Wow, 2010 comes to a close...

Greetings citizens:

Can you believe we are almost at the end of 2010? Where did the year go? Not sure about you, but wanted to recap very briefly about this year and all the lessons I've learned from everyone I know:

1. Life is precious and it's slipping away - every day is a great day when you get to see it!
2. Friends come and Friends you let go - YOU are IMPORTANT enough to be respected!
   
3. No matter where you travel in life - this world and it's story is awesome!
4. Be honorable, respectful, and humble - it's amazing what GREAT things can manifest!
5. Love yourself and stop taking yourself so seriously!
   

I know this wasn't comprehensive, but this is a great reflection of how much I have learned and how far I've become in a year. This has been a year of growth and development. I'm happy with each experience presented to me and recognize I'm much better for them.

I've traveled around, been to many places. I've made new friends and so many new faces. I've had fun running into the sunset, splashed around in the crystal blue grotto, tasted the foods of other cultures, and lost myself in the stories of others.

This year has been a blessing and wish all of you a positive 2010 and even more exciting 2011. Celebrate you this moment and remember you are something to remember now and forever!

Much love,

Mike

Color. That's Holiday 2010! Jump onboard...

Feel the Rhythm

Greetings Citizens:

OK, so today is October 9th and I pretty much slept all day because of a mad crazy week. Tonight, I'm again trying to figure out how to play poker. Again? Yea, because I've been shown a few times but this time I'm really committed to learning the game for all it's worth.

Before I jet out to get taken for all I've got - I decided to thump a few tunes on the iPod. It's funny how after about 5+ years you accumulate all this random music that you have disregarded but when you sudden hear the great beats you once loved, it brings a smile to your face.

I'm rocking out to some old school beats from the late 80's and early 90's. So, whatever you do tonight, tomorrow, or in the future - don't take yourself so seriously, enjoy the moment, and whatever you do - forget the past and enjoy this moment!!!

Feel the rhythm come over you and have a real good time! Sing out loud, dance like nobody's watching, and bring harmony into your world.

That's with love - always! ;)

Mike

He believes in You & Me

Greetings Citizens:

Have you ever heard the statement, God doesn't give you more than what He thinks you can handle? If not, have you heard, Be careful of what you wish for because it just might come true? Well, this week was a great example of that!

My boss is pregnant with twins and she asked me offline if I could do something for her - she is 7-months along in her pregnancy and her doctor has ordered her to remain at home for the duration until the boys arrive.

For the next 4-6 months, she wants me to fill in for her. Of all 8 direct reports, she has asked me. Part of my responsibilities will be to keep the region moving forward, achieving great successes, and continue with my team's award winning success.

Privately, this has been something I've considered for some time. I'm interested in learning more about her position and that opportunity has come true. As I promised to her and now to you, I promise to not let her down. I promise to do the very best I can do, and welcome her return to a team that is equally if not more engaged.

I must remind myself that my job is to wow, inspire, amuse, and delight the team that I'm directly responsible for and now the entire region. Because I will do a great job, additional options will become available to me, that will include additional advancements and wonderful learning experiences.

My love and appreciation is always to God for believing in me and permitting me the chance to project the glory of Him that lives within me...it also lives in you!

Mike

YOU!

Recently, I have been feeling a bit out of place albeit disconnected from the world around me.

After speaking to my life-coach Nicholas, he reminded me of something spectacular and unique about me I have the ability to overcome all kinds of obstacles. Each one of us has this ability, but I have figured out how to control this intangible aspect of life.

I was quickly reminded about the benefits my life has brought to the world around me:

1) I am greater than the things that bring me down
2) I am stronger than the steel that constructs a building
3) I am better than those who eject positivity
4) I am wiser than people 40+ years my senior
5) I am brighter than the sun that illuminates the solar system
6) I am larger than the tallest mountain
7) I am cooler than a cold winter breeze

As I listened with an open mind, I felt a resurgence in my soul. It was something I could compare only to electricity. Yea, electricity! The energy surged through my soul and I felt liberated.

Standing at this precipice, we can decide which direction we are going to take. Life is really simple if you think about it...it's all about decisions Left, Right, Up, Down. That's it. We overly complicate Life, but if we reduce it to it's most simplistic - its pretty damn simple.

Overcome any obstacle thrown your way with a positive attitude and see the people of the world quickly follow.

It's been a long time coming

Hello & Greetings Citizens!

Spring has arrived in the US and we all are extremely grateful! Winter plays havoc on the psyche and luckily we have survived the cold bitter grasp!

It's been a long time coming for which I can proudly say, today was a lovely day! Everything positive was the goal and with a little help from my friends it was amazing.

My lesson for you today is to keep your chin up, maintain a positive disposition and don't let anything get in your way. With life being simple at best, we as humans complicate it. Amidst all the madness and confusion - no matter how badly it makes you want to scream, you can only change one thing...that one thing is you!

Believe and know the power of you and nothing can rain on your parade!

Happy day to all of you.

Mike

Rebel Inside

Greetings Citizens!

I want to share with you some truth; here is my truth:

A rebel is someone who never fails to remind themselves to be creative. They are the nonconformists who thrive in the world of peculiar. Sure, they may be mocked or criticized, but they possess something more exciting than those who ridicule them. They possess their own individuality.

Being a rebel does not mean driving insanely fast on the highway or drinking cheap beer or breaking out car windows. A true rebel seeks genuine individualism. They are the ones who don't need labels to showcase or titles to command attention. Nope. Rebels are the people who challenge the status quo and unknowingly earn the respect of a nation.

Today, I have found the rebel in me and it's on fire! It's the inspiration that keeps me going, it's energy that produces electricity, it's the power of my existence. Now, that's HOT!

We are the masters of our lives! We are the anthems of our youth! We are greater than the commodities that spoon-feed a pseudo-form of reality.

I dare you to liberate your creativity and fuel your identity!

Celebrate YOU & invite others to do the same,

Mike

Happy New Year - Welcome 2010

Happy New Year citizens!

Can you believe another year has gone by? It's fun to reflect about 2009, all the good and bad times. Just remember, the experiences you've lived through last year prepared you for the new year.

If you are regretting or sad about the 2009 year, now is your chance to reject the baggage and be overly grateful that you lived to see today.

So, with all my love, let's welcome 2010! With your help, we will can make it a rock star year!

NEW MACBOOK Pro 2009

Hello Blog-Buddies!

I wanted to introduce you to my new toy. I did not get this for Christmas, instead I had to pick this bad boy up on my own dime, but it's still a Happy Christmas present.

Ladies & Gentlemen - I'd like to introduce you to my new Apple Macbook Pro. She's a beauty, eh? Now, I am not one for pretentious products, but my previous laptop Gateway M-6824 crashed and burned. The OS completely stopped working and my internal hard drive disk was obliterated. Rather than continue barking about the Microsoft PC - I decided to venture into the world of Apple.

My overall impression? WOW! I don't know how to do everything on it yet, but I'm liking what I see and know now. As time progresses, I will keep you all posted on my mastery of the Apple but if it turns out to be a sweet device - I will let you know.

I'm pretty pumped about this little sexy beast and if you would like to have my previous model - I will be happy to send it to you, just let me know. I really want to give it to someone who wants/needs one. I'm not too keen on selling it because there are many folks that cannot afford one and if I can give one away - I would be happy to send it over.

So, from me to you - peace out girl scout.

Mike

Holiday Cheer 2009

2, 4, 6, 8
'tis the time to liberate

Go Christmas!
Go Hanukkah!
Go Kwanzaa!
Go Solstice!

Go classic tree,
Go plastic tree,
Go plant a tree,
Go without a tree

You 86-the-rules,
You do what just feels right
Happy Do Whatever-You-Wantica
And to all a CHEERY Night!

A New Beginning

Greetings Citizens:

This past week the US celebrated Thanksgiving. As I sat around with my small intimate family and neighbors, I became extremely grateful for all their love and support. Everyone has confusion in their lives, we all come with all this baggage, but this was a time to forget all the wrongs and be thankful for what we have.

I am grateful for my family, my friends, my beliefs, my ownership, the love that was shared. These are for those in my past, present, and future - we all are in this world together to learn and grow.

A New Beginning dawned at the time I woke up and ejected all the despair and EMBRACED this amazing life we've been given.

WAKE UP EVERYBODY, NO MORE SLEEPING IN BED. NO MORE BACKWARD THINKING, TIME FOR THINKING AHEAD.

We are here, we are alive, we are to make this day and everyday a better day! With sincerity, love, and humanity - I Love you!

Mike

Forgive Me Father

Heavenly Father who art in Heaven

Every now and then You test us with some challenging obstacles. I know these are ways You confirm our commitment to Your work.

The past few weeks I have been tested. Today, I concede. I admitted I am not as strong as Job, not as humble as Abraham, and not as Christ like as You want me to be.

I've tried to be strong and continue as I thought was right, but You made me realize that I need help. I am not as superior as I thought I was. I am no better than the smartest man or the poorest man.

HEAR my Cry for help, Lord I have forsaken you with pride with greed with vanity. Salvage me for I am broken, guilty of sin, and shamed before you. Forgive me Father for I have disappointed You and tarnished my soul.

I ask You to fix me, correct my wicked ways, and bring me back to your grace. I ask You to see my humility and know I am sincere. I want You to bless me.

Make me Worthy To You!!!

Meteor Shower

I can finally see,
That you're right there beside me,
I am not my own,
For I have been made new
Please don't let me go,
I desperately need you

I am not my own,
For I have been made new
Please don't let me go,
I desperately need you

- Owl City

Whatever these lyrics mean to you is how Owl City (AKA Adam Young) intended you to get from such his great melody and beautifully arranged words.

We are all here to experience a common human existence, so when you see a friend, a neighbor, a family member, a stranger - show them love and let them know how much you appreciate them for sharing this life with you.

Love - that's the way! Welcome it more into your life...it's awesome!!!

Help Me Understand

Greeting Citizens!

This may seem a little below the line by some and may be construed as cynical, but Help me understand the purpose of the following organizations:

1. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for a Cure
   
2. Light the Night Lymphoma/Leukemia Foundation for a Cure
   
3. Susan G. Komen, Breast Cancer Research Foundation for a Cure
   
4. Robert Packard Center for ALS Research Foundation for a Cure
   
5. Multiple Sclerosis: Hope Through Research Foundation for a Cure
   

These are some examples of charitable foundations seeking money, your time for volunteering, and your compassion.

By no means am I discrediting their efforts but at what point do we ask, "Where the hell is our Return on Investment?" Do you know the last illness that was cured?

In business we are taught the importance of ROI in order to get more investors, but are we seeing anything that is offering any positive returns? A few more days of life after these organizations have seen huge investments...unacceptable. Where is the accountability?

I am now subscribing to helping organizations that I see results and positive strides forward. So before you fork over that $20 bill, know the organization that you are funding.

Looking Through You

Good Sunday Evening:

I wanted to express my excitement to everyone who enjoys to hear the positive side of life. With the complete understanding of our own individual challenges, there is so much more to our existence than just I...when walking down the street I see you, I hear your heart crying for affection, I see your soul longing for an absolution, and I see your smile masking the pain.

As I look at my fellow people caring their heavy burdens, I feel your sorrow and stress. I, too experience the same emotions when I feel overwhelmed and confused.

When I was a child, I'd look at the moon and wonder WHY ME? Why was I given this life to live on Earth. The answer was right in front of me all the time - I was sent here for you! I am here to ease your frustrations, I am here to offer help to all of God's creation. By no means do I believe I am Jesus, but I feel we all were given our lives to do His work.

A friend who I value dearly said to me, God created us to prove to all existence Now and Forever, that something given Free Will would still choose Him. Ironically, my mom said that to me as well with a plaque that read, "If I'd have to choose life all over again, I would still choose you!"

I ask you to look inside yourself, the GLORY OF GOD within ALL OF US and feel him bless you. Allow Him to breathe into your life and carry your pain, He's genuinely incredible!

The only thing He's asked me to share with you is LOVE! Would you give your son to forgive those who've forsaken you? Unconditional love He has for us is contagious and share it openly and freely with everyone you meet.

May Peace, Happiness, and Love fill your hearts and mind. That is the glory of God - now and forever, Amen!

With a little help from my friends

Talent is here with a great Beatles classic....



This is passion that consumes and is genuine.

Words

I have a life experience and lesson learned to share:

Words are meaningless and cannot accurately define you, your actions are the true testimony.

Mike

Don't Just Sit There - Get Involved & Do Something

Hello & Good Morning!

Today is a new day, a fresh start, a great blessing because we woke up. With this newly identified freedom to live another day - what can you and I do to make the world a better place?

John Mayer has a song titled, "Waiting On the World to Change" and I know that if I sit and wait rather than participate in the change - a change will never happen.

So I challenge you to do your part today and help to make a change the world needs. I'll keep you posted on what changes I employed to help my friends, family, self, and the world we call home.

Do You Believe in the Divine Messengers?

Hello Universe!

It's Mike and I am going to share an awesome story of good will, God's divine love, and the messengers He sends.

This evening, I went to the grocery store to pick up some food for the house and I walked past a group of young guys who were in the store. As I walked by, I looked one of them in the eyes and continued to the produce section.

About 5 minutes later, I proceed to the check out and attempt to buy my groceries. After the total was presented, I reached in my pocket and searched for my bankcard. OH NO! I left it in the car! I ask the store attendant if I may run to my car and grab my card and he was cool with it.

As I dart to the car, two guys from the group I walked past 7-minutes earlier approached me outside and began telling me they are in a Christian young group. In a bit of a hurry, I continued to the car and asked the guys to walk with me.

At first, I thought they were going to ask me for money or something, then as they continued talking I felt comfortable enough to to listen to them as I unlocked the car to grab my credit card. The two guys started praying for me asking God to bless me, my family, and people at work. One of the boys told me that God told him for me to continue doing what I'm doing and to reach and minister to the people at work.

I shook the hands of both boys and thanked them. I reinforced my pleasure for their mission and asked God to Bless them as they had asked for Him to bless me too. When one of the boys asked my name, I shared it - he said, "Michael, huh? That's why God shines his light so brightly on you."

After paying for my groceries and walking out the store I actively searched for the group of boys and could not find them anywhere. It took me less than 1 minute and they were all gone.

So back to the question, do you believe in divine messengers (i.e. angels)? Well, today, I met two of them. By-the-way, this was the second time today that someone asked God to bless me.

God is AWESOME and I continue to pray and beg for others to see His Glory because my peace is Jesus and He can be yours too if you just ask Him to.

I was there as I always still cared

In our darkest hour, in my deepest despair
will you still care, will you be there?

Through my trials and my tribulations
through our doubts and frustrations

in my violence and my turbulence
through my fear and my confessions

in my anguish and my pain
through my joy and my sorrow

in the promise of another tomorrow

I will never let you part, for you're always in my heart.