Earlier today, I drove to my wife’s work to take her out to lunch. While on my way, I kept having cars driving way below the speedlimit and keeping me from passing them. There was a 3-lane road with 3 vehicles driving approximately the same speed all lined up side-to-side. I didn’t pay much attention to it. Then, on the way back home more cars were driving even slower. I was now starting to get a little frustrated. Just when that happened, I got behind 4 bikers riding no more than 10 MPH. I safely changed lanes and then a tractor was in my lane going even slower. I still hadn’t done anything to address this growing frustration. Still on the way home, I was on one of the interstate highways when everyone was slowing down abruptly for some reason I could not see. When I got there, I saw a person talking on the cell phone and obviously not paying attention to the fact she was driving 20 MPH below the posted speed limits. This was starting to bother me more and more. Believeit or not, this happend a few more times before I got home.
When I got home I realized that I could have avoided the frustration by practicing forgiveness. So to answer the question, “When is a good time to practice forgiveness?, practice it while you are in the car. Anytime something frustrates you at all, do what I typically do (except for today) by practicing forgiveness.
Here is what I “normally” do when I am in my car. If someone cuts in front of me or acts like an idiot or something and it gets me even slightly frustrated, I say the following: “I forgive you for ______ and I forgive my self for having to forgive you. Thank you.” In the case where someone cuts in front of me, it might sound something like this: “I forgive you for cutting in front of me and I forgive myself for having to forgive you for doing it. Thank you.” I have done this for years but every now and then I have a brain freeze and forget to do it. When you make practicing forgiveness a part of your routine, I promise, you will feel much better about the commute and yourself.
Peace, gratitude, and forgiveness,
Bill
Destin Dolphins
This morning I saw a bunch of dolphins playing around not far from the shore. It was difficult but I did get a couple of pictures of them. There was a baby dolphin that came completely out of the water several times. It was so awesome to see wild dolphins playing around.
As I took my morning walk down the beach, a few times they came very close to the shore. It was best beach walk ever with dolphins all over the place. I wish I had brought my camera because I would have been able to get some really close up shots.
Peace and gratitude from Destin, Florida,
Bill
Give Gratitude
I was sitting in the hot tub tonight looking out toward the Gulf of Mexico and replaying the last eight months in my mind. I recall when I gave my notice at my corporate America job it was the single hardest thing I have ever done. I had heard stories of others doing the same thing and when I heard them, I couldn’t even phathom the idea of doing myself. Aferall, I was in an executive level position with even higher levels of positions and salaries locked in my sights. I gave my notice anyway and I give thanks every single day for making that choice.
What I have learned from this experience is that when you give gratitude for things that have not yet happened, amazing things start showing up. For me, each morning and evening I give thanks to God for all the wonderful gifts that are on its way as well as the ones I have already received. I believe that this opens doorways because when you give gratitude for something you don’t have, it is like you are telling the universe it has already happened.
Bob Proctor uses something called a “Goal Card.” On this Goal Card he starts each goal this way, “I am so happy and grateful now that…..” I think it is an ingenious idea and it is what I have been doing since for the past eight months.
Give gratitude daily and watch what wonders the universe has in store for you.
Peace AND Gratitude,
Bill
Incredible Sunsets
November 1st Sunset
Saturday my wife and I arrived in Destin, FL. I thought I would post some of the pictures I take of the water, the ocean, sunrises, sunsets, etc. Check out the past two sunsets.
Peace, love, and gratitude,
Bill
Tonight's Sunset
Comic Strip [#4-1]
Just a Cruisin'
Last week I was fortunate enough to get to go on a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise. We visited Nassau Bahamas, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman Island. It was such a great cruise and I met some awesome people.
It was a seminar cruise and I met some very famous speakers and authors. I met Michael Beckwith of the AGAPE center, Mark Victor Hanson, Larry Wilson, and many others. Michael Beckwith did two early morning shows which were absolutely awesome. You know, that man really lives what he preaches. He and his wife Ricki are really incredible people who you should take some time to learn about what they are doing in LA. Go to http://www.agapelive.com/ to check them out.
I was able to visit the Dunns River Falls in Jamaica and get some really good shots.
One of my favorite shots was standing near the falls and looking out to the ocean. What do you think?
Peace and gratitude,
Bill
Comic Strip [#3-6]
Comic Strip [#3-5]
Buried in his jammies?
Today my wife, son, my son’s girlfriend, and I went to the Dallas Museum of Art to see the King Tutankhamun exhibit. Every single time I hear King Tut’s name I instantly start singing the Steve Martin song from the ’70’s. “…King Tut, buried in his jammies, King Tut…” Sorry about that.
Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Peace and Gratitude,
Bill
PS. I didn’t see those famous jammies anywhere. 🙂
When is a good time to practice forgiveness?
Earlier today, I drove to my wife’s work to take her out to lunch. While on my way, I kept having cars driving way below the speedlimit and keeping me from passing them. There was a 3-lane road with 3 vehicles driving approximately the same speed all lined up side-to-side. I didn’t pay much attention to it. Then, on the way back home more cars were driving even slower. I was now starting to get a little frustrated. Just when that happened, I got behind 4 bikers riding no more than 10 MPH. I safely changed lanes and then a tractor was in my lane going even slower. I still hadn’t done anything to address this growing frustration. Still on the way home, I was on one of the interstate highways when everyone was slowing down abruptly for some reason I could not see. When I got there, I saw a person talking on the cell phone and obviously not paying attention to the fact she was driving 20 MPH below the posted speed limits. This was starting to bother me more and more. Believeit or not, this happend a few more times before I got home.
When I got home I realized that I could have avoided the frustration by practicing forgiveness. So to answer the question, “When is a good time to practice forgiveness?, practice it while you are in the car. Anytime something frustrates you at all, do what I typically do (except for today) by practicing forgiveness.
Here is what I “normally” do when I am in my car. If someone cuts in front of me or acts like an idiot or something and it gets me even slightly frustrated, I say the following: “I forgive you for ______ and I forgive my self for having to forgive you. Thank you.” In the case where someone cuts in front of me, it might sound something like this: “I forgive you for cutting in front of me and I forgive myself for having to forgive you for doing it. Thank you.” I have done this for years but every now and then I have a brain freeze and forget to do it. When you make practicing forgiveness a part of your routine, I promise, you will feel much better about the commute and yourself.
Peace, gratitude, and forgiveness,
Bill
Comic Strip [#3-4]