glance he's a little gruff and hard around the edges. But I know him a little more than most, so I sort of think of him as if he's the perfect dinner roll.

You know the ones I mean, they have a hard, crisp crust that crackles at the twist of your hand or the bit of your teeth and then start to melt in your mouth while revealing a soft moist center? I know some people that don't like that hard kind of roll and I've never quite understood why. I guess they just don't like the rigid crust. They find it just too hard. But to me such rolls are the perfect mix of contrasting textures and delicate tongue tickling taste.

That's the way I feel about Ken too. I kind of like his hard exterior and I'm really enjoying getting to know his soft, moist center. I first got a deeper look at his soft center when his wife passed away earlier this year. Ken looked at me with tears in his eyes and expressed his loneliness after being married to her for more than fifty years. And then, just recently, I saw more depth in him when I came to his home just to visit with him.

It was then that he told me about stepping off a stair into his back yard and he heard a sound "like a rifle shot." He immediately found himself on the ground unable to get up because his leg had broken and collapsed beneath him. Now, after surgery, he was healing well and is getting around with a rod through his bone and a cane in his hand.

"My neighbor came over when my leg broke and called for an ambulance. Then she came and cooked me dinner every night until I could get around on my own. Other people came and did my laundry and cleaned my house." He said.

"I have more friends than I ever imagined I had." He choked out, as tears welled up in his eyes and then spilled down his wrinkled cheeks.

Here's another example of his soft center, I thought as his words trickled into my ears. He was also revealing the soft center of many people around him and how their actions were an expression of their love. My offering was to simply visit and spend more time getting to know more about his life; more about who he really is. People are always a lot more than they appear to be on the outside.

All people have gone through innumerable experiences and offer a very particular window into the infinity that is life. So, give yourself an astonishing view today. Look around and find someone who is a little crusty on the outside, who is feeling lonely or could just use a visit from a friendly face and sit with them for a while. Then, enjoy the crackle as you begin to discover their soft center and build a lasting friendship that you'll both savor for a long time to come.

Focus on Essentials

"I looked at my family in the car and knew that I had everything that was most important with me."

• Michael Keene
  

Focus on Essentials

I was listening to the news on the radio in the background. You know, listening, not hearing. It was more background noise than anything else. Then, I felt something click in my mind and I began to hear every word in great detail. There was a devastating fire in and around the town of Herriman.

Herriman is a small town in South West Salt Lake County, Utah. When I hear of happenings in Herriman my ears are usually attracted because I have family roots there. My family founded this town more than one-hundred-fifty years ago now. It was a harsh environment then; little water, few trees, and lots of wind. When they arrived, they were so poor that they lived in "dug-out" caves on the banks of the Jordan River. But, they had faith in the future and worked hard. Today it is a thriving suburb of Salt Lake City.

There is rarely big news coming from Herriman, but this day was different. A spark had caused a fire to start in the tall, dry grass that had grown during the long hot summer. And, speedy, hot winds were blowing from the southern desert to fan the flames while blowing them toward nearby homes. Thousands of homes were being threatened and evacuation orders were initiated.

With this in mind, I thought of my friend Michael Keene and his family. I knew they were living in the area and thought they might be affected. I reached for my phone and touched it to see if I could reach Michael. Luckily, I was able to speak with him within a few minutes.

I asked Michael if he was O.K. He replied, "Yes. It was scary when we had to evacuate, but we got out. As we were driving out of town we came to a check point where I saw a woman speaking to police, trying desperately to get to her house so she could gather up her family. It was then that I looked at my wife and daughter in the car and knew that I had everything of importance with me."

I've thought a lot about what Michael said to me that day. I've reflected on it again and again realizing that I tend to get caught up in the speed of life. I fill my schedule to over flowing, trying to make one more phone call, get one more task completed and keep it all going, "full speed ahead." Michael reminded me that all of such is just a distraction when viewed from a perfectly honed life focused on what's really important.

"All we left behind is just stuff," Michael said. "It can all be replaced. I had my family with me and that set my heart at ease."

If you'd like to live a life filled with peace of mind and happiness, follow Michael's example; focus on the essentials. If you will, you'll soon have a new spring in your step and calm in your heart.

The Judas Goat

The Judas Goat

"The Judas Goat is used to get sheep to walk peacefully and unknowingly to their own slaughter."

• Jeffery Smith
  

There is one sure sign of the Fall Season where I live. It's when a large herd of sheep arrives and begins to devour the last growth of alfalfa in the fields. It's a picturesque scene to be sure; mostly white sheep, with four or five bits of pepper seasoning the flock, combined with a Sheppard's rolling home; the whole panorama guarded by sentinel llama.

One year, with the llama looking on, my friend Jeff Smith stopped to meet the Sheppard. He asked him about the flock and how he could keep count of all the sheep. "That's easy," He said. "All I have to do is count the five bits of pepper and then I know." Sheep will follow another animal without question or thinking individually. Those that own and watch over the herd know that and use this information to their advantage in two ways.

The first way is that they can keep an eye on them quite easily as a whole through the "Principle of Contrast." It's hard to count a thousand sheep when they all look alike, but when you throw in the pepper they simply need to count to four or five and they'll know that the other thousand sheep are all there. Contrast is the first Sheppard's Tool.

The second Sheppard's Tool is the "Principle of Headship" and they use it when it's time for the herd to go to slaughter. They know the sheep will follow each other so they insert a "Headship Conspirator" goat into the herd. Such a goat is trained to walk from the holding pen through a shoot to the slaughter house. The sheep follow the goat into the long narrow enclosure only to be trapped into moving forward to their death, while the goat exits to fulfill his traitorous role again and again. The goat is referred to as a "Judas Goat."

I find it instructive that the sheep live a life based on two simple principles they don't understand and that they could use for their improvement if they could only recognize how to apply them in different ways. They could use the Principle of Contrast to see that there is good and evil so they could choose to embrace the good. They could use the Principle of Headship to select someone they know to be of sound experience and good character to lead and mentor them toward increased life and happiness. But, they're too busy being sheep to make such beneficial changes!

Are you living the life of a sheep? Are you using your heart and mind to use the Principles of Contrast and Headship in ways that will allow you to make beneficial changes to your life? I know you can do it if you'll simply set an annual mark in your mind.

When you see the leaves and weather begin to change each Fall Season let them act as a reminder that you're going change as well. Let the contrast awaken you to changes you want to make in your life. Then assume the role of Headship to blaze the way to doing something new and wonderful in the world. Use this mark again and again to engage these two important principles so you'll remember one simple thing. We're not sheep!

A Lesson in Cow Tipping

"She said, 'we're going cow tipping,' and I said, I don't think so."

• Corrie Norman
  

A Lesson in Cow Tipping

I spent the day repairing the entire west side of my fence because it had become pretty beaten down. Horses can do that over the years. When it was finished I stepped back and admired it. It was back in good condition and I felt great satisfaction in the work. But that satisfaction didn't last more than two days!

I answered my phone about 9:30 at night and the words spoken by the voice on the other end washed all of my satisfaction away like pouring spring rain. It was my neighbor John telling me that my cow, The Pillsbury Dough Girl, had walked through the South fence I shared with him.

He assured me that my cow was fine in kind tones and we discussed a plan to get her back home. We knew it would be a challenge since John has four steers and separating my cow would be more than a two person job. We estimated that it would take at least seven or eight people to get it done so the two of us started counting up the family members we had at home. We were short! My experience in getting a cow herded easily, without the right amount of help, is dismal at best so I began to think of who could help.

I immediately thought of my friends at Alpine Academy and placed a call to my friend Rob to ask for help. He was kind and gracious, as usual, and agreed to bring a few of his students over to help. Everything was going to be just fine! I would receive all the help I needed and the students would be able to participate in a common rural activity as an enhanced community experience.

When the day arrived, I went over to meet Rob and his students and they came over to my house. There were about fourteen of us in total so I had everyone gather in a circle so we could discuss strategy. Then we crossed the fence, spread out in a human chain and in no time had my cow back at home. It was a great success! I couldn't have gotten it all done without their help! But that's not the best part of the story!

Later in the week I was talking with Corrie Norman, Director of Operations for Alpine Academy, and she shared some additional information with me. Before we moved the cow one of the girls came up to her and told her that they were going to go "cow tipping" with me. As you can imagine Corrie was quite surprised because cow tipping is not generally thought of as a positive activity by people who own cows. And, since Corrie knows me pretty well she said, "I don't think so!"

That caused her to follow up with Rob to see what the activity planned really was. And, of course, when she checked with Rob she found out that they were going to help me with cow herding, not tipping. You know the rest of the successful story. But, after I had a good laugh with Corrie I began to think about the importance of good communication and how it makes all the difference. And, after this experience I'll try to keep a couple to things in mind when I'm trying to communicate carefully with others.

First, I'll try not to assume too much. I've found that lots of people just shake their heads up and down not because they agree with me but because they simply want the conversation to be over as quickly as possible. Second, most of us assume that the person we're talking with shares our life experience and so we don't go into as much detail as we should. I know my daughters get annoyed with me when they say, "Do you know what I mean?" and I say no.

Finally, whenever there is a question about information presented it's wise to ask more questions until you get all of the answers you need. Corrie was the perfect example of how to use this approach. She had questions and followed up to find the truth before jumping to conclusions. After all, jumping to conclusions can cause lots of confusion when you're working with a large group to "tip," oops, I mean heard cows.

Remember With Character

"Are you guys ready? Let's Roll"

• Todd Beamer
  

Remember With Character

Flight 93 had left Newark, N.J., at 8 a.m. Tuesday, 11 September 2001 bound for San Francisco. While I wasn't on the flight, I remember the day well. I'm sure you do too.

I was in a deep sleep in an unfamiliar bed when my phone let off a piercing ring awakening me. When I answered, I heard a familiar voice. "Where are you?" my sister asked.

"I don't know." I replied.

"No. Wait a minute. I'm in Modesto." I mumbled.

I had traveled the entire day on the 10^th just to get there. First it was by shuttle, then it was by plane, finally I arrived in a rental car. I traveled a lot in those days and often forgot what town I was in until I got out of bed and looked at my schedule.

I was beginning to wake up. I wasn't feeling well so I had slept in. It was a little after 7 a.m. on the West Coast. I knew now that my office in New York would be calling me any minute so it was clear that I had to get rolling with the day.

"Have you seen the news?" My sister brought me back to the moment.

"No. Why?" I answered.

"You better turn on the T.V." She said.

I did. I watched as much of the landscape around my office was in flames. I began to call my office. Needless to say, it was in vain. My life was changed forever.

My life is completely different now. Not just in what I do for a living, but in a lot of other ways too. I've traded a landscape of airplanes and buildings scraping the sky for a more pastoral setting. But, I'll never forget that day and the feelings I had then. My neighbors haven't forgotten either.

That's why we all gathered on Saturday to put a new mark on the day we refer to as "Patriot Day." We all participated in a "Day of Service." As I stood on the side of the road at the appointed time I marveled at everyone as they came with their shovels, rakes, chain saws, tractors, hammers and gloves. We weren't just a few. We were a neighborhood army out to make a difference for each other. It was a living display of hope, faith and charity.

We all worked together and then we all cleaned ourselves up and had a community dinner. We took time to get to know each other a little better, help each other and to remember.

At one moment I remembered how Todd Beamer demonstrated the way he lived by the way he died; helping to lead a takeover by passengers on United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed Tuesday, 11 September 2001 in Somerset County. It was the fourth plane to go down in that day's terrorist attacks.

"Just knowing that when the crisis came up he maintained the same character we all knew, it's a testament to what real faith means." Todd's wife Lisa once said.

That's the character we were emulating on our day of service. I was sitting in a small mountain valley with green grass tickling my toes, surrounded by my neighbors and I smiled when I heard Todd's words in my mind "Are you guys ready? Let's roll!"

Yes! I said to myself as I viewed what we were doing together. We're rolling forward to show increased love and hope to everyone around us. We're rolling forward to make our community a stronger, better place to live, one person at a time. We're rolling forward showing faith that by joining together we can live a better life by being charitable.

Are you guys ready? Let's roll!

 

Being Your Own Captain

"They decided where to go with the flip of a coin."

• Alan Cohen
  

Being Your Own Captain

Alan and I were in his airplane hangar so we could talk, but as soon as I walked into the building I was struck by the sight of a boat under construction. It seemed to me to be a sort of a magnet drawing me in. Perhaps it was because I was expecting to see an airplane. Perhaps it was because I was surprised to see a large boat being constructed in the middle of the desert! My friend Alan is full of surprises so I love to talk with him. Today was no exception to what I have begun to call "Alan's Rule of Being a Captain." He seems to be able to succeed when and where others have not. And, I think that it's because he came from a family who taught him the right skills and provided him with a great vision of life.

His family immigrated to the United States from Russia in the early 1920s. His grandfather and his brother came to Los Angeles and began to work for a furniture manufacturer there. They worked hard and became very skilled in the art of furniture making. But, when the great depression hit they soon found themselves without work.

"The two brothers sat down together to analyze their situation. They knew how to build furniture, and that people would always need furniture, so their solution was to look at a map of the United States, mark where the furniture manufacturers were and then move to a place where there was little or no competition." Alan once told me.

When the map was completed they could see that there was opportunity in Dallas, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah. "Since they had never been to either city they decided where to go with the flip of a coin." Alan said. Then, the two families got into one car and drove to Salt Lake City.

When they arrived they went to a local furniture store called "SouthEast Furniture" and met with the owner. They told him that they could build furniture to order and since they were in town they could deliver it quickly and without as much shipping cost. The store owner was interested and wanted to work with them.

The Cohen brothers then said, "We'd love to work for you, but there's only one problem. We don't have any money to start!" As it turned out, it wasn't a problem since the first furniture order from SouthEast Furniture was paid for in advance! The rest is history.

The Cohen family furniture business in now operating in its fourth generation and is one of the last local manufacturers in the region. And, while the business environment continues to change they continue to change. Still, the one thing that hasn't changed is the initial premise of the business. They continue to offer a product that is locally built for local businesses and people. And, at a time when economic conditions are very similar to those that existed during the great depression, when the business was founded, they are still flourishing.

Perhaps that's why I'm drawn to this story like a magnet. I didn't expect to find a business founded by Russian Immigrants in the middle of the desert and I didn't expect its location to be determined by the flip of a coin! While most don't think businesses can thrive in the economic conditions of today the Cohen family business is floating along in profitability.

Alan's new adventure is still under construction his airplane hangar; floating on jacks, getting ready for its maiden voyage. I just hope to be there when Alan flips a coin to decide whether he should launch it on the Great Salt Lake or Bear Lake. After all, both are fine places to begin a new adventure and neither lake has a locally made, hand built boat constructed in an airplane hangar so they're places of great opportunity. The boat simply needs a worthy, experienced captain to guide her.

You are the captain guiding your own boat. Just look for opportunity where others don't see it, work hard, work smart and you too can build an amazing life.

Creating a Magnetic Vision

"Our vision and focus act like a magnet that attracts and connects the pieces together."

• John Assaraf
  

Creating a Magnetic Vision

Like hundreds of thousands of others, I had come without knowing exactly what to expect. We were all being drawn together as if a huge magnet had sent out waves to pull us in. This was the last leg of a long journey that had begun the day before. We were standing on an elevated platform of the Metro Station at New York and Florida. Somehow our three families, one from California, one from Indiana, and one from Utah, knew why we were there, even though we were complete strangers. We exchanged greetings on the platform through introduction and boarded the train together.

By the time we got to the stop at Foggy Bottom on 23^rd Street the train was full to capacity. When we got off the train it was clear that the station was full, almost beyond its capacity. The crowd was polite and gentle as we made our way up stairs and escalators toward the exit. Together, we were like water gurgling from an underground spring toward the surface running down sloping 23^rd Street toward the Potomac River.

As we flowed down the street I kept looking around at all the people. We were all different. There were old people, young people and people in between. Some were struggling with the walk while others glided along. The look of some surprised me and others looked exactly as I expected.

What I didn't expect was the almost uncontrollable surge of emotion as we walked onto the Mall near the Lincoln Memorial. Just as we stepped near the Memorial there was an erupting cheer that enveloped the entire National Mall and everything surrounding it. I felt a tears well up in my eyes and then begin to slide down my face. They simply added to the sea of people around me.

We walked toward the Washington Monument looking for a spot to sit and participate in the program. We participated in repeating the "Pledge of Allegiance" and then sang the National Anthem. I had to choke out the words because I was so touched. I have never before participated with so many people in these rituals. It was an amazing experience.

It was the perfect example of the power of vision. Why else would so many different people come together from all across the United States? We all held one thing in common. It is faith and hope in the principles expounded in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of The United States. This one common vision of the "American Experiment" had brought us all together and was connecting us in a way none of us had ever experienced before.

That's what clear vision does. It takes one's thoughts from thinking into reality by directing focus and emotion so they will act as a vacuum between what we want and where we currently are. "We know from natural law that nature fills a void or gap in the fastest and most efficient was possible.

So, when we're fully engaged and emotionalized in our clear vision, we emit a frequency from our brain and heart that penetrate and permeates all space and time." John Assaraf once said to me.

There isn't a more graphic proof of this principle than the more than 500,000 people I spent the weekend with. And if you want to see it work in your own life you simply need to create a carefully crafted vision of your life inside your brain and make it more real than the current results in your outside world; then and only then will the universe begin to present its riches to you in the way of your dream.

Just remember that your clear vision is the seed of your new life. Write it down and give it emotion. That way it will be planted within your heart so you can harvest it as soon as possible!

Small Defining Moments

"I'd rather pay $7.50 than $6.00."

• Mark Olsen
  

Small Defining Moments

There have been lots of defining moments in my life. Many of the most eye opening are age related and would appear to be insignificant interactions. Here's one of the first examples I can remember that happened almost twenty-five years ago.

It was a Saturday night and my wife and I went to out for the evening to see a movie. We had an enjoyable time. The movie had ended. We were walking through the lobby when I realized I needed to get some change so I took a quick detour to the snack bar.

I walked up to the young woman at the counter and asked her if she would be so kind as to give me some change for a twenty-dollar bill. I hadn't seen this girl before and knew nothing about her. She knew nothing about me. When I handed her the money, she reached out and took it as she said, "Babysitting money, huh?" I knew then that I didn't look like the young, dashing man of my fantastic dreams. I looked like someone's father!

Since then I've endured years of everyone I meet responding to me with a quick, "Sir;" a title I once thought reserved for knights or "older, distinguished gentlemen."

Oh! Wait a minute! I guess I'm now one of those older gentlemen! I'm a slow learner!

But, one of the benefits of being an older gentleman is that I know lots of other people of the same vintage. I was conversing with my friend's Mark Olsen and Kim Fish a couple of days ago about this very subject when Mark talked about being at a famous restaurant. He was ready to pay his bill and was standing at the cash register; I mean "point of sale computer!" When the young woman said, "that'll be $7.50."

Mark began to get his money ready when she said, "No, wait. I forgot to give you your discount."

He described his confusion (no, not Alzheimer's) because he didn't know to what discount she was referring. Then said she, "It's $6.00; I forgot to give your Senior Discount."

Mark then said to Kim and me, "I'd rather pay $7.50 than $6.00!" Then we, all three laughed.

Later, as I reflected on this, I realized that it's the smallest of things; the smallest of statements that can affect us in big ways. It's still true that the big moments loom large, but it's also true that seemingly smallish things can have huge implications.

As we age, thousands of small things all add up to our maturity, wisdom and experience. It's our ability to integrate them into our whole that will determine who we are at any one moment. Perhaps Mark showed me who he really is by being surprised at the discount being offered!

He doesn't view himself as old or all used up! He views himself as a man with lots of life to live. He's a man creating his future with confidence and enthusiasm. He's a man ready to create his greatest success in business and relationships yet. He's defining his life moment by moment just like everyone else, no matter what their age.

If you can remember just this one small thing, this one approach to life, then you'll live a life filled with wonderful definition and memories.

Merging Your Past, Present and Future

"Sometimes I feel as if I've been left alone."

• Merridy Bagley
  

Merging Your Past, Present and Future

I sat back and listened as Merridy talked about the history of her land and its relationship to her mother. As she talked, I thought back to the times I had spent with her mother and a flood of warmth came rushing into my body. She was a woman with an oversized heart and a hearty sense of humor.

One day we sat laughing as she described the practical jokes her own mother had played on her and her children Merridy and Jeff. It was so funny I had tears running down my face and I could hardly sit in the chair. It's no wonder that Merridy misses such a delightful part of her life. But then I thought about that delight in more detail.

What does it really mean to be alone? What role do fond memories play in our concept of being alone? Would I feel more alone if I didn't have any wonderful memories to course through my body? Can a person feel complete and fulfilled without the physical presence of another? Perhaps these are questions best left to each individual to answer, but I wanted to talk with you about a principle I call "Merged Presence."

If a person did nothing but spend every waking moment thinking about the past then we would say "they live in the past." That would mean that their present life doesn't really exist and that would be a shame. Sometimes as people age they fall in to this trap. Still, a person should remember the past and use it to improve their present.

A person who lives in the present, who has learned valuable lessons in the past, can live more wisely than someone who lives without a foundation based on experience and relationships. Both of these bring richness to the present. The trick is to unite these essential seasoning elements into life so they don't become an impediment to new growth.

One must understand that combining the past and the present is a process, and that the success of any process is subject to art and the ratio of ingredients used. It's like using a recipe. So, here's a recipe you can try; if you'll remember that individual taste varies so you may need to do some tweaking.

First, always use fresh ingredients. Make sure you're always living your life with a zest for what comes to you in the present. If you open your eyes and accept the beauty around you, then you'll enjoy each moment. Second, blend your present with the experiences of your past, while selecting fond memories of important relationships to treasure up within your heart. Third, allow the emotions of warm relationships to leaven and make your present more interesting and exciting. Finally, enjoy your own combination of the past, present, and future while remembering that each provides separate, essential ingredients and you'll never truly be alone.

A Round Table Life

"Everyone around this table is family."

• William Young
  

A Round Table Life

I sat at a round table for lunch on Friday in a most unlikely spot. It was in the office of a high-speed machine shop in the middle of a large industrial park. I was invited by my friend William "Bill" Young, the owner of the company. We weren't the only ones there.

All of Bill's employees were there. There were eleven of us in all at the big round table. And, I looked across the table at each one of them, only to marvel at their uniqueness and difference. Still, we were the same. All of us humans covered in skin and filled with bones; each one also working with Bill in some way.

It wasn't until Bill began to speak that I really noticed the significance of the table to his words. "These lunches are so we can communicate well. As we grow this company we need to make sure that we have good communication so we can be successful. So let's go around the table and each one of you can say anything you want." Bill said.

That's when I saw the round, plastic table as something different. It was then that it reminded me of one of the most famous legends of British history; that of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Arthur represents a man who was the epitome of good against evil, light against darkness, and that eternal, never-ending struggle between what is right and that which is wrong. It is a tale of a group of men all working together for the good of their kingdom. Bill was the same; he wanted to make sure that all of the people who work for him were also working, with him.

"Not everyone here knows everyone yet, so be sure you tell us about yourself so we can all get to know you better. The better we know each other, the better we'll be able to work together." Bill continued. "We're all family here."

When I heard those words, I knew that Bill had discovered the "Principle of Inclusion." It didn't matter that we had different colored hair, skin and eyes. What mattered to him was that we had decided to be included in his life and venture. He is one of the best examples of inclusion I've ever seen.

Bill sees the benefits of his philosophy every day. He has a growing business and he's surrounded by people that have taken ownership of his business with him. Perhaps most importantly, he is encircled by friends with whom he shares life. Here are five things I've learned from my experience with Bill that I thought you might want to think about:

First, Bill only works with people who want to work with him. Second, he includes the people that work with him in the vision of his business. Third, each person is accountable for their responsibilities to everyone participating. Fourth, everyone participates in helping the others grow professionally and personally. Finally, everyone has a sense of belonging to their combined venture and life.

It's that sense of belonging that appeals to every person ever born on this planet and we can all have it if we'll just live a life of inclusion. Will you create a round table life? Who will you include at your table of life today?

 

Heartfelt Generosity

"I knew you'd hassle me so I was ready!"

• Marlene Maag
  

 

Heartfelt Generosity

 

It was an early Saturday morning, but I was gratified to see lots of my friends working at full speed. Truck after truck pulled in to the parking lot where we were setting up. Each truck was filled with donated goods. Some of the trucks even pulled trailers packed with even more goods. I was amazed.

Though the site was amazing to me, what amazed me more was that so many people had banded together of their own free will. We had been working for weeks to plan this event and now the results were plain to see. The location, goods, talent and time had all been combined so we could raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

I arrived a little later than I had planned so everything was well underway when I arrived. And after some time had passed my friend Marlene came walking up. As she approached, I couldn't help but feel a little devious and have some fun at her expense since she had been the genesis of everything around us.

"Nice you could come!" I said.

"I knew you'd hassle me so I was ready for you!" She quipped.

She had gotten up at 4:30 a.m. that morning to begin the day's event and then left for a few minutes to go and teach a class. Now she was here to give the rest of her day and evening! But she was also here to give one more thing that would go unnoticed by all of the people who would come and participate in this huge yard sale; unbridled generosity.

There's a difference between generosity and forced giving; it's the contrast between hope, love & charity and compulsion. As I looked around at my friends during the day that difference was clear. They were all smiling, happy and peaceful. They were giving of themselves through their heart. Now I think I understand how the common saying, "heartfelt gift" came in to being.

Living a heartfelt life means surrounding yourself with people who have the desire to make a difference in the lives of those around them and then acting. Each individual makes the determination to take action and to work together. The results of this individual freedom are unmatched and can't be duplicated in any other way.

You can experience the unmatched joy of living a heartfelt life if you'll just take four small steps. First, make the decision to be a beacon of faith, hope and charity. Second, surround yourself with others who choose to live by this principle. Third, select a cause to champion and finally, commit a little time each week to take action.

I've found that doing a little bit over a long period of time makes a much larger impact than trying to do something huge just one time. So make sure you give yourself plenty of room to let your heart grow into this principle. Start today!

Maintaining Flexibility in the Face of Truth

The Pillsbury Dough Bull?

Maintaining Flexibility in the Face of Truth

Some things are just common sense. At least that's what I always think. Yet, there are times when the truth is right in front of my face and I don't see it. One morning this week I discovered that, just like everyone else, I assume a lot and don't always take the time to look for the real truth and see things how they really are.

I got up early one morning so I could enjoy the cool of the day and do a little work in my field. It was the perfect temperature to be outside working. The sun hadn't charged over the mountains yet, but there was good light. I remember thinking things were just right as I walked with my dogs at my side and my horses just up ahead.

And, there was one other animal in the picture. It was the Pillsbury Dough Bull. He's pretty shy and likes to keep his distance for the most part, but since I feed him hay all winter he's willing to walk up to a fairly close to me. This happened to be the case on this very morning. I had a shovel in my hands and my eyes were darting around, near the feet of Pillsbury, as I looked for thistles to dig out of the thick grass.

As I was looking around I caught a glimpse of something hanging beneath the cow. I wasn't really looking for anything but thistles so I wasn't sure what it was. Still, I knew that something wasn't right so I bent down a little lower and looked specifically at the underside of my prized bull.

That's when I saw it. The truth was hanging right in front of me! It was an udder!

Now, I can see you thinking, where's your common sense Lynn! What's wrong with you!

Well, the truth is that I never really looked. Yes. I do know the difference between a bull and a heifer.

But in this case I don't even remember why I thought she was a bull except that someone, I think the guy who sold her to me as a calf, said she was a bull. No matter. I just didn't take the time to really look to see what the truth was! Now I was faced with the task of adjusting my thinking so it's in line with the truth. And it's made me wonder what other beliefs I have that I just haven't taken the time to examine in depth. So, here's my suggestion to you and me.

Take the time to list your core values, the principles by which you live your life. Then begin a process to examine each one. Study the concepts from their very roots to see what you discover. I'm in the process of reading a book entitled "The Five Thousand Year Leap," so as to allow me to inspect the basis of my roots as a freeman, and its effect on me has been to stir the very depths of my soul. Through it I've discovered truths that have caused me to adjust my beliefs as a result of seeing the truth. I'm sure I'll have the same experience as I begin to review my other core beliefs as well; and so will you.

I hope you'll join me and make some discoveries of your own. And, when you do you may find that you need to change what you do and even perhaps what you call some things. So, here's my first change: The Pillsbury Dough Bull is now officially the Pillsbury Dough Girl.

Creating Strong Roots

"If the roots are strong, it will come back."

• Wade Anderson
  

Creating Strong Roots

I have some trees in my yard called Mimosas. They're a tree whose leaves are very sensitive to the touch and the sun. During the day, the leaf clusters open fully to the sun in an effort to capture as much of the light and warmth as they possibly can. In the evening , as the sun begins to fade behind the mountains and the air cools, the leaf clusters close in on themselves as they try to try to hold on to the sun's warmth.

As the warmth of the summer grows they flower pink in globular clusters. The flowers are very delicate and they wave in the air as if they were single strands of a spider's web. I'm sure that's why these trees as also called "Silk Trees." In the summer my trees with their showy pink filaments have an intoxicating scent. I really look forward to seeing them each year.

They're always the last trees to leaf out each spring and since I wait with such anticipation I worry each spring that they've died over the winter. This year my fears proved to be true and I lost two of my eight trees!

I was in distress, but I after a month I was resigned to my loss. So, I went to my friend Wade Anderson, the owner of Tooele Valley Nursery, and began to look for replacement trees. As we walked through rows of trees we talked about my trees and why they may have died.

Wade said, "Lots of trees died this year because it got warm too early and then it got cold again after they trees budded. If the roots [of your tree] are strong, it will come back. "

With this new sprig of hope, I decided to wait before I purchased a new tree and began to watch. The roots of my trees were indeed strong! Not long after my conversation with Wade a new sprout began to spring from the base of both trees and now they're well on their way to becoming a new main trunk for these two trees. I'm delighted and I've learned something of great value to share with you.

Everyone will have challenges in life and one can never tell when they'll hit. But, when you've created strong roots within your soul, they'll withstand major challenges that will surely try to break you. I know this to be true because I've experienced it.

If you're being challenged right now please know that I believe you have the strength within to overcome anything that will come your way. Draw on your education, faith, and experience to weather the challenge. You can do it!

Then, when the storm is over, follow the example of my trees and use your roots to push new branches toward the sky and new roots deeper into the earth. Never stop learning, never lose your faith and always ask the question, "What lesson should I learn from this challenge," so your experience will be used for your benefit and the benefit of others.

Regaining Confidence

"He's lost his confidence now, so we need to build it up again."

• Wayne Quarles
  

 

Regaining Confidence

 

I sat at the side of an outdoor riding arena as Wayne Quarles coached three girls and their horses. It was a bright sunny day with a little breeze and puffing clouds floating above. I looked up and watched as a hawk floated through the cotton speckled blue. Then I looked a little to my right, back toward the horses and the girls.

The girls were riding through a "grid," in a line through a series of poles. Some were flat. Some were crossed and leaning against the standard. And, a couple of jumps were set at about two feet in the air. Things were going well and then things changed dramatically!

Annie was riding a young, "green" horse. For some reason as she approached the last jump, he (Marty) scared himself. He lost his confidence. He hesitated, almost stopping. He jumped.

As he jumped, much higher than necessary, I saw Annie come about two feet above the saddle and then settle with a thud on Marty's back. That's when Marty began to buck and bolt toward the fence almost fifty yards straight ahead.

As he twisted and bend his body I listened to a collective gasp from others as they feared for the safety Marty and Annie. Yet, soon after the gasps I watched Annie regain control and bring the gray-speckled pony back under control. Both were physically sound, but Marty was clearly shaken and had lost his confidence.

Wayne is an experienced teacher and trainer so he recognized this right off and I watched as he changed his priorities and techniques for the session. "O.K., Annie. Let's work with him so he can get his confidence back," he said.

Then they began to work more deliberately toward a needed restoration. As they worked the damage clearly unfolded and as Annie and Marty rode toward a black and white striped jump, Marty twisted violently to the left. That's when Annie exited her saddle and fell to the ground even while she still clutched the reigns with her hands.

"I'm O.K.," she said as she bounced up.

"Let's give him a break," Wayne said after making sure Annie was well.

That's when I said to myself, "There have been times I've felt like Marty before." So, I became more intent on letting Wayne teach me about rebuilding confidence.

The next day Annie and Marty came out to work with Wayne again and I had the chance to distill some steps to rebuild confidence I'll share with you.

First, Wayne had Marty follow closely behind another horse and rider so it would be easy for him to focus on copying successful behavior rather than on his fear. Second, he directed Annie to make sure Marty had good energy going toward each jumps as they approached. Third, he taught Annie and Marty that good energy produces the power needed to get over obstacles. Fourth, he reminded Annie to focus on creating and maintaining balance. Fifth, he worked with Annie to make sure that Marty kept only the next jump in view. And finally, he had Annie praise Marty with a gentle pat and voice as he succeeded. The results were remarkable!

In the end, I watched Annie and Marty complete and entire course with beauty and grace. It was wonderful to behold and nice to see that great advice does make a huge difference. So, next time you find yourself in need of rebuilding your confidence follow Wayne's Steps of Confidence Building.

Model a successful person closely. Have good energy going forward. Use the power of your good energy to overcome obstacles. Create and maintain good balance as you move ahead. Focus only on the immediate obstacle in front of you so you're not overwhelmed, and praise yourself every time you succeed.

A Trusted Advisor Makes a Difference

"When I just took two steps forward a whole new vista opened to my view."

• Quinn Header
  

A Trusted Advisor Makes a Difference

There have been times in my life when no matter how much I drew from my own experience and knowledge it just wasn't enough. Have you ever had those moments in your life? You know, the moment when you really wanted to know just what to do but didn't?

Such times have made me feel as if I were a hunter, out in the forest, without any map or ability to get up high and see the way to my goal. That's when everything begins to look the same, every turn, every path just takes me to the same place, no where!

I was thinking just that during a discussion with a couple of friends yesterday. We were talking about how there are times in life when we just need to draw on more knowledge and experience than we have at any one moment in time. That's when I brought up the old saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees."

As soon as I brought that up I saw a twinkle begin in the corner of Quinn's eyes. It was a kind of sunrise twinkle; I saw it begin in the outside corner of his eyes and watched its light move across his brow until it exploded in full brightness. He had reached a moment of epiphany.

"I remember deer hunting one time," he said. "We were in an area I wasn't familiar with. I was with a friend who knew the area but he wasn't well enough to go out with us. Still, he wanted to help so we decided to go to an area near his home where he could guide us through radio contact. You see, he had a telescope and could see the entire side of the mountain from a vantage point I couldn't see. I was too close to see the whole picture! "

He continued, "I was there walking around and couldn't see anything but sagebrush. Then I got a radio call from my friend who told me there was a herd of deer just up a head of me. I told him there couldn't be. I had a clear view and couldn't see anything up ahead."

That's when his friend said, "Take two steps forward!"

"I took the two steps forward and to my surprise a whole new grand vista opened right before my eyes. I could see the deer! I could see a whole beautiful valley laid out before me! All it took was literally two steps. I just couldn't see if before!"

Working with someone who knows the terrain and has experience in it makes all the difference. It's what I call "The Trusted Advisor Principle." You can call it anything you want, a friend, a parent, the local gentry. It doesn't matter as long as you're able to have a great relationship with someone who has the knowledge and experience necessary to supplement your own.

If you haven't begun to develop such a relationship take the time to observe the people around you. Find someone you'd like to emulate. Watch them for a while to see if they'll fill the bill. Make sure they're honest and of sound character. If they are, develop your relationship and then reap the reward together. You'll soon find both of your lives will be richer and more successful.

Here's to the new vistas that will open up for you!

Take Ten Seconds to Prepare

"I didn't have any time. I didn't have ten seconds!"

• Ken Smith
  

A Ten Second Preparation

I called Ken to check in with him.

"Ken? This is Lynn. How are you today?"

It was a Monday morning and I had no reason to believe it was not just like every other Monday. But, Ken's answer was different than I expected.

"I'm not doing very well. My wife died yesterday."

The words felt like a slap across my face. I was stunned! I stammered for something to say.

"You're kidding me!" I replied.

As soon as the words left my mouth I felt silly for saying something that ridiculous. I wished I could take the words back! Happily, Ken just let the words drift past without feeling any sting. He simply began to tell me of the biggest life challenge he had ever faced.

I listened to the story and thought how strange it all was. I had been in the Smith home not more than two weeks before and everything was in good order. Ken and his wife were sitting in their living room. She was knitting while all three of us talked. It just didn't seem plausible for her to have passed away so quickly.

Ken explained the whole thing to me. They were in their home when she told him she didn't feel well and asked him to take her to the hospital. He did. They were in the emergency room and she appeared to be doing well. The doctors and nurses had been attending to her for a while and everything seemed to be going well. They determined that she had a bowel obstruction. It had been a long day of tests and evaluation.

With everything seemingly stable Ken decided to step out of the room for a minute to go get a hamburger. They hadn't eaten all day. He was gone for a mere ten minutes and he came back into the room with some food for the two of them and she was gone!

"It's got to be hard," I said. "You were married for fifty years weren't you?

"Yes," he replied.

"You didn't have any time to prepare!"

"No. I didn't have any time. I didn't have ten seconds!"

Since that Monday, I've been to the funeral and Ken and I have spent lots of time talking. I can still see the pain in his eyes. I can still see the hole in his life. No matter what happens in Ken's future that hole will always be there. At least it's a hole filled with wonderful memories of an amazing love. The love of his life; she meant everything to him!

This experience has meant everything to me as well. Through it I've had a confirmation that love really can last a lifetime and that we need to express it every day, every second! Sometimes we don't have even ten seconds to prepare. No, wait!

Ken didn't have ten seconds to prepare! He had fifty years to prepare! So it can be for all of us if we'll choose to share our love with those around us. Ken has shown us the way to fill any holes in our lives. Please take just ten seconds today to prepare and then go share your love with everyone around you.

More Than Just Mowing Weeds

"You didn't come here to cut weeds; you came to talk to me."

-Ed Dalton

More Than Just Mowing Weeds

On Memorial Day I got up and started my lawn mower. When I saw my friend Ed Dalton the day before, I was reminded that he could use some help in his yard. So this day was going to be a day of action, not just a day of remembrance.

I road my mower up the street, feeling the fresh air blowing across my face in anticipation of the work. Since it wasn't far, it wasn't long before I could begin to mow the weeds that were creating a fire hazard around the newly constructed home. And, as I worked, the dust soon began to swirl around me. The mower cut through the weeds with relative ease and I settled back to finish the work.

In a few minutes I spied Ed walking through the dust on his way toward me. We talked for a moment and then he began to clear rocks that were hidden in the dust and vegetation. Our work moved forward more quickly and in no time at all we were finished; and the house was much safer from a potential fire.

We were covered in dust and our throats were dry so Ed invited me to sit for a while with a cold drink. It was a chance for us to enjoy each other's company. We began to talk.

We talked and discussed lots of things. We talked about our families and some of the challenges we face. We talked about business and how our lives were being affected from the economic shifts that are occurring all around us. It was great to sit and just talk. As our conversation began to ebb, Ed made a most astute statement.

"You didn't come here to cut weeds; you came to talk to me."

I listened to his words, but more importantly, I felt his words in my heart. I knew he was right. As a result of our conversation and work together we no longer felt separate or alone. We were able to share our fears and our hopes. We renewed our friendship with the confirmation of common hopes, dreams and challenges. I was glad I came to talk with Ed.

I could have spent the day just cutting weeds. I'm glad I didn't. Had I stayed home I would have just done yard work. But, when I went to cut weeds with Ed I got a lot more. I got a renewal of spirit I could get in no other way.

Make time to help friends on a regular basis so you'll be doing more than just completing tasks and living alone. You'll be building relationships that will renew your friendship and spirit. If you will, you and your friends will enjoy greater strength and courage to face whatever life brings your way.

Bravery in a Small Package

"I just do all I can and that's all I can do."

• Joy Haver
  

Bravery in a Small Package

I didn't intend to learn one of the great lessons of my life in that moment. And, I didn't intend to watch a person of such small stature grow into the largest, bravest person I've ever witnessed right before my eyes. But, it all happened in a moment as I made a brief, albeit important stop as I walked down the hall from my office.

Near the entrance to my office is a countertop that extends up to about four feet in height and behind this sits a small, quiet woman of great stature. There are times when walking past doesn't yield a view of her, except for the top of her head as she sits using the computer to do her work. Yet, on this day my view was changed by a simple encounter.

I stopped because it appeared to me as if an uncharacteristic burden seemed to be expressed across her brow. For this is a brow, usually alight with a twinkle nestled in the eyes just below. So much so that I have often marveled that such a countenance is the perfect match for her name, Joy. This day though, the twinkle had faded and the Joy I know was not the same. I was soon to learn why.

As I spoke with her I watched as she used all she had to keep back tears that were so ready to flow. There were only a few times when she had to push back the salty water with her fingers. My heart ached as I listened to her tell me of her challenges.

Her husband is fighting cancer and the chemotherapy is not going well. And, as if that's not enough she flew to Rhode Island last weekend to rescue he aged mother and bring her to the shelter of her own home. Yet, her she was, determined to be on the job each and every day so she could provide the much needed financial support necessary to sustain her family. She is engaged in a most noble cause indeed!

I walked down the hall in an effort to gain a little respite from the rigors of my own business and what I found was a changed perspective. I found that bravery can come in small packages and in seemingly small ways. I found that a giant can be seen amongst us, hidden in a small body. I found an example of goodness and grace that can scarcely be equaled.

Perhaps most importantly, I've learned that the greatest people are those living as part of our lives. They aren't the most famous and they aren't generally on television. They don't have throngs of people chanting their names in stadiums and they don't have photographers chasing them around. They're our friends and neighbors. They're the people we can buoy up with a listening ear and a helping hand. I encourage you to find the Joy in your life and help the brave become even braver and the giant in them stand a little taller.

Seeking Truth and Principle

"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable"

• James Garfield
  

Seeking Truth and Principle

If you're like me you're striving to live your life based on principles. I've found that it's the best way to live and feel at peace inside. Still, being a seeker of truth and principle isn't always an easy path.

Last week I was attending a meeting where the speaker was trying to discuss a very delicate matter. I watched him as he carefully worked to navigate some "dangerous waters." In fact, his entire presentation was off the cuff until he got to one point where is stopped and said, "I want to say this correctly so I spent a lot of time to write it down so the words come out the way I want them to."

As he proceeded, it was clear that he had chosen his words very carefully. It was his objective to present a difficult subject in a way that would teach and reach as many people in the room as possible. I appreciated his extraordinary effort. Yet, his words were not satisfying to me.

As he went on with his talk, I found myself becoming more and more agitated inside. It became so disruptive to me that it wasn't too long before my ears were soon closed; any principles that may have been presented were being blocked.

You know that I always try to listen to learn so I found this internal response to be a foreign one and have been struggling with it for a week now. I still haven't been able to reconcile the words or the principles being presented, but I've made some progress since I heard a quote from James Garfield, 20^th President of the United States a few days ago.

"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable."

This statement rang true to me, in my current state, so I wanted to learn a little more about this obscure President and found that an assassin's bullet cut his time in office to a mere 200 days. Mrs. Garfield was at his bed side as his doctor said, "Mrs. Garfield, the President is dying." Leaning over her husband and fervently kissing his brow, she exclaimed, "Oh! Why am I made to suffer this cruel wrong?"

Now that's a feeling everyone one of us has had at one time or another! And, I fear that such a feeling will cause many to shrink at the prospect of facing hard truths from time to time. But, shall we give up our quest to seek and live lives of principle simply because it's uncomfortable from time to time?

No! Perhaps the greatest principle we must live by is the most basic; it is to live by principle. But, sometimes it appears as if it's not only the road least traveled, it's also the road most difficult to travel. All I can tell you is that it may be the road least traveled and it may be the most difficult to travel, but it is the only satisfying road to travel in life. So, encourage yourself to stay on this road by surrounding yourself with others on the road of truth and principle. Learn from each other and even carry each other when necessary. It'll all be worth it. I promise!

Free at Last!

"I wish there was someplace to get good news. All I see is bad news everywhere."

• Carol Butterfield
  

Free at Last!

I try to speak with my mother at least once each day. She's aged now and lives alone. I know how I'd feel if I spent my life caring for my children and then they all disappeared into their own worlds, leaving me feeling trapped in a world that looked the same but contained only memories. As a result, we've had some real good conversations. And, there was one this week that really had an impact on me.

We were talking along when she said, "I wish there was someplace to get good news. All I see is bad news everywhere." I can certainly see why she feels that way and it would have been easy to simply agree with her and let that part of our conversation end. But, another idea came rushing into my head and I wanted to explore it so I asked, "Where do you get your news?"

She replied, "I watch it every evening."

As she spoke another memory filled my mind. I remembered having a conversation with my friend Brad years ago when he told me of how the old telephone monopoly spent millions of dollars running ads so they could teach people to answer the telephone when it rang. Think about it! If you didn't know that a ringing telephone was a signal that someone was hoping to speak with you it would do nothing but annoy you every time it rang. Happily, times have changed. There is no telephone monopoly! And, a mono- ringing phone is a nostalgic memory for lots of older people. We now live in a time where each person can choose the sound notification on their phone.

The news monopoly is also dead! We can choose to get our news from thousands of other sources. I asked my mother why she watched the evening news when it only caused her pain. She replied, "I want to see the weather and know what's going on in the world."

I replied, "I can get the weather instantly on my phone whenever I want. You can too."

I could see now that she has spent years answering the "ring" of the evening news at six o'clock! She's answering the call of people making the decision of what "stories" she'll see and when, even though there are thousands of other options that will allow her to choose what news she sees and when she'll see it.

Think of all the options that are available to each one of us in today's world of information. Remember the old saying about computers? It goes, "Garbage in, garbage out." So, I'm exploring all the programming I've spent years running within my own head and I know it's the first step to freeing myself from all of it.

Join me in freeing yourself. It's as simple as changing the sound notification on your phone. Make the decision to create the world you live in. See the news you want to see. Surround yourself with people and things that will encourage and uplift you. Embrace your personal freedom and spread the word; we are individuals of choice! There is no monopoly over our minds anymore! We're free at last!