One of my favorite quotes of all time is:

“The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves.  And you have to be strong enough to say, if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it.  Create your own.”

This is a quote by a man named Morrie Schwartz, a retired college professor who taught great lessons right up until his death.  He became recognized by offering candid, heartfelt insight into many of the philosophical questions that so many of us ask ourselves (or should be asking ourselves ) about life, work, community, relationships, aging, and death. And he offered all of this insight from a unique perspective.  Most importantly he offered it with love for the world.  The reason I like this quote so much is because it gives me the confidence and the motivation to follow my own star.  It instills in me the belief that following along with society is not always the best thing to do.  As long as the path you chose includes proper values and beliefs, we should each follow our own course.  We are subject to the same outside culture as our neighbors, but we also have the choice to accept this as reality, or to create our own.

It is such a simple quote, but it can provoke an abundance of comments and stories.  This comment can be applied to the proverbial Rat Race that is talked about so often.  We are cultured to believe that following the path of getting a job, getting married, buying a house, having children, etc, is the way that life should be lived in order to end up as a success.  What Morrie is saying is that just because other people are doing it, does not necessarily make it right for you.  We have to create our own definition of success and live our life in pursuit of this goal.

Your definition of success may be different from what society deems it to be, but that should not deter you from believing in your definition.  The Rat Race is a great playing field for those who truly want to be involved in the game of Corporate America, but it might be the wrong path to take if you are following a different goal.  The problem, however, lies in the fact that this traditional culture is everywhere, and you are smacked in the face with it everyday.  The reason Morrie says you have to be strong enough is because in order to remain on your own path, you have to be incredibly strong to survive the winds that are trying to blow you onto the path that the rest of society is following.

Create Your Own Culture.  Enjoy Your Ride.

Photo c/o mitchalbom.com

“Hello everybody.  Welcome today to the wonderful world of…you.  Now check it, you have two options…You can eat it or throw it away.”  – Usher

As you find yourself starting to read this page, you will find that you opted for one of two options…..read it or click it off.  I’m glad you chose to take the time, but this is just one of the billion choices you’ll make today.  Some will be as simple as deciding to read an e-mail….while others will be life altering decisions. For all of you in the United States kicking off a fine Memorial Day, I hope this helps with all of the many decisions you’ll make today.  For everyone else, have a great day filled with positive choices.

Without getting personal on you, I’ve spent the past week and a half making more decisions than I’ve ever made in my life.  Not just the “What do I have for lunch today?” type of decisions….but serious extreme life altering ones.  To be honest with you, I have yet to finalize my choice……but I have learned one lesson during this process.  Happiness Is A Decision…….And You’re The One In Charge.

Sounds pretty simple huh?  What I can offer to all of you today is this….Take about 30 minutes out of your day and visualize the following scenario.  Sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, and try to think of the most important things in your life.  Don’t just think of the major ones, but also the little things like having coffee with a good friend, calling your Mom for some much needed advice, using your phone to make a call that needs to be made right now.  Now imagine not being able to do these things any longer.  When you are done, you may just realize what exactly is the most important things in your life….and what it actually is that makes you happy.

One of the greatest speeches I have ever heard is from Actor Mathew McConaughey who talked about the pendulum of life swaying between a laugh and a tear.  I’d like to take this a step further and say that the pendulum of a moment sways between a Choice and a Change.  Happiness is a choice.  As you make each of your billion decisions today…..make sure you always choose happiness first.

About ten and a half years ago, I made a presentation at a business breakfast meeting.  This was no ordinary speech…I addressed a bunch of businessy type people wearing my totally “non-businessy” bright yellow pants, and delivered the presentation while sitting up on the speaking podium.  This day stands out to me, not because of what I wore or how I made the speech.  It stands out because it was the day my vision to create a positive influence became a reality.  The speech was about positivity, wisdom, and being the person you want to be.  But it was also my platform to introduce views on Radiant Living.

Looking back at that speech, I see that I encouraged people primarily to be the kind of person they truly want to be.  Not who society says they should be.  Not what other say they should be.  But what that voice deep down inside wants them to be.  I had great quotes like the one from George Bernard Shaw who when asked on his deathbed what he would do if he had his life to live over…“I’d like to be the person I could have been but never was”.  The content of that speech included concepts and thoughts that I still hold inside me today.  If I could do it all over again, I would walk into that breakfast meeting with even brighter yellow pants and maybe this time stand right up on the breakfast table while delivering these exact same words.

The speech included a brief rundown on the 10 Rituals of Radiant Living.  These Rituals that were taken from one of my life heroes…Robin Sharma.  Necessities for people living a Rays of Wisdom life.  Still the backbone of my life today.

1. Ritual of Solitude - settle down that whirling jar of sand in your head each day
2. Ritual of Physicality – out of 168 hours each week, there’s got to be at least 5 hours in there for exercise
3. Ritual of Live Nourishment – you really are what you eat…choose wisely
4. Ritual of Abundant Knowledge – keep on learning….you’re never too old
5. Ritual of Personal Reflection – looking back can help move you forward
6. Ritual of Early Awakening – you may still not believe me, but there is magic in the early morning
7. Ritual of Music – music is life…make it part of every day
8. Ritual of the Spoken Word – fill your inner voice with positivity
9. Ritual of a Congruent Character – walk the walk, talk the talk
10. Ritual of Simplicity – if there’s only one key to life…it’s simplicity

Make it Happen.

Dreams

Dreams can be chased
They can guide you
Push you
Motivate the hell out of you

Dreams can also be caught
Lived out in reality
Enjoyed
Spending each day in amazement

They can also be put on hold
For something bigger
Not lost
Just paused for another time

But the most important thing
Is that the dream stays alive
Not abandoned
Attached to your heart

Imagine living a life without Dreams
Waking up each day for no reason
Numb
Journeying aimlessly through life

I have a few Dreams inside me
Some lived, some still waiting
But there
Looking for their turn

Dreams are about power
Being scared, a weak excuse
Battling
Hoping the dreamer comes out ahead

Photo c/o Tuscon Citizen