Happy Thanksgiving!

Listen here for a special, short Thanksgiving message just for  you!

 

 

And, as always,

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

The POWER of ONE DAY! (part 7: Summation)

 

I hope you have enjoyed and benefited from this series.

 

"Enjoying" does not necessarily mean "enjoy" in the way that we usually associate that word. Sometimes we are faced with things that make us uncomfortable because they make us take a close look at things in our lives that may need to be changed. It might make us squirm BUT we "enjoy" it because it did, in fact, challenge us to improve our actions and our lives.

 

Again, if you have not read the previous posts on this, PLEASE take the time to read them and also send me your thoughts/feedback on this series. That would mean a LOT to me and it would be a big help as well.

 

Let's sum it all up. No, I'm not going to go back and do a "review" but, instead, I want to just tie it all together in a way that, hopefully, will help us all - myself included.

 

If you've spent ANY time with me at all then you know that I emphasize the importance of TODAY quite often. And so it is with this whole series.

 

I could go on and on urging us, with specific examples, of why it is so important to take advantage of today. Why? How? Because it's that important and simply due to the fact that the need and urgency is endless.

 

However, let me simply say this: TODAY MATTERS.

 

Even more importantly, WHAT YOU DO TODAY matters!

 

Stop wasting your days. Stop thinking that there is nothing more to life. Stop thinking that the mistakes you have made in your life cannot be overcome. Stop thinking there is nothing you can do. Stop thinking that it's too late.

 

Start realizing that today is a new day. Start taking advantage of this new day that you have. Start making definite decisions to make the changes necessary to correct whatever needs to be corrected in your life. Start taking one step at a time, beginning TODAY!

 

Friend, I can never "over-emphasize" enough what YOU can do in this one day!

 

Here's the great thing about this as well: You don't have to worry about tomorrow or the next day - JUST TODAY! That's all you can control.

 

So, with that being said, I CHALLENGE you, I ENCOURAGE you to take care of TODAY.

 

There is POWER there, my friend. Look at it. See it. Feel it. KNOW IT.

 

Now, start LIVING it.

 

TODAY.

 

And, as you do so, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University          "Like" FYU on Facebook!          MichaelSpillman.com

The POWER of ONE DAY! (part 6: The Day of Your Death)

In this series we have talked about many things. We have talked about events in history that most anyone would know due to the impact that it had in history. I talked about the assassination of John F. Kennedy but we could also talk about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

 

We have talked about the importance in understanding the IMPACT that each of us - YOU and I - have on those around us. What we do, either good or bad, positive or negative, can make all the difference in the world FOR the world of those that cross our paths every day.

 

We have discussed this idea and how it relates to the problem of bullying. I hope and pray that this part of the series, in particular, will be something that will help SOMEONE along the way.

 

In our last blog post I even talked about the POWER of the day of your BIRTH! Go back and read it if you haven't done so already.

 

As a matter of fact, if you haven't had the chance, take some time and read each of these that have been posted so that you can "feel" the thought behind everything that has been shared.

 

Now, today is going to be a little different. Today we are going to discuss the POWER of ONE DAY with that day being the day that you die.

 

Sounds morbid, I know but I hope you will stay with me and follow along with my reasoning.

 

Can I share something personal first? As I type this out on a Monday I do so following news that my Dad passed away last night. He had been battling with cancer and I got to visit with him last Tuesday. I'm not going to say much more about it but, please know that when I speak on this topic it is FRESH in my mind and in my thoughts, okay?

 

Yes, more than likely, the day that you die may be a sad day for those that know you. I mean, YOU HOPE SO, RIGHT? I have actually been to a few funerals where there were no more than two or three "mourners" which, to me, is a sad thing to see.

 

In reality, what I'm talking about is not actually the fact that the day of your death is so powerful as much as it is a marking of your LEGACY that is so powerful!

 

Did you notice that the picture of the tombstone at the top of this entry is BLANK? And so it is with your life, friend. Sure, you could go ahead and have your name and the date of your birth put on ahead of time - you know those. However, you do not know the day that you will die and, even though this is not "written" on the tombstone, what is said ABOUT you with that tombstone has not been written - or FINISHED being written - yet.

 

A person's death can do many things. I've seen many times where a person's death actually brought a family back together when there has been separation due to arguments or other division. Even if not that, a family is brought together and, even though the situation may be sad, the family gets to visit and catch up with what has been going on in the lives of those gathered.

 

Here's the main thing I want to address and I am not going to spend a lot of time on it: THE POWER OF THE DAY OF YOUR DEATH POINTS TO YOUR LEGACY!

 

There is POWER in what is possible to live on through the lives of your children and grandchildren. There is POWER in the influence that you are able to leave on and in the lives of those that you have had contact for a period of time.

 

Friend, we NEVER know the full impact of the lives that we have touched and we will NEVER know. However, this kind of influence and impact is often seen when people gather to remember one who has passed.

 

What about YOU?

 

Are you leaving a legacy of positive impact? Or are you leaving a legacy (yes, it is still a legacy) of "well, I'm glad to see him gone!"? That's sad, but it's real!

 

As I talked about in yesterday's entry, each and every day that you wake up and take a breath YOU have the chance for a "do-over". YOU have a chance to correct what may need to be changed concerning your legacy. Each and every day!

 

Every day YOU have the opportunity to allow your LEGACY to grow and expand to those that you may not ever even meet. It is called "the ripple effect".

 

Yes, the POWER of ONE DAY!

 

But do NOT miss this point. The one day that is being discussed in this post is a combination of each and every day that has come BEFORE the day of your death.

 

That's how this works.

 

I did not see eye to eye on a lot of things with my Dad. But I am thankful that my Dad - my father - instilled many strong and powerful characteristics that have served me well and have actually been passed along to my own sons.

 

And I believe they will be continued to be passed along and instilled for generations to come.

 

THAT'S AWESOME!

 

So, friend, take advantage of TODAY so that "that day" - the day of your death - will show "the POWER of ONE DAY" as those gathered remember your life that came before that final day.

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University          "Like" FYU on Facebook!          MichaelSpillman.com

 

The POWER of ONE DAY! (part 5: Happy Birthday!)

 

The day that you were born changed the world FOREVER!

 

Friend, regardless of the surroundings or situations surrounding your birth, it is a FACT that the world was changed forever. Stay with me on this for a few minutes, okay?

 

You impacted the nurses, doctors and any other hospital staff that helped bring you into this world. Regardless of the situation surrounding your birth, you changed the world of your parents forever.  YES, parents!

 

Even if your biological father was not a part of your life (or even there for your birth), his world was changed due to his choices of NOT being a part of your life. Regardless, he was a part of YOU being brought into this world. The same is true for your biological mother. Even if you were immediately put up for adoption, YOUR BIRTH CHANGED THE WORLD FOREVER!

 

Some say they wish they were never born (STOP THAT!) and some - many of us - wish we could just go back and do it all over again.

 

Well, friend, that is impossible but, at the same time, it is indeed something that can be done.

 

Let me quickly explain. Although it is impossible to go back and be physically born all over again, the fact that you are alive and breathing today signifies the fact that YOU - yes YOU - have another day to "start over" and do today better.

 

"As long as there is breath, there is HOPE!" That's one of my favorite quotes that I've come up with over the past several years.

 

Every day is a "re-do" and every day brings the hope of change! It is also continues the idea that every day of your "re-do" or "re-birth" is a day to change the world and those that will come across your path today and EVERY day.

 

Make sense?

 

So, you see, there IS power in not only TODAY, but every day that you have since the day that you came into this world - the day of your BIRTH!

 

Make the most of it and, as always, whatever you do be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University      "LIKE" FYU on Facebook         MichaelSpillman.com

The POWER of ONE DAY! (part 4: BULLYING cont'd)

If you've not done so, please be sure to go back and read the first 3 installments in this series so that you can be "up-to-date" on everything leading up to today's blog entry.

In the last blog I talked about the fact that bullying has been around for a very long time - perhaps even since the beginning of time. Does the fact that this problem has been around so long leave us with no hope of being able to do anything about it?

NO!

Before I get started with some suggestions of what we CAN do let me first state that I don't think we will ever completely rid our world of this problem. Again, that doesn't mean that we throw our hands up in despair thinking that there is nothing we can do if we can't stop it completely. There are a LOT of problems that have been around in our world for a very long time that we have the power to IMPROVE even though we cannot rid our world of them forever. Crime, for example, is one of those problems that fit this thought.

Along that same line let me also say that all the rules and laws in the world will not rid our world of this problem. So, am I saying that we should not have consequences in place for those that bully others. Not at all. I just want to make sure that we understand that, though it is important to have rules and punishments in place to serve as deterrents, these will still never stop the problem completely. Again, look at crime of any kind and you will see this point played out.

All of that being said brings me to this main point: IF WE ARE TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS AREA THEN WE MUST REALIZE THAT THE ANSWER MUST START WITH US!

The solution - the ANSWER - must begin with you and with me. We cannot wait for others and we cannot wait for and expect rules and laws to do it for us. WE, friend, must take action and we must take action NOW!

So, here are a few suggestions that I have to help. I would love to hear your feedback and additional ideas that you may have about this as well.

1. ADULTS must set the example! Young people often (if not always) pick up their ideas of how to treat others from their parents or other adults that are around them. This can be parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles as well as people like teachers and coaches. How do THESE people treat others? I have seen, heard and experienced some of the most hateful and rude actions and words come from adults. And, sadly, many times in the presence of a young person. What do you think the young person learns from what they observe from YOU?

2. ADULTS must be AWARE!  There are several ways that we, as adults, must "open our eyes" and be aware at how prevalent this issue of bullying really is in our world. Here are a few examples:

     a. Be aware of your surroundings - I know that some will think I'm going a bit far in this but I feel that this is part of the problem. We don't want to see things as they are and then we want to scratch our heads and wonder what the problem is. Pay attention to what is coming into your home via your television, for example. Have you ever paid attention to how many television programs have "misfits" in them? Sure, sometimes the programs do this and try to teach a lesson on "acceptance" but, often, it is done for comedic purposes. Adults, what are YOUR comments about such a character as you watch a program like this? What kinds of comments come from YOUR mouth? "Oh, but it's just a television show!" Sure it is, but the words that come from your mouth are REAL and the ears that travel into the minds of those young people around you are REAL as well!

     b. Be aware of MORE surroundings - Call me old fashioned and/or nosey but, friend, I think it's time YOU got a little nosey and became aware of what is going on in the life of your child (pre-teen, teen and even college age) when it comes to social media. Yes, I understand that if one of your children are college age and have purchased their own phone, etc. that this presents a different approach but, it still should involve YOU - the adult - in helping that young adult conduct themselves in a positive way. For those of you with children at home - GET NOSEY AND GET INVOLVED! Do NOT allow "out of view" access to the Internet in your house. Again, call me old fashioned if you want but I believe this problem DEMANDS some extraordinary actions on the part of adults! Along the same lines, do NOT allow "unchecked" use and access to texts. In my opinion you, as an adult, should require periodic, unannounced checking of your child's phone for two reasons: 1. to make sure they are not taking part in bullying and, 2. to make sure they are not being bullied. WAKE UP and get involved in the life of your child!

3. ADULTS must STAND UP and take the LEAD! Everything I've talked about so far has been about us, as adults, taking more responsibility in this area. As adults we must understand that this problem is NOT going to go away by itself. As adults, especially as parents we must not fool ourselves into thinking, "My child wouldn't do something like that!". It may be true that under most situations your child would NOT participate in bullying. But, again, going back to my last article, sometimes a person can get involved in bullying as a way to keep from being bullied and/or to feel like they, themselves, are being accepted and that they belong, even if that "belonging" is with a less than desirable group of people.

We, as adults must wake up and get involved in the lives of our children and the children that come into our care in any way. We must be involved so that our young people will have SOMEONE that they feel like they can talk to if they feel that they are being bullied. The same must be true for the young person that has begun to bully others and doesn't like how it feels but doesn't know how to stop without being an outcast (see last paragraph).

We, as adults, must also wake up and get involved and provide an opportunity for the bully to express what is going on in their life as well. I firmly believe that bullying is a REACTION or an ACTING OUT due to a problem in that person's life. Instead of immediately condemning the one that bullies, we need to also try to do all we can to help that person. Does that make sense? There is an issue there that needs to be addressed!

Have I stressed the fact enough that this all begins with ADULTS?

We cannot teach and/or correct if we don't first SHOW, by our actions, what it is to respect those that are around us.

I look forward to your comments and thoughts. In my next article - part 5 - I will "change speeds" and look at the POSITIVE things that each of us can do in our lives that very well may change OUR lives (and the lives of those around us) forever.

Friend, just remember, you and I hold so much POWER in what we do and say each and every day. Don't EVER forget that.

Be sure to join me in my next part of this series - you won't want to miss it!  I also encourage you to check out the podcast by either going to the feed on iTunes or the RSS feed.

Until then, whatever you do, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike                       Future You University        "Like" FYU on Facebook!      MichaelSpillman.com

The POWER of ONE DAY! (part 3 - Bullying)

If you've not had a chance to read the two previous blog entries in this series please be sure to read them first. They are necessary to follow my train of thought that leads me to part 3 of the series on BULLYING.

 

I'm not sure when it began but my guess is that "bullying" has been around since the beginning of time. Perhaps bullying took place between Cain and Abel due to the jealously that Cain felt toward Abel. Who knows, but perhaps it was the fact that the bullying got out of hand and led to Abel's death.

 

It has been around as long as any person or group of people have ever perceived a person or, again, a group of people, as weaker than themselves. It's been around "forever".

 

I do remember being on both sides of this spectrum when I was in school. I was a bigger kid (in height) and usually didn't have a lot of problems with people picking on me but there WERE some of those times. I'm telling you that even GIRLS would get in my face and "put me down" and just say horrible things to me. Some of their boldness came from the fact that they knew that I would not "hit" a girl for any reason. So, yeah, I remember being on that end of the stick.

 

There were times that I was "the bodyguard" for some that were getting picked on and bullied. Again, I was bigger and not many would really try to "mess with me" and, too, I just didn't like it when someone would pick on someone else.

 

I wish I could say that this next part were not true, but it IS true. There were also times - in spite of what I just said in the above paragraph - that I was part of a group that would "bully" others. It wasn't pushing and shoving someone around but it was mocking and demoralizing a fellow student. I remember one young man that was in school with me that had some sort of a nervous "tick" and "twitch" that would cause him to flail around at his desk. This was especially true when he was stressed - ESPECIALLY when taking a test. I would join in as many of us would mock and imitate his actions and then laugh.

 

He didn't stay at our school long. I'm guessing he didn't stay at many schools long due to such horrible actions by his classmates.

 

I know this to be true: sometimes those that are bullied also bully because they can be a part of a group and feel like that they, for once, BELONG. Yes, even when that group is doing the very thing that they, themselves, despise. It also takes the heat off of them for a bit and allows them to join in with picking on someone else that is perceived as weak.

 

I also remember during my Senior year in High School being a part of a church youth group in which we all enjoyed taking part in "cut downs". In case you are not familiar with that term it is a pretty good use of words to explain what takes place. It is simply a way for one person to "put down" or "cut down" someone else. Many take great pride in how quickly that can fire back and forth to each other with these cut downs.

 

Hey, when this would take place in our youth group, it was "fun" because it would always get a laugh. But, even then, here is what I noticed: those in the group (myself included) would stop commenting on anything because the "cut downs" had gotten so bad and so persistent that it began to be felt that the only way to avoid the "cut down" was to just not speak at all.

 

Thankfully, I, along with a few other "leaders" in the group, began to encourage our group to stop doing this because it had gotten out of hand and had a negative impact on our group. We did and it helped bring our group back together.

 

So, again, it's been around "forever" and it still continues today.

 

But "today", all of the social media and quick access via cell phones for sharing/spreading "information", makes it a far worse situation than even ten years ago."Cyber-bullying" has been responsible, in my opinion, to the horrible situations that we see on the news. Yes, even to the point of pushing someone "over the edge" to the point of suicide.

 

And, yes, this pushing to the point of suicide has also been going on for a very long time. A lot of people didn't want to acknowledge and face that fact that this could actually take place and, too, we just didn't hear as much about it due to our now, wide-spread access and sharing of information world-wide.

 

So, what do we do about it? Is there anything we CAN do about it?

 

Sure there is. It's not easy. It WON'T be easy. But we cannot simply shrug our shoulders, throw our hands up in the air in despair and announce that there is nothing we can do.

 

WE MUST NOT ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE!

 

In my next blog I will discuss some specific things that we can - and MUST - do to help put a stop to this. As always, I would love to hear any comments/suggestions that you have as well.

 

Thanks for your time and, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University          "LIKE" FYU on Facebook!         MichaelSpillman.com

 

**go to the Future You University website to access the podcast by going to the "video-cast" tab!**



The POWER of ONE DAY! (part 2)

If you haven't done so, go back and read the first installment of this series on "The POWER of ONE DAY!" so that you can be "up-to-date" on the idea with this series. I also want to encourage you to listen in to the podcast that goes along with this blog because I ended it with thoughts leading up to this entry. You can listen to it on iTunes or the RSS feed.

 

YOU hold great POWER in your hand to be used (or misused) TODAY - this ONE day! I want you to really try to grasp the importance of this fact.

 

I want you to understand that, when I say that YOU are important that it is more than just an encouraging line. Not only is it a FACT for you to take a hold of and absorb into your life, it is also a FACT that needs to be shared with those that cross your path during this day.

 

Don't you dare think that you are not important and that what you do today doesn't matter! STOP IT!

 

I want you to WAKE UP and realize the power that you hold today as you interact with those around you. Please pay attention to this.

 

You may cross paths with someone that may be "hanging on by a thread". In other words, they are right on the edge of giving up maybe on their job or even on their very life. Many times we don't even think about that as we interact but friend, know that this is true everyday and in every location.

 

YOU NEVER KNOW! Sure, you may be close to some around you and be "in" on what is going on in their lives but, for the most part, we never really know what is taking place in the lives of those around us.

 

Your words and your actions may and CAN make the difference in these situations. Your words of encouragement may be THE thing that they need to hang on and not give up.

 

They may look at this one day - the day that YOU made a difference in their life - as a day that everything changed for the better in their lives.

 

I do hope you'll listen to the podcast for this second part of the series because I feel that you will hear the PASSION in my voice as I talk about this - I cannot stress this enough!

 

In part 3 I will talk about this same idea and how it applies to an issue we see in the headlines nearly every day. The problem that we see in our nation with "bullying".

 

You have the power - TODAY - to lift up or to crush. Please think and choose to do all you can to lift up those that cross your path today no matter how small that task may seem to be.

 

Thank you for helping me spread this message and to make an impact in the lives of those around us each and every day.

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University      MichaelSpillman.com

The POWER of ONE Day!

 

Our world is FULL of historical dates when, one ONE particular day, something happened that was so significant that it changed some part of our world FOREVER.

 

No, I don't believe that this is an overstatement. I believe that it is a fact whether we realize it or not. Sure, some things that have happened in the world may not have impacted you directly, but it still likely has impacted you even indirectly.

 

For example, November 22 marks the fifty year anniversary of the assassination of then President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Sure, anyone born after that time would not know of any impact or ramification that the activities of this one day might have on their life, but they are there.

 

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this example. It can be applied to MANY examples that have taken place all over the world. However, let me just say that world history was changed on that day. I say that simply due to the fact that we will never know what would have taken place in our world if this had not happened.

 

There are many NEGATIVE (bad) examples we could use but there are also many POSITIVE (powerful and good) examples that could be used as well.

 

What about the one day that Thomas Edison finally had success with the light bulb? It's easy to say that our world has been changed FOREVER as a result of that one day. Sure, I realize that there were MANY days behind that "one" day. Nevertheless, there WAS that "one" day when it finally worked.

 

Every day YOU have the opportunity to use your life for good (positive) or bad (negative) impact. Every single day.

 

The day that you were born changed the world forever. Oh, I know that it may not impact the world in the way that my other examples did BUT, at the same time, if you are alive, the end hasn't been written on that story, has it?

 

You may be influencing someones life in a way that you may never, ever realize. YOU may be the "spark" that directs another life to greatness.

 

Yes, YOU!

 

Oh, I have to continue this thought even more in the next blog and podcast but I hope you will let these thoughts sink in.

 

You and the POWER of ONE day. Wow!

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University          FYU on Facebook          MichaelSpillman.com

Live Life With Integrity

I have been a little "under the weather" the past couple of days and, while snuggled up in my favorite chair today I flipped through several channels and came across something that concerned me.

It was ANOTHER "program" that was totally dedicated to using lie detector tests and paternity tests to see if someone - usually involving a couple - was telling the truth or not. I say "another" because there are others like this as well. One seems to be nothing BUT paternity tests to find out who the real "daddy" is to a child and another in which the audience chants the name of the hosts, that focuses on the dysfunction in relationships to fuel their show.

I say "SHAME ON YOU!" to the people that have anything to do with these "shows" for taking the "low road" as a form of entertainment. And, I also say, "SHAME ON YOU!" to those that feed their mind (by watching) with this kind of garbage.

Yes, there are issues in ANY relationship but there is a remedy to strengthening any and all relationships and that remedy is to life a life of integrity.

Dictionary.com has the first definition of the word dignity as: "adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. ".

Think about this: if we all would live lives of integrity then all of our relationships would improve! It doesn't matter if it's personal or business - a relationship based on integrity is one that will improve and be strengthened and long-lasting. So much stress will disappear in our lives when living a life of integrity.

Determine now that, in ALL areas of your life, you will life a life of integrity and that you will LEAVE A LEGACY of INTEGRITY for all of those around you!

Character. Integrity. Regardless of what "the world around us" says about it, IT MATTERS!

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University     FYU on Facebook     MichaelSpillman.com

If You Don't Like the Weather...

I live in Arkansas. The high temperature where I live was around 67 degrees and tomorrow the high is predicted to only be around 42 degrees. BIG change! Now, I've heard this said by others in other states as well but I've always heard this about Arkansas: "If you don't like the weather, just wait a little bit - it WILL change!"

Oh, and later on in the week it's supposed to get back up in the mid-60's to around 70. Kinda' crazy, huh?

I love the fall season but I DO NOT like the cold, cold temperatures that come with winter. But, you know what? I know it's coming. It's happened this way every year that I've been alive and it will continue to do so for as long as I live.  Did you know that the Bible says so in Genesis 8:22 - "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

So, even though I may not care for some of the changes that come EVERY YEAR, year in and year out, it happens anyway.

Life is the same way. Never get "lazy" when things are going good. Why? Because it will change! That doesn't mean that your life will be ruined but, know this, changes WILL come that will challenge everything that is going "right" in your world at the time.

On the flip side, never get too discouraged when things are NOT going so good. Why? Because it will change!

"As long as there is breath, there is hope!" That is one of my favorite quotes that I've come up with because it speaks such truth!

Knowing that change will come will also help us prepare for those changes. For example, knowing that this is the time of the year that the temperatures get cooler helps us know that we need to get our "winter clothes" out of the closet in preparation.

Make sense?

Sure it does!

Change. It's a fact of life. That's right, a FACT.

So, make proper preparations and, by doing so, the changes will come and go and you will remain settled. And, friend, that's a good way to be in this crazy world that we live in, right?

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike
Future You University     FYU on Facebook     MichaelSpillman.com

Veterans Day 2013

To All of Those Who Have Served

I Humbly and Gratefully Say,

"THANK YOU!"

Survive or Thrive (Part 2)

"Like" us on Facebook!    visit MichaelSpillman.com

 

 

Be sure to check out my last blog before you read this one. I think you can figure out the reason why, right? (Because it's the first part in this two-part series, just in case you're a little sleepy or something.).

 

I covered pretty extensively the idea behind "simply surviving".

 

This time I will focus on the other side of this equation: THRIVE!

 

Dictionary.com defines the word "thrive" as follows:

thrive [thrahyv] verb (used without object) 1. to prosper; be fortunate or successful. 2. to grow or develop vigorously; flourish

 

Now, I don't know about you - but I still bet I'm right on this - but I like the way THAT sounds a lot better than the idea of "simply surviving". Am I right?

 

Like everything else in life this is a CHOICE that we make in our lives and about our lives. Sure it is! We've got to finally wake up to the fact that, for the most part, our life is what it is due to CHOICES that you and I have made.

 

So, you decide whether you want to "simply survive" or if you want to "prosper, be fortunate or successful". YOU decide whether or not you "simply survive" or flourish!

 

It IS a choice and you DO have the ability to do more than survive, my friend. It's true!

 

Life can be exciting, fun and fulfilling when you choose to THRIVE and not "simply survive".

 

How? Open your eyes and look around you, my friend. Get in touch with me on some ideas (mike@futureyouuniversity.com) or go to one of my websites (MichaelSpillman.com) for some ideas as well.

 

Choose to LIVE life!

 

And as you go about it, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike



Survive or THRIVE?

What do you think of when you see or hear the word, "survive"?

 

Some may think of the reality television show, "Survivor", to sum up the idea behind the word, "survive". You do what you have to do to get by. Don't expect anything fancy, just enough to get by.

 

I was talking to a young couple recently about their jobs. My wife and I actually worked with them not too long ago and walked away after realizing that we were merely surviving and actually going "backwards" due to the mentality of that type of environment.

 

In our discussion I mentioned that a couple just can't really make it on what they get paid working at this place. The young man said something along the line of, "Well, you actually can if you are really careful!"

 

Exactly. I understand. My wife and I took jobs there simply as a way to bring in some cash while we geared things back up for plans that we had/have for our lives. And, the young man is right! Although we were "making it" (sort of) we were simply "surviving". Not able to enjoy life or anything extra that brings joy to life.

 

Simply surviving.

 

Now, I understand that there are times in our lives in which that is simply the way that it is. I remember when my wife and I first got married 31 years ago that we spent a whole week eating only peanut butter, crackers and water. That was it. Nothing else. Breakfast, lunch and supper.

 

Simply surviving.

 

Now, I'm not sure about you (even though I think I know that you are pretty much the same as me) but I don't want to just "survive".

 

I don't want to just survive physically, spiritually, emotionally or financially.

 

I know people that have been married for many years that are basically just surviving in their relationship. They are just "there" going through the motions and not really experiencing a THRIVING relationship.

 

Simply surviving.

 

Don't YOU want more?  Of course you do.

 

In tomorrow's blog we will talk about the flip side of just surviving - THRIVING!

 

Join me then. Until that time, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University    "Like" us on Facebook    visit MichaelSpillman.com

 

 

Time Change...Really?

So, tonight (as this is written) in most states, we all turn our clocks back one hour due to the "time change". I always get "tickled" when I hear people say, "you'll get an extra hour of sleep tonight" due to the change. Don't get me started on that one because one main thought I have on it is simply, "Didn't we 'lose' that hour when we changed the clocks in the Spring?".

Anyway, enough of THAT part of the discussion.

Here's the other and most important part of what I want to share with you on this: Wouldn't it be nice if we COULD actually change and/or turn back time?

You need an extra hour to get a project done? Turn the clock back and give yourself that extra hour.

Running late? Simply turn the clock back and give yourself the time you need so that you won't be late for work.                 "Like" us on Facebook!

But the thing is - and you already know this - that is not possible. The idea of "time change" is simply a changing of the digits or position of "hands" that point to a different measuring of time periods in a day.

Truth is, there are and always WILL be 24 hours in a day.

What must change is what we DO with the time that we have. Again, I know you already know that but, perhaps, you just need to be reminded just as I do from time to time.

Maybe the phrase above should be, "Time FOR Change" and, again, that change being with you and with me.

It's up to us, right?

Why not start with this "time change"? Why not use this marking of time serve as a reminder and a challenge to you to make a change in this area?

You might even say, "It's about time!"

Think about it and...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike                          Future You University website        MichaelSpillman.com

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

I heard this phrase many years ago and it has stuck with me through all of those years that have passed:

"TODAY is the TOMORROW that you worried about YESTERDAY."

If we will but take care of TODAY then all of our "yesterday's" will be viewed with little to no regret and we will face TOMORROW with confidence, KNOWING that we have taken care of TODAY.

I like that. I'm glad I wrote my thoughts down on that and I hope you will take a look at it and implement into your thought process today.

Until next time...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike