I Know Nothing... Nothing!

I don't know about you yet, but I personally don't know a thing when it comes to the absolute truth about everything there is to know about everything that is. In fact, I am so glad of that fact that I am compelled to write about it so you can tell me if I am crazy. I was thinking just now, what would be your job title if your job was to be the One with all the answers? Would you work out of your house? Who would be your boss? (there seems to always be one) And can you imagine your cell phone bill? Oh my...

I was just dwelling on the thought that right now, I really don't know all that much when it comes to all-certain-there-is-no-error-possible type knowing. The fact is, I do not know, and I am actually cool with that. The next thought is really the impetus that started as the thought that led to my rambling in public once more.

So my question of myself is: Why am I not freaked out about not having the remedy for my current state of affairs? Why am I actually finding freedom with not being in control of "how" it all works out until it manifests as what I really want? Is it patience, passivity, complacency, sacrifice? Or is it trust?

Trust.

It matters little to me if you are a Christian, an Atheist, a Buddhist, or a Pimp, at some point you have to trust something, or someone, even if it is yourself. So the question that follows is: What level of control am I willing to relinquish in order for my dream to become a reality?

Place your trust somewhere.

I trust God but I also trust myself because I have learned to trust the innate instinct that comes from being alive and awake in this physical element we call human being. I am aware that animals ran for higher ground before the terrible Asian tsunami in 2004, while humans took pictures. Yet I am equally certain that while you and I are curious by nature, we also possess all it takes to have a trust level in our own instincts that cannot and should not be throttled by the teachings of the ones, whether they be professors or preachers, who would keep you from your completely and totally becoming who you really are.

Who are you really?

One way you can really know is to let go of the fear of asking the questions that are burning in your heart even as you read these words. You know which ones I mean, the ones you know that to ask them and then get certain answers could and would change everything. Just your asking could change everything. If only you would ask.

Here's the deal: It is the awareness of the question that is the hint of truth that there is truth that has not yet been offered. Trust the question and in the asking lies the answer. You deep down already know the answer, and you just need to get it out in the open and decide how you feel about it. There is freedom in asking. There is even more freedom in getting the answers. It is good to ask. It is even better to insist on the truth.

Let the chips fall where they may.

So in our asking we are making the conscious choice to challenge the system that we have known up to the point of the asking. This choice will lead to the beginning stages of discovering who you really are. Don't let popular opinion make your decisions for you. Don't let anyone lead you away from what your heart tells you is true. Truth is not always the same for each and every person... and that is quite by design. Truth is personal. Think about it.

Think. About. It.

Think! My friend, your opinion is important. It should be heard, for without your opinion there might never exist a reality called world peace. Without your input it might take longer than necessary to get this planet (and its management) on track with what's best for our Earth.

God bless her.

You know, it might ultimately be proven that I know nothing. I may have to adjust my thinking as new information comes along, but for today what I know is that as long as I make an intentional choice to press for truth, never settling for anything that leaves me less than completely satisfied, I can wait for the answer as long as it takes. Time is an illusion anyway, so it may just work itself out overnight.

Peace, love, and happy thoughts...what else is there? -- jb

It's Not About Me!

I have been so busy lately that writing a post seems nearly as difficult to accomplish as giving myself a surprise birthday gift. I have so many topics running around in my head that I want to begin today by stating that this post will not be about the 700 billion dollar bailout, Governor Palin, oil prices, or the recent hurricane in Maine. It's not about me, either.

I want to pay homage to all of those who give of themselves all day, every day. I know of several people who never fail to bear a smile, a wave, and/or a good word. These are the ones who keep everything in harmony while the rest of creation seems to be caught up in the latest drama of fear and uncertainty. These light bearers are supplying balance in times of seeming chaos.

I am not diminishing the unsettled nature of our economy, or the limited choices presenting themselves in the upcoming election, nor am I ignoring the shameless profit taking of the rich oil companies... wait a minute, yes I am. What I am really attempting to do, if only for the briefest of moments, is to get us to think about the good things that are happening that appear to go unnoticed.

Did you hear about the group of Americans adopting HIV-positive kids from Ethiopia? How about the $16 billion raised at the Anti Poverty Summit? I know these are only news stories, but at least there is a good message in them. On September 22nd, Autumn announced its annual arrival in typical silent fashion, but haven't you noticed a change in the air? How about the trees and their subtle changes in hue? You'd think they were trying to get noticed :)

So, for the record, you don't have to watch the news or read the paper in search of happy news, all you need to do is make some yourself. Offer a smile with no strings attached, hold the door for someone, or make a contribution to the charity group working the street corner. All of these acts contribute to the overall upliftment of society's collective vibration. If enough of us got it in our heads that each act of kindness can overcome any act of meanness, maybe there would be a change that would go more easily noticed. Then if more people noticed the good stuff, more and more people would begin to offer more good stuff until the world was full of good stuff, enough for everyone to feel good about life. Now that's good stuff.

Peace is not a dream, love is its guarantee, and thoughts that are focused on the good and the true will make life better for everyone. I really believe that! -- jb

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Gratitude

I am about to turn 46, and I have been receiving best wishes from all over the world today from people I have never met. I am blown away because I don't really do the birthday thing, but I have been reading your posts and thinking about receiving blessings and such, so I am compelled to receive them. It's just that I was unprepared for the emotional impact that they are having on me. I confess that I don't always follow the suggestions I offer in this blog, for reasons that are not readily apparent :)

See, I come from a long line of service-type people. My father and mother always taught me to be a servant, and while I know it has aided me in my perspective of what it means to give, I have only recently acquired the ability to truly receive. I am so thankful for them, and the fact that they are in such great health. I am grateful today for so many things. I have a beautiful wife who thinks I am "all that and a bag of chips." (That's southern speak for she thinks I am the greatest.) I have a son who has literally broken the mold in that he has, and will continue to achieve at levels unprecedented in my experience. I have best friends who have shown me the kind of acceptance that until I met them, I had only read about in the hundreds of books that I have devoured looking for just that :)

Now, it appears that I have new friends, and these friends do not specifically realize the ways in which they are contributing to my becoming who I really am. I would love to list all of them and link you to their particular sites but I am fearful of missing one or two, so I am hesitant. I will link you to two of the many that I visited today. The first is from Tammy. She shares her day via her blog, and today's post spoke to me deeply. Thanks Tammy.

The next one of them is from my first and now my best blogger friend. His name I do not know. I have been calling him Ari (he has not divulged his real name), and he is from the Philippines. He claims to have a dark side, but with as much light as he obviously possesses, I think I can handle it. He goes by the name Hanging on a Hyphen. He is a brilliant writer with a great mind. He is also very giving and full of surprises. Thanks again... whatever your name is.

I have to run now. Evening celebrations have sprung up in spite of my desire to keep my birthdays quiet. I receive it all, and this year for the first time since I was a kid, I am going to savor it, and cherish it in my heart.

Gratitude. A simple word offering the promise of new beginnings. I feel brand new today.

I feel at peace. -- jb

I'm Going to Write a Book!

I have dreamed of writing a book for a couple of years now and I think my dream may be coming true through these posts! I've been submitting them to ezine articles which is a writers'-community-type site that accepts articles written under certain guidelines. They have graciously approved my ramblings and from time to time I visit the site, and read my posts as if I was reading pages from a book. If you blog similarly to the way I do, I would suggest you begin reading your blog as if it were a book and see what happens. At the same time...

I will go ahead and switch gears now (don't you love the way I didn't sneak it by you like I normally do?) I really am going to turn this into a book if I can figure out how, but for right now, I want to revisit the entire purpose for even starting a blog about exclusion and the simple fact that "there is no them." Let me say that again a little louder, There is no them! I am so perplexed at times, and I am uncertain about how and why we humans ever lost sight of the truth about our absolute connectedness. I am completely frustrated by the way many of us treat others just because they are different, and I have finally gotten so fed up that I had to start writing about it. I never intend to point a finger in judgement but I know I will offend some. That's ok. I actually believe that some people really like to be offended (I personally know some) so you can have at it with me because I love you no matter what you believe about me :O

Just stop and think about how we sometimes profile another without ever knowing we did. I hear people say, "Well, I 'jewed' him down on his price." Or, "Those children act like wild indians." Or, "I just n*****-rigged it." I will not write the word. It insults our entire society but I think you get the picture. I am a 46 year old (that means I was raised in the 60's) white American living in Montgomery, Alabama, and I have probably heard every variation on the prejudicial slandering of African Americans, Jewish Americans, Native Americans, and just about any other non-white American you can imagine. I now travel extensively and I am sad to say that that sort of unconscious activity is prevalent everywhere, and in every part of this beautiful world. I think I am going to be sick, but the point of this ranting ramble is an attempt to get you to think about it!

Think. About. It.

Why is it ok to say things that allow another human to be put down in the first place? Why do we listen without saying something? We could at least walk away. Do we so lack in imagination and originality that we feel compelled to perpetuate and participate in this mindset without questioning it? Furthermore, why does this sort of conduct ultimately lead us to take part in the act of exclusion? Judgement is a scourge on all of us and the snobbish practices of elitism and exclusivity have increased in there divisiveness it would seem. Polarity between races, classes of society, and ethnic groups all seem to be on the rise in recent times. But wait! Is this really happening, or is it that there have always been man-made excuses created right from the beginning of history that provide license to mistreat others anytime we like, in any way we like? I really think I'm going to be sick now.

I won't drag this out. You can read most any of my posts and fully understand my thinking on this subject, and I hope you do. I hope you will get others to read them. In fact, I hope you will not just read, but do something about it in your particular area of influence. Startle your friends by no longer participating in the old ways. Begin to show them a new way, a way of love and acceptance. It is really much easier to be nice to people than to be mean. We also expend much less energy accepting than we do pushing away. Try hugging somebody... it feels good, and it is so much less stressful to choose to avoid conflict with others than to choose to be offended by them.

We choose.

My friend, you and I are both human beings. The differences that make us unique are perfectly planned to contribute to the splendid diversity that comprises our human race. As soon as we change the way we see our neighbor, our neighbor will change before I very eyes without having to do a thing. We will suddenly see a new world, a world of peace. This world is one that I think is being lovingly, yet silently created in the background, behind the chaos and confusion. It seems to be hidden most of the time by news stories of war and violence, or it is subjected to last page news if written about at all. But there are nice people everywhere making news. You just don't hear much about it.

I think that if we just quit watching the news altogether, and made the choice instead to get up and go outside to visit the elderly widow down the street or the child with Down's Syndrome, we might begin to truly see the good news that is right under our noses. We need not ever look down the afore mentioned facial appendage again. All we need are eyes willing to see the beauty in everyone, everywhere, all the time. It is there if you look for it.

Just imagine a world free from conflict, and free from the idea of separation or division.

Wow! What a wonderful world that will be, a world worthy of the peace it seems unable to realize. I pray for peace. Won't you join me? I believe we can change the world together, and to help get us started I will leave you with some of the most beautiful words ever written:

"Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today... Imagine there's no countries. It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.

Imagine no possessions. I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people sharing all the world... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one." -- John Lennon

Peace is possible, love will make it happen, and our good thoughts about it will speed it up. -- jb

Satisfaction Guaranteed... Right?

Is there any such thing as satisfaction guaranteed when it comes to our wants and needs? I believe the answer to the question is yes even though I have days when I think it's the absolute farthest thing from possible. What I am learning is that no matter what I think, that is exactly what I get. In other words, whether I think I can or I can't, either way I
am right.

Get it?

The Universe is full of natural laws, and we bow to them without thinking about them. Gravity, time, weather, etc., are just a few, and we never really think about them because they just happen. Well, don't get in a wad when I submit to you that there is another law that is equally natural, but I do have a choice in how it operates. At least to the degree that I believe it :o

That law is the Law of Attraction, and it is getting renewed attention even though it is, was, and will always be just another natural law. The cool thing is that by participating in its power and cooperating with it, we come one step close to accomplishing all we have ever wanted to be, do, or have. The paradox for me is that it has the same effect in the opposite fashion when I look for things to feel negative about and then just unconsciously "allow" it to bring me all the things that kind of energy produces.

My parents raised me to pray to God and I do. At the same time, these days I have enhanced my prayers by becoming a willing participant in the outcome, and it has changed my outlook on life irreversibly. I meditate on peace and I find it. I know I am created in the image of God as the book says, and I can do all things through Christ (not the man Jesus, but the anointing he carried is equally available to me -- look it up!) and I believe it. I say positive things. I think positive things. And when I do, good things happen. When I don't, well... I don't need to elaborate, do I?

Friends, try it today. Change the way you look at your situation, and I guarantee that if you really believe in the new way, your situation will change, and you will see positive results.

Satisfaction guaranteed. Gotta run... Peace -- jb

What Price, Freedom?

Is freedom worth fighting for? Are we really free if we have to battle something or someone? I like asking questions, and I want you to think about, and envision with me, a life free from any reason to bear arms, or fists, or ugly words. That, my friend, is the freedom I am talking about.

Let's be frank: Life is supposed to be enjoyable, and if you find yourself constantly fighting, then somewhere along the way you have missed out on the original plan. It happens to all of us, and we can unwittingly fall prey to blaming or lashing out when things are not going the way we would like. This leads me to the main point of this post --

Am I trying to control things when I place a definite expectation on something or someone?

It would appear that after years of analyzing this idea, it is a fact that when I am disappointed in some outcome, I can always trace it back to having a certain expectation. When I am truly participating in the art of allowing, then I no longer have a need to control how something turns out. I can be expectant and I can have my dreams and goals. This is a very important element in personal development, however when I expand that into demanding things be a specific way, I am no longer enjoying myself. I can all but guarantee a disappointment when I set myself up like that.

Instead of worrying about how something will go, I have found that by simply wanting and desiring the good and the true, and furthermore, leaving the "how" to God (this is where faith comes in), I am very likely to be ok with the end result. I want world peace. I also understand that I alone cannot achieve it. I can pray about it, meditate on it, dream about it, and truly desire it... I do in fact, but I ultimately must trust God to bring it about. It could be that many others are feeling the same as I, and at some point out there in the near future, there will be enough of us that a critical mass will occur. I don't really need to know how it will look, I just need to look for it.

My friends, I am tired of the way I give in to my lower nature and start whining when things do not go my way. I have seen enough of the "my way or the highway" mentality to know that it is a primitive mindset. I am making every effort to be consistent in my daily walk by allowing things to be what they are. This is an important effort in my way of thinking because it is a way of accepting without selling out on my dreams. I always lean into any risk for the sake of seeing my dreams come true, all the while being ok with my state of affairs right now.

I hope that makes sense, and I would love to hear your comments. Otherwise, I am just talking to myself. I already do enough of that :)

Peace to you, love for you, and accepting thoughts about you and this world. -- jb

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Dawn of a New Day

If you've ever had the divine luxury of being anywhere there is more sea than land, and it just so happened you got to be on the land, I'd say you were in paradise. The exquisite combination of the scented air, painted skies, and laid back pace just whispers in your ear with each passing second, "Let go, look around, allow the things that would weigh you down to serve as the very wings that carry you out of that place you've been stuck in for so long. Love this place, this place where you are, and through it begin to love yourSelf once more. Just like you did when you were a kid.

Do you remember when you were a kid?

I do, and I did a lot of crazy things when I was just a boy. My friends and I would love to see just how late we could stay up when spending the night together. These days I travel a good bit, and I have discovered that when traveling, my sleep pattern gets whacky. If you've ever found yourself out of synch with your body clock, you've possibly found yourself awake as the dawn breaks. Oh my friend, if not, grab some of your closest people and go to an island and stay awake the whole night, that very first night! I bear witness to the magic of such moments in my own life... it is utterly splendid. To be awake and alive as a new day presents itself to you in all its captivating light, provides you the opportunity to make a new day for you. If you've been stuck, you deserve a new day.

You really deserve a new day.

It is a moment like I have attempted to illustrate for you here, that I am praying and intending for my world to experience in every moment. I would like a new day where, as we are seeing the beauty in our surroundings, that beauty automatically includes the people within our view.

My world consists of you and me. We are people and even though I do not know you, I love you. For me, it is that simple. I'd be lying if I didn't admit here that I miss the mark on occasion. I love my wife more than I can describe, yet I miss the mark with her as well. So please, believe me when I tell you that I love you. I will not lie to you.

I speak of world peace sometimes as if it already exists. It can and it will when we all speak of it in unison. We are eternally, indisputably, and undeniably connected. We unknowingly believe otherwise when we view others as anything less than equal. That's pretty simple for me too. Call me simple-minded. There are days that I pray for just that :O

Well, I will leave those ramblings with you for now. I am in a quandary, and I need your help.

They say there comes a time for all of us when we must pick up and move on. I have had so many people tell me I should be using WordPress that I have finally succumbed to the pressure. I realize that I have a lot more to learn, and honestly, I will continue to post on this platform as long as the learning curve keeps me off balance at WP. It is a different world to be sure.

At the same time, I began blogging with the full intention of making it my full-time profession as well as an enjoyable way to pass the time. Do what you love, and love what you do. An old adage with all new meaning for this wild-eyed southern boy. And I want to keep these eyes open for a way to convert all my stuff, get all the coolest bling for my site, and not lose my mind or my content in the process. Whew... and did I mention not lose my mind?

I enjoy connecting with you and I appreciate all the great comments. Here's to you, and I will be waiting to see who will be the one to help me get on with "my new day."

Peace is really cool, love is the reason, thoughts about those two things alone could change the world. Think. About. It. -- jb

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And The Truth Will Set You Free

Why do we sometimes avoid the truth? What is it that causes us to take any route other than complete honesty? Ok, so let's be painfully, honestly straight with each other: Why do we lie?

I used to hold my stomach in when I looked at myself in the mirror. I can't explain it. It's not like I don't know the truth about my body and how it really looks. I guess that it boils down to fear.... ouch!

Well, I don't do that anymore. In fact, I have made a lot of progress with the truth that I understand about myself. And I think that that understanding has helped me to see a bigger truth about humanity in general. I will not place any blame on the media, but let's face it, they really portray an unrealistic idea of what is acceptable when it comes to how we look. Not everybody can look like those we see advertised... where would the contrast be? Ego has everything to do with that type of marketing and I for one, don't believe that it is necessary to fall for that line of doo-doo sales. It is just another example of plastic people putting out plastic concepts designed to sell something. But when we think about it, isn't it the way the world works at times?

I know people who are really great, but they have a sort of distorted perspective on honesty. And maybe I am wrong, but I also think those same people live in some type of fantasy world where they actually believe the lies they tell. Do you relate? I am not judging them, only making an observation.

Why do we ever lie?

Fear of anything can lead to an unhealthy life. If I am afraid at times I am only human, but does that make it ok to be dishonest? Not if you value those who might be hurt by that dishonesty. Wake up and smell the coffee. It isn't rocket science that one lie leads to another, and another, ad nauseum. It is down right unhealthy for the liar and the lied to. I think a healthy life is one that makes truth the only option. Telling the truth isn't difficult, but it can be difficult to accept. I have good friends who are not afraid to let me know when I am out of step with who I really am. I appreciate that. I try to do likewise for them. I think that is a healthy life between good friends. Don't you?

Try today to make honesty a priority. Even if you consider yourself completely honest, do you hold in your tummy when you look in the mirror? Trust me when I tell you that it can be very freeing to just be yourself with your Self. It also requires less energy :)

Peace and truth -- jb

Leave It Better Than You Found It

Happy Friday Mom!

I have always believed that I have the ability to make something better than it was before I got involved, and I wish I could say that it is true in every case. That belief originally sprang from my need to control everything. In my controlling, I actually thought I was making improvement... oops.

Enter reality.

I know people today who have a gift for making things better with seemingly little or no effort, and I like that. In fact, as I have grown older and somewhat wiser, I have found that I can and do make some things better. I have the gift of gab, and I have the freedom to say what I want, so I normally do... thus the dawning of Jeff Baker Talks. I make no excuses for my opinions, whether I am right in someone's eyes or wrong means little to me. I never intend to offend, and I really try to be uplifting. At the same time, there are days when I lose patience with something or someone, and after much quiet restraint, I just let go and let it fly.

Do you relate?

I hope to make a case for thinking before speaking today as I am freshly reminded that even when speaking the truth, there are those who cannot and will not hear it :O

Not that I have a corner on the truth market mind you. I make plenty of mistakes, and not just with my tongue, yet I am blessed to have great friends who keep me in check. That is more than a blessing, it is the way life should be for all of us. That life assumes, of course, that I am able to make and keep friends. And it assumes that any truth spoken, is spoken in love.

Always.

I have a quick wit and a quick mouth, and believe me when I tell you that it is always better to think before speaking. Words do not have a rewind feature; they are like arrows shot from a bow and can have deadly aim. I have learned all too often the hard lesson of saying something only to regret it afterwards. My friends, this is something we should all be conscious of because the power of our words is truly underestimated.

When we think from a place of loving intent, then our words and deeds will reflect that. If not, well, you get the picture. And, that is the point of this post. Let me say for the record also, that even if you are speaking from love, the hard conversations might not go very well. That is ok, because you can rest in the peace of the effort and not regret the result of having said something difficult. Remember, you are not responsible for anyone except yourself in these conversations, so speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may.

I will leave you with a link to a remarkable blog, written by an equally remarkable lady named Wendi. She says things the way I think them. One day I will be able to write like her and that will be the day that I finally get picked up by a sponsor! That is not a pipe dream. I believe it, and it is so.

Peace for your weekend, love for your friends, and thoughts that are firmly rooted in the power of Love. -- jb

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Imagine Peace Today

I was reminded of our need for peace again today. I was out and about watching people like I like to do and I noticed many, not just a few, but many people wearing t-shirts commemorating the 9/11 tragedy. I am not one to suggest that we ever forget those who lost their lives, nor am I of the opinion that by wearing a shirt that reads, "We Will Never Forget," that the wearer is even connected to the events of that fateful day... except through the window of their television set.

On the other hand, what is it that we are keeping alive by remembering? Keep in mind, I live in the south, far, far away from the site of the twin towers. I have a hunch that when some of us are doing the remembering, we are actually looking for an excuse to get back at the perpetrators. I say, let it go.

I pray that I do not offend any of you by saying that. I too watched in horror as the towers fell, and I remember how I, along with my wife, just cried and cried nearly all day. It was awful... but it is in the past. It is wonderful and very healing to memorialize the dead, but at some point there needs to be an effort at forgiveness. I guess I am still jaded by those I know who can't let something go, and hold on to the past as if it were their favorite childhood toy.

I have witnessed first hand how holding on to a painful memory can lead to other painful events. I have been counseled in the past to find an image of peace that I can hold on to instead, and it works. I use this during meditation and prayer also. I don't believe that we will ever be satisfied with ourselves if we spend our energy focused on the the things that we don't like about our brothers and sisters around this beautiful globe, or down the street, or across town. I wish we had t-shirts proclaiming, "We Will Never Forget World Peace."

We are destined to have what we hope for and I am only trying to get us to think about letting a forgiving attitude be the driving force behind our hopes and our actions. Peace is still a viable option, no matter the circumstances, and I pray for our collective healing.

Here is a video I saw today that caused me to think. I share it with you in hopes that you will be touched by it's message, as I was. Namaste' --jb -- http://www.peacetodaymovie.com/

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Hello World! I've Got Something to Say!

I just started trying to use Word Press. Don't ask me why, and it's not because I don't like Blogger. I really like it a lot. It's just that I keep hearing how I can do more, and do it better or whatever. So I was playing around with it and I got tired. See, I had a tooth pulled yesterday, and it hurt so bad I am all wimpy... you know how men are. I am embarrassed to tell you that this is a copy and paste job. I humbly beg your forgiveness :-)

_______________________

My name is Jeff Baker, and I am what I refer to as a philosopher-pontificate(r)-thinker-type person. I know that may sound sort of strange, but you’ll soon see that it makes sense : )

I am here to blog about life and the experiences (most being my own) that can contribute to the better life. I am hopeful that I will soon learn the intricacies of Word Press as I am sticking with Blogger for now. I felt the easiest way to get my first post published was to try a simpler program and apparently Blogger is a lot simpler, but at the expense of some cool things. I like the stuff I see, but I haven’t figured out how to do any of it for myself yet, and even though I want to make the change, I am having a bit of a slow start. I guess I am indeed a writer and would rather do what I am passionate about, and leave the “figuring out how to do everything” to someone better suited for it like my very talented wife/editor/bestest friend in the whole-wide-worldestest, Cornelia. At the same time, this has turned out to be more fun than I ever dreamed, and I will indeed tame the monster that is Word Press… eventually. If I ever get back to it. Right now my tooth hurts :/

Until then, please check to see how I am doing. I am quite the newbie as a writer, but I’ve been told I have real potential to get discovered. I’d like to think so, and I would appreciate your honest feedback and suggestions. I have to be prepared for the critics one day, right? So it makes sense that I would want to experience all that now, and try to make them (you) fall in love with me and my writing before I am famous. Really, please be open to say whatever you like or don’t like about my stuff. I really appreciate it.

You’ll find that I write mostly about the act of exclusion, thus the reference to “them.” We all are connected to the process in some way. I don’t know about you yet, but I know I’ve been picked last, omitted from the e-mail list, ignored by friends, and even shunned by the church. It hurts. But it doesn’t have to keep hurting. We choose, and everything we experience has been given our personal seal of approval to be experienced. Think about it for a moment.

Think. About. It.

I ramble some. You’ve been warned. I cover the gamut, from connecting peace to something like a hurricane, to exclusion being a teacher, along with rock songs, forgiveness, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Experience is our greatest teacher, of course, and sharing our experiences with one another in the form of stories brings us closer together. I love to tell stories, and I love to hear great stories too. I have a passion for being around when someone says, “I get it now!” Oh, before I proceed I want to qualify the term “it.”

It is when you meet yourself again for the first time :O

More on that later, so stick around. I really hope to create dialogue and get us thinking about what we can do about the state of our world. I think we all have differing opinions about what it might look like, but in the end I believe that we will see world peace, because I am equally certain that I have to make peace before I am able to contribute to the cause of peace. Forgive. Allow. Accept. Love. Think. All I am really trying to do is get us to think. The rest will come if we want it. I would be honored if you would join me.

Peace is the way, love is here to stay, and our thoughts allow it to happen today. -– jb

How Do You See It?

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." -- Wayne Dyer

Do you believe that? I do and I can tell you that today is one of those days when I am encouraged by the truth of that statement. It feels strange to be writing this post because I am actually writing it to myself. I have been somewhat out of sorts lately, and I have to confess that I have allowed certain recent events and conversations to create within me an outright uneasiness. It crept in without my having the consciousness to detect it. Man that hurt to say. And it would be easy at this point to give myself a hard time, but I am actually ok with taking my own advice.

I realize completely that I had simply gotten lazy and lowered my vibration by falling back into some old thought habits. I finally decided enough is enough. I love myself and I love my life. I am the master of my thoughts and I hereby take charge once more and allow myself the opportunity to get over it. (Sometimes I do this daily until it sticks.) This post is as much about positive affirmations as it is a personal confession. I have discovered that the outer reflects the inner and I have stopped my "stinking thinking." The way I look at things is changing as I write because I have also discovered the healing that talking about something can bring about. I cannot blame anyone for the way I was feeling. It never helps a situation to point a finger when the other four are pointed back at me :O

I take full responsibility for me and I offer this post as a reference in action for your free consumption. Always be good to yourself and even if you begin to think something less than positive, just stop. S.T.O.P. Stop and take a moment, take three deep breaths and remember who you are. Remember what you are about. Love yourself through it and change you mental image of the situation. It isn't magic, but it works in similar fashion. Everything, and I mean everything that we see is what we choose to see. Our experiences remind us of how we are seeing things and by responding in a positive way and changing our minds, we become our own personal healer. God I am glad I did because I feel better already!

Positive thoughts and affirmations are so important during stressful times, and I cannot even adequately impart to you how much better I feel. It is good to take responsibility for ourselves. It is sometimes a good idea to take a good look at our surroundings as well. It might even become necessary to stop hanging out with the same people if those people are the source of, or a reminder of the uneasiness. It can be painful I know, but it is not selfish to take action out of respect for our own well-being. It is not easy but it is healthy and leaving behind individuals who can't get their own lives together is quite possibly the only thing we can do. They cannot be of any assistance to us when we are struggling if they can't help themselves.

Take time out right now and reflect on your personal situation. Is everything just like you want it to be? If not, is there something or someone that is making things cloudy for you? Is there a situation that you've been close to that now needs to be dealt with differently, maybe as if it were dead and buried? Is there anything better than having the power to choose?

My friend, if you have allowed someone to take your power, reclaim it Now. Stand on your own feet, hold your head high and say, "No more." Indeed, change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change. The bible refers to this as repenting. My Christian friends who don't do their own due diligence, and instead rely on preachers to define terms like this may not like the connection, but look it up for yourself. Oh never mind... here is the truth about the term "repent" in the exact way Christ used it, borrowed from our friends at wikipedia -- "The Greek term for repentance, metanoia, denotes a change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transforma­tion of outlook, of man's vision of the world and of himself, and a new way of loving others and God."

It feels good to look at things through our own eyes, clear and bright, with no clouds in view.

Now on a personal note, remember that Jesus, Emmanuel, the Christ was always positive in his perspective. He even saw the good in those who were in the process of killing him. "Putting on the mind of Christ" means just that. He never judged, lest he be judged. Think before you refer to that Mind. Don't speak about it unless you know something about it. If It is in you, you will have no difficulty seeing the world you wish to see. Then maybe you can find the peace that seems to elude you. Thanks, Jeff. I really needed to hear that :-)

"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It's gonna be bright, bright, sun-shiny day." -- Johnny Nash

That's an old song, but man, that's good stuff!

Peace is the only way. Create some today. It will help you see better. -- jb

What Are You So Afraid Of?

I was driving around town yesterday and my mind began to wander towards an issue I've been dealing with and I felt it... that unmistakable twist in my gut, and I instantly knew I was going down the wrong road. Do you relate?

Sometimes we can fall prey to this attack without even knowing it, and before we have a chance to react, we have already made life miserable for others. Today, I am much better because I was able to recognize that deeply internal, egoic effort working at keeping me in a place of uncertainty, which invariably was just another face of fear. So what did I do? I corrected my thinking to reflect the truth of my situation and observed in amazement (once more) how quickly my true feelings about me and my future emerged.

Fear. What a persistently sneaky and insidious illusion. One possessing the potential of destroying everything in its path. Much like the storms of recent weeks down here in my neck of the woods, fear is only as strong as the conditions involved will allow it to be. Considering the indisputable fact that I created those perfect conditions, I just took control of the elements and decided that I was not afraid... and so it is.

These days are seemingly filled with elements that lend themselves to unnecessary confusion, hurt, and pain. There are unprecedented numbers of individuals bent on projecting their fears into the lives of those around them. Remember that old adage "Misery loves company"? Well, it may be a fact, but I am not miserable and I still love company. I love the company of friends that are traversing this beautiful, yet unpredictable path along with me. Constantly supportive, undying in their commitment to me, they are responsible for coming to my rescue when I am unclear or cloudy... or when someone is out to get me... lol.

If you, my friend, ever find yourself dealing with people who seem intent on making your life or the lives of those closest to you miserable, make the choice today to put distance between you and them. Keep in mind that they are lost in their own confusion, and there is no benefit for anyone involved if you just keep putting up with meanness and judgement when there are healthy alternatives :)

You see, we are not alone. We are never alone, and we are in this thing together. Loving these poor souls is the right choice... just do it from a happier place and leave them alone to their private war all by themselves. Eventually they may even wake up and discover for themselves how fear has nullified their potential for good. Offer them peace in your prayers and meditation, but do not allow yourself to be the victim. Again, it is your choice.

Choose to love them and watch their power over you dissolve into thin air. Love them and you can rest your mind about them and get on with living your life the way it is intended to be lived. Free of judgement; free of conflicting emotions, free of fear. Who knows? If enough of us will just let it be, your former "victimizers" might come to the awareness that they have no power over you anymore and they will quietly go their own way.

May you never be afraid, may you always feel loved and accepted, and may you know that no one can make you into a victim. Only you have that power.

Peace -- jb

I See a World...

i see a land of peace
no. i'm not alone
for the eye that sees
is the I that has won
if we want it to be
then our work's almost done
it's the wanting, you see
that will make us all one
i see a world with no lies
only love remains
of course nobody cries
just the sweet scent of rain
falling free on us all
living in peace
is my dream
it's my destiny's call
this world is so real
lying just beyond the veil
so long concealed
yet i'm lost in its spell
envision with me
if only for today
people coming together
with peace as their way
i see this place
as sure i know
that love will erase
all memory of foe
beauty and honor
respect, love, and cheer
if you truly believe
then it's already here
i may be a fool
and this i am sure
will not be the last time
i dip my tongue in the pool
of a love that will last
my vision so near
just want it with me
please, just want it with me

see. now it is here

let it be
that my hope
is not lost on you now
for if our hearts can see it

then peace is here... right now

Namaste' -- jb

Thoughts Become Things

I have been enjoying my holiday today, and I have spent a large portion of it reading my favorite bloggers. I discovered a few new ones today, so I have been inspired to write about how our thoughts become things. Thanks to the brilliant insights of Robin, I was reminded of the importance of really being aware of my thinking.

I often speak about world peace. It is my loftiest dream and seemingly the most futile. At the same time, I recognize the fact that I alone do not have the power of mind to single-handedly create world peace. I like to think I can do anything... but for today, I humbly admit that world peace is a collective effort. So what are we waiting for?

Maybe the term "waiting" is a little off the mark, but sometimes the things I desire most tend to take a little while before showing up. Have you noticed? Actually, there are also times when I think something and for whatever reason, poof! -- there it is. These events, however, are usually related to parking spaces :-)

So, as I was thinking about thinking, I was reminded of a term used by Esther Hicks when discussing the delayed manifestation of a given desire. She calls this effect "the buffer of time." What she is describing is the space between the thought and the thought becoming the thing. Stay with me here, this is good stuff.

This idea really helps me to have patience, and it is rather beneficial to us as humans at this juncture in our evolution when you stop to think about it. (It will be interesting to read this back and count the number of times I use the word think.) When I think something, or wish for, or pray for anything, there is the reality that we exist within the spacetime continuum. It can make me nuts when I have to wait for the money or the phone call or the lottery results, and I am ok with that. The truth is, I understand the benefit of the delay between the thought and the thought becoming the thing. I'm sure none of us would like the hateful thought we had toward our friend or spouse to immediately become reality, would we?

If I have the power of mind to push my thought beyond time and space but my thought isn't pure, I am in trouble. Do you get my drift? I am thankful that I don't get instant results with each thought. At the same time, that awareness aids me in becoming the master of my thoughts. I can't always control my thoughts and that is not really my aim as much as it is to improve my thoughts... especially my thoughts about others. I don't want to inflict pain on someone by thinking something about them that could, in fact, do just that. I want to think good thoughts about everyone. It is a goal, not a reality so let me be blunt.

Watch what you're thinking! There will come a day when we will collectively possess the power to create anything we want, just by thinking it. We are in this physical plane of existence to work that fact out in our minds now in order to improve the state of our world later. If we all truly wanted world peace, we would already have it in our present reality. The fact that we do not, speaks to the way many of us think. I actually know people who are "praying" for the end of the world. Ouch! Sort of shortsighted if you are actually praying for the end of the world. Maybe you should concentrate on what is happening in your world if you're so ready to pop out. I like it here, and I know my work is not done.

May you monitor your thoughts lovingly, without judgement. May you reflect on your thinking and simply improve the thought that you are not pleased with, again without judgement. And may you come to understand that what you think about others, even though they may not be aware that you are thinking of them, must become a thought created in love. It will help me in my quest to see this world enveloped in peace, and it will help you in creating thoughts that become good things.

Peace in your world, love in your life, and pure thoughts in your mind. -- jb

I would like to hear what you think about thinking, so comment below and let's get the peace train rolling. Thanks for reading. Now you can join my blog network on Facebook