Tag: great country

Here is to you Class of 2017 – Please always chase a better self and live on purpose


Here is to you Class of 2017 – Please always chase a better self and live on purpose 

It is that time of the year: High school graduations are upon us. This one is really special to me because of two reasons. My daughter is one of the lucky high school students who will soon go out into the world and spreading her wings. The other special thing is a speech friend and coach Brett Blair (he is the author of “From Autopilot to Authentic: How the Philosophies of Dr. Tom Hill Can Help You Live Your Exceptional Life”) held for high school grads in Cary NC. He has allowed me to share his speech with you. There a many speeches held, but this one sticks out to me. The current generation may be making a mess of things right now, but you should really let Brett’s thoughts sink in about how you HS grads will now have the exciting chance helping make important changes for yourself and all of us. So I am asking you as well to please chase a better self and live on purpose – we live in a country that provides so many opportunities challenging to live to your full potential. Let your light shine and never relent. The best of luck to all of you. Here is to you, Katie. We gave you roots and also wings. It is time to spread them wide and take off like an eagle.

Ralf

 

 

Together is Beautiful – Continuing the Journey by Brett Blair

 

Hello graduating seniors. Congratulations! Congratulations to each and every one of you.

 

I, along with your parents, your teachers, the administration, the community, your friends and family, we all honor you.

 

We honor you, and you should be proud.

 

You have completed a significant milestone in your life, and one that will carry with you the rest of your life.

 

Your life.

 

It’s your life.

 

It’s no longer about your parents, your friends, or anyone else.

 

It’s your life that we’re talking about now, and it’s totally in your control.

 

As you venture forth into the world, after crossing that stage on Monday, June 12th, and finally picking up your diploma, you’ll be launched into a whole new journey.

 

For some of you, you’ll be going straight on to college.

 

Others will go to work, and start making some money.

 

Some of you will proudly serve our country in the military, others go to a trade school, community college, or maybe volunteer – here in the U.S. or abroad.

 

I’m guessing that you, the class of 2017, will probably scatter all over the country and maybe even the world.

 

After you graduate, a lot of things will be new and different for you.

 

Some things will be scary.

 

Some things will be fun.

 

One thing I’m sure most of you will experience is a new degree of freedom.

 

Many of you will be living away from home for the first time.

 

You’ll be going from the world of being a kid in your house to being an adult in the big, bad world.

 

You’ll have freedom. Freedom!

 

Freedom is a cool thing.

 

Our country’s fathers – you know their names – George Washington and crew, they fought hard for our freedom, and our military has fought found hard over the last 200 + years to keep it.

 

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights, these things spell out what our great freedoms are as Americans. We should never take these freedoms and these rights for granted, and never forget how blessed we are to live here in the U.S.

 

But there’s another kind of freedom. A freedom that is entirely up to you, and a freedom that you can lose if you don’t live your life in the right way.

 

It’s the freedom that comes from taking personal responsibility for your decisions, your choices, your actions, and overall the way in which you live your life.

 

Freedom! You have the freedom to choose a great career. I made a big mistake here. I originally chose a career based only on the money it would pay. I’ve since learned, and it took me a long time, like over 20 years, that it’s much better to choose a career that matches your passions and purpose and interests.

 

Freedom! You have the freedom to be healthy. Don’t take this for granted. This is almost totally in your control. It overwhelmingly comes from the foods you eat and the exercise you get. At your age, you might not think this is too important. I promise you, it will become very important as you get older. Most of the health problems we have in the US these days come from people with bad habits. People eating the wrong foods and people not getting the exercise they need. You have your full lives ahead of you. I dare you. I dare you to make a commitment to yourself to be super healthy, and then you’ll enjoy the excitement that can come from a life, a long life, based on great health.

 

Freedom! You have the freedom to stay out of debt. Develop good habits around money right now, stick to them, and be free of financial bondage later. If you get a credit card, pay it off every month. If you already have some credit card debt, pay it off as soon as you can. Don’t be like most Americans, with thousands of dollars of credit card debt that literally buries them. Learn about saving. Learn about the magic compounded interest, and learn about the value of long-term investing.

 

Freedom! You have the freedom to have great relationships. Great relationships with your family, with your friends, with your girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife, with your employer and coworkers, with just about anybody. The keys to great relationships are being honest and transparent, being present when you’re with people (instead of glued to your iPhone), being a great listener, and just being one who really cares about other people. Caring about people regardless of what they look like, where they come from, how much money they have, how smart they are – just caring about people because they are another human being.

 

Freedom! You have the freedom of living in a great country, and on a beautiful planet. I know that my generation has not done you any favors here, and we’ve left this world in trouble in many ways. Pollution, climate change, poverty, hunger, racism and social unrest, low rates of political participation, intolerance, the list of challenges goes on and on. But, I am confident and optimistic. I’m optimistic because you young men and women are incredible. You are smart and passionate and caring and live your lives on purpose, and with a purpose. I have no doubt that our future, the future of our planet and the future of all people will be better, much better, because of the impact that you’re going to make.

 

Freedom! You have the freedom to choose how you think. You can choose to wake up each day and live in fear and regret. You can do that. Or, you can wake up each day with confidence and optimism and energy. You can wake up, each day, eager to go forth and make your mark as you live your life on purpose, and make a difference. It’s up to, totally up to you.

 

10 years ago, when I was 46 years old, I quit a job, a career, that I had held for over 20 years. For somebody else, it might have been a great career. It just wasn’t the right one for me.

 

I then started my own business. I also hired a coach, a life coach, and this guy taught me a whole new way to live my life. He taught me to dream about my future, and to write it down in great detail. He taught me to get crystal clear on my priorities, and to live my life in a way that balanced my priorities. He taught me to commit to growth, and to grow until the day I die. I’m living my life that way now, and you know what? It’s awesome. If I could go back to the day I graduated from high school, and start living my life that way, living my life on purpose, I can’t image how much different, how much better my life would have been.

 

You, the class of 2017. You can live your lives on purpose.

 

You can live your lives in the direction of your passions and purposes and your dreams.

 

You can live your lives with abundant health – with energy and strength to lean into each and every day.

 

You can live your lives with amazing relationships all around you – an amazing spouse, amazing kids, amazing relationships with your parents, friends, neighbors.

 

You can have a great career or own your own great business, and smartly manage your money in a way that you never get into financial bondage that comes from having too much debt.

 

Living your life this way – living your life on purpose, it’s not the way most people live. That’s OK. A lot of people aren’t living their lives with the goals and determination and vision that you have. A lot of people are confused, and a lot of people are after instant gratification. You know, the best things in life – they take time, they take focus, they take determination, and they take discipline to get.

 

Personal discipline.

 

Personal discipline is the key.

 

Personal discipline leads to personal freedom.

 

Don’t be influenced by other people. Chart your own course, and stick to it. Be independent.

 

As Dr. Wayne Dyer says, be independent of the good and bad opinions of other people.
Have your own moral compass, your own north star, and live your life in that direction.

 

Live your life when you are all alone just like you would if other people were watching.

 

And something else I’ve learned along the way in my life – it is so much better when we all work together, and when we all get along. I think your generation has this figured out so much better than we did when I was growing up. Regardless of skin color, regardless of economic status, regardless of religion or political party or nationality or worldview – we all have the common denominator of being people. We are all people, created equal in the eyes of God, with unlimited potential. And when we lock arms and work together as people, working toward a better future, our potential is even more unlimited.

 

You guys are amazing. I’ve seen your passion and humility and courage and curiosity and love for each other. I’ve seen your intelligence and adaptability and determination. I’ve seen your faith and persistence and creativity.

 

I’ve seen you, I see you now, and I see you in the future.

 

I see you in the future, boldly making your mark on the world, and as a result, making this world a better place.

 

I know a lot of people who are really worried about the future, and think that the future will be worse, not better, than things are right now.

 

I totally disagree.

 

I believe in a better world.

 

I know we’ll move to the use of renewable energy.

 

 

I think we’ll solve the challenges around climate change.

 

I think we’ll eliminate many of today’s diseases and other health problems.

 

I think we’ll find new solutions to hunger and poverty and racism and inequality.

 

I might be naïve, but I don’t think so.

 

I think all these positive, optimistic things about the future for one reason. And, that one reason is YOU! Each and every one of YOU!

 

Personal discipline is cool. It leads to personal freedom. Personal freedom to live your lives in great big, happy, making a difference ways.

 

Thanks so much for giving me so many reasons to be optimistic, thanks for being an amazing group of young people who phenomenally represent Cary High School, and thanks for being you.
God Bless You, and may you venture forth and live the lives of your dreams.

 

Thanks!

Vivid reminders of 9/11


Vivid reminders of 9/11 IMAG0959

Photo credit: Ralf Weiser

If you have the opportunity to travel the Big Apple anytime soon, please make a point of stopping by the 9/11 memorial park and while you are at it take time to visit the new Freedom Tower – the new World Trade Center 1. Also, check out the museum connected to the park. About two years ago I made my first trip to the area where the two majestic North and South Tower used to stand before 9/11. I am glad I waited to return to this site. Where were you when the attacks happened in 2001? We all recall this quite well I am sure. One of my responses used to be rebuilding the site right away and taller than ever before. I am really glad to say that I was wrong about this. Over 3000 people lost their lives that day. There is no easy way dealing with the emotions of losing loved ones and having no closure as very few victims were ever found and identified. It is clearly a site that will provide vivid flashbacks to any of the folks who were old enough to remember this fateful day. I am glad now that some time went by before planning the rebuilding and development of the site.

The two fountains that have been built right there at the site where the Twin Towers used to stand are just magnificent. What a serene and peaceful scene, very tastefully done and topped off with all the oak trees and the museum part of the park. It will open sometime in the near future. They can take their time with that. I can still not stand the sight of looking at artifacts that relate to that dark day.

When you look up you now have two new high risers to look at. WTC1 is a worthy successor to the buildings that used to stand there. I was totally elated about the symbolic value of both scenes: America stands for resilience, tolerance, love and inclusion. It is soothing to the mind to see that we have come full circle. We are dealing with the grief and we will make sure that we will never forget to honor the fallen heroes. The new site is fulfilling its purpose to help bring hope to people and to inspire people again.

NYC has really grown on me over the last decade and a half. While you are immersing yourself with the pulse of the city you will get a notion of what it means to be amongst people that may go down, but are never out of the game.

Quick tip on the side: If you go North bound on I95 make a point to park at the Staten Island Ferry building on Staten Island. The ride to Manhattan is free and you get to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It is a treat all the way around without the usual parking hassles. Safe travels.

Ralf

George Carlin’s paradox of life


George Carlin’s paradox of life Ralf a

I have to admit, not all of George Carlin’s humor is my cup of tea, but the following quote though really made me think. I hope it does the same for you.

 

The paradox of our time in history is that we have

taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider

freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more,

but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have

bigger houses and smaller families, more

conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees

but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment,

more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but

less wellness.

 

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too

recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get

too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read

too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our

values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate

too often.

 

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve

been all the way to the moon and back, but have

trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve

done larger things, but not better things.

 

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We

write more, but learn less. We plan more, but

accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to

wait. We build more computers to hold more

information, to produce more copies than ever, but

we communicate less and less.

 

These are the times of fast foods and slow

digestion, big men and small character, steep

profits and shallow relationships. These are the

days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier

houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick

trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one

night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do

everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a

time when there is much in the showroom window and

nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can

bring this letter to you, and a time when you can

choose either to share this insight, or to just hit

delete.

 

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones,

because they are not going to be around forever.

 

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to

you in awe, because that little person soon will

grow up and leave your side.

 

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,

because that is the only treasure you can give with

your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

 

Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and

your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and

an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep

inside of you.

 

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for

someday that person will not be there again.

 

Give time to love, give time to speak,! and give time

to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

 

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

 

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we

take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

 

George Carlin

 

If you want to go on adventure you cannot lie in bed all day


If you want to go on adventure you cannot lie in bed all day
IMG_0431

Picture credit: Ralf Weiser, Miami at the end of a beautiful day

Summertime is here and hopefully you have made plans to go places. We are so blessed living in a country that has got so much to see and experience. One thing that I keep encouraging especially young folks is to go to new places. Meet new people. See new cities. If at all possible go and see different countries and cultures. Go camping. Take an RV to travel around. Make a point of seeing as many as possible national parks. Go try see and experience all 50 States we are blessed to have.

How many people do you know who tell you that they are all up for adventure and then never go? How many would rather stick around at home and not go outside your county? How many of those people cannot get off the sofa or bed and away from the TV or computer screen?

  • Travel helps recharge your batteries. Getting away from it all makes a huge impact on how well you feel.
  • Travel encourages synchronicity. Who knows whom you are destined to meet along the way of your travels? Believe in coincidence? I do not. Our paths cross for a certain reason.
  • Travel broadens your horizon. No pun intended as I mean this more on the side of getting to know how many different ways the anything can be done. Therefore, it drives up tolerance for other people and how they see and do stuff. Fewer conflicts and even wars would happen if we all went and met with how every human just wants to be happy, safe, and content as well.
  • Travel gets you involved in totally different circles of people. Advancement in life comes from not whom you know, but who knows you.
  • Travel lets you experience gratitude and a sense of space. How blessed we truly are hits home best when you are on the road and physically get a feel for it. The sheer size and variety of our culture and the many different marvelous sites makes for a very humbling experience.

Go out and travel. As stressful as life can be, it is uplifting and incredibly refreshing to do something different even if at first it may take some effort to get going. Life is too great to waste it on the sofa or bed.

Ralf