DailyConnections.net

ALMOST MONDAY THOUGHT 2/8/10

God’s Odd Blessings

This one’s longer than usual.  Sorry ‘bout that.

My mother used to say I could fall in a pile of horse manure (not the exact words) and come up with a rose between my teeth.  I’m not the only one. 

Last Friday, I did a platform presentation at a client’s annual meeting in Pennsylvania.  The plan was to fly in on Thursday, do my dog ‘n pony show on Friday morning, fly out Friday afternoon, and be home, safely snuggled in my own bed, Friday night. 

God had other plans … again.  This time He decided to “bless” half the nation (and me personally; yes, I take these things personally) with one humungous blizzard.  After a series of misadventures reminiscent of the movie, “Planes, Trains & Automobiles,” I finally made it home Sunday afternoon.   

The rose between my teeth?  I got to meet some fantastic people along the way, most notably a fellow speaker with whom, by happenstance (yeah, right, Lord), I shared a limo from the airport on Thursday and also shared part of the return trip adventure, including paying a delightful hotel cook $100 to four-wheel us through unplowed highway roads to the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania airport after the snowstorm shut down the shuttles and cabs.

His name is Mike Schlappi (no, not the cook; the speaker).  He’s an Olympic Gold Medalist (basketball), businessman, husband and father, marathoner, snowmobiler, scuba diver, etc.  He’s also a man with a humongously huge positive attitude.  (No, not the silly-grin, butterflies and everything-is-beautiful kind, but one with substance behind it.)  Still, no big deal, right?  (Well, except for that Gold Medal part … oh, and the marathon stuff, too.) 

The big deal part is that Mike has done all this from a wheelchair, after having been accidently shot in the chest by a friend when he was 15.  His presentation got a standing ovation — several actually — as a genuine inspiration to never quit, to never give up.  (His book is titled, “Shot Happens: I Got Shot.  What’s Your Problem?”) 

The rose part for me?  With my schedule blown to Kingdom Come, my luggage circumnavigating the globe in the opposite direction, my underwear on the verge of breaking a record for how many days and ways it can be worn, and all the usual stress of disrupted travel, I had the opportunity to laugh, talk and travel through part of my journey this week and this life with a terrific, everyday guy who had done (and continues to do) some pretty amazing things.

But I admit that, to me, I am not so much impressed with Mike Schlappi because of his pretty amazing accomplishments.  I just got the biggest kick out of his magnificent, positive attitude, as well as his candid honesty.  (Part of his presentation addressed his bouts of self-pity and how you can have some pretty lousy days even if you work to have a good attitude.)

I like Mike for a number of reasons, one of them being that he landed in a pile of horse manure at age 15 and yet keeps coming up with a rose between his teeth. 

My point:  God always blesses us …  just not in ways we might originally choose.  For me, it was a blizzard that delayed my return home and gave me an opportunity to meet Mike Schlappi.  For Mike?  I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but I’d say it was a bullet in the chest at age 15 that gave him the opportunity to rise to his own personal great heights and to inspire, motivate and make a big difference to the thousands of people he touches. – jri

“Faith is not something we have but

something we do.”

-         Barbara Shlemon Ryan

(Living Each Day by the

Power of Faith)

John Ingrisano

Daily Connections

204 Lakeview Drive

Algoma, WI 54201

February 7-8, 2010

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 1/27/10

SATURDAY THOUGHT 1/23/10

MONDAY THOUGHT 11/30/09

MONDAY THOUGHT 11/23/09

TUESDAY THOUGHT 11/10/09

TUESDAY THOUGHT 8/11/09

SUMMER SATURDAY SUGGESTION

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 6/10/09

Your Greatest Power

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned as the years have gone by is the futility of being concerned about things over which I have no control. And if it is true that the best definition of wisdom is ‘knowledge rightly applied,’ I’ve gained wisdom in that I now concentrate only on things over which I have at least some modicum of control.
• I can’t stop the inconsiderate person who thoughtlessly throws a wadded up paper towel on the floor of the men’s room for someone else to pick up; but I can pick it up myself and toss it in the waste basket
• I can’t make young people use their turn signals or old people turn their turn signals off; but I can drive carefully and courteously myself
• I can’t stop the DOW Jones Industrial Average from dropping like a rock; but I can be careful about my spending habits and prepare an annual financial plan to make sure that we’re doing the best we can with the funds that we’ve worked so hard to accumulate
• I can’t run the government; but I can respect the President and elected officials currently in power at any given time whether I voted for them or not
• I can’t stop racism or sexism or any other type of ‘ism’; but I can appreciate all cultures and show respect for all people regardless of gender or skin color
• I can’t stop the aging process; but I can continue to learn and love and laugh and cry and work and play with great vigor and enthusiasm
• I can’t prevent people from losing their jobs and facing difficult times; but I can be a friend when it happens to someone by being an encourager
• I can’t be twenty-five again; but I can share (when asked) my experiences, both victories and defeats, in the hopes of making the road a little smoother for younger people who have years and miles ahead of them
• I can’t stop negative people from being negative; but I can choose to avoid them when possible and attempt to be a beacon of light during times of darkness
• I can’t slow down the changes in technology that come at us with warp speed; but I can accept, respect and learn how to use the tools that help us learn, allow us to communicate with the world and provide entertainment
• I can’t control the world (nor do I want to); but I can prevent the world from controlling me by taking responsibility for my actions and becoming a life-long learner
And you? Well, you can make you own list of what you can and cannot control. It’s a truly liberating experience!

Bill Sheridan    Sheridan Writes, LLC     www.sheridanwrites.com

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 5/6/09

MONDAY THOUGHT 4/6/09

The Great Something
 
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that the energy force that powers humans, that drives us relentlessly, is a blank spot, a hole in the soul, an emptiness that impels us to find a way to be filled, to be completed.  This yearning for The Great Something gives birth to our passion for creativity, our sex drive, our quest for knowledge.  It is also the power pack of our competitiveness and desire to not just succeed, but to excel.  This is the force that moves mankind forward from caves to skyscrapers, from ignorance to knowledge. It is also the angst that drives us to over-eat, to drink and abuse drugs, to search desperately in dark places for light. 
 
It can be a painful force that controls and manipulates our lives.  Or it can be a harnessed passion that leads us to light and fulfillment, in a healthy quest for knowledge, goodness and light. 
 
My point:  Poorly expressed perhaps, but I believe that we can squander our passions in darkness and self-destruction, or we can choose a noble passion that leads us to truth and knowledge (the two being the same in my book) and — rarities of all rarities — fulfillment.  Our call.  — jri
 
“We may have all the things on our wish
list and still feel empty.”
    –    Harold Kushner

TUESDAY THOUGHT 3/10/09

In for a Dime
 
I knew a guy once who had no convictions, no core value.  He was a professional fence-straddler whose primary goal was to be pleasant and non-controversial.  Pretty sad, actually.
 
I think some people of faith are like that.  “Oh, I believe in God,” they confess, but that’s as far as their faith goes.  How very sad.
 
My point:  In for a dime … in for a dollar … all in, as the gamblers say.  If God is (and I believe He IS), then He is the overwhelming, super factor in our lives.  How very, very joyful. — jri
 
“Trust in him at all times.”
        –    King David
               (Psalm 62:8)

MONDAY THOUGHT 3/9/09

Happiness
 
I know a guy who is chronically miserable.  If he’d won a million dollars, he’d lament that he’d have to pay taxes on the money. 
 
So, are you happy?  If not, why not?  I know: your child is a bum; your boss is a jerk; you missed the lottery again.  So?  I may not know much (no amens here, please), but I do know that joy and misery are inner things, not dependent on the size of your bankroll or how many people think you’re just swell. 
 
My point:  Choose happiness. Learn it.  Make it a habit.  Practice it.  Be joyful.  No excuses. — jri
 
“A very large proportion of the unhappiness
of the average individual is self-manufactured.”
    –    Norman Vincent Peale

Avoiding Life’s Bloody Noses – Jason Elkins from Transparent Christian Magazine

At the beginning of the year I signed up for a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) class. I figured that I would get into shape and burn some calories – a couple of my new year’s resolutions – and maybe develop some tools that will help me defend myself.

Earlier this week, a young man about half my age gave me a bloody nose, and led me to question my decision about joining. When I discussed this with one of the other students, he agreed that the young man is a bit too aggressive sometimes and gave me a few suggestions to protect myself. Then he paused and said, “Well, this isn’t Chess Club”.

It’s a great quote from the movie “Fight Club” where Brad Pitt’s character reminds everyone that they signed up for something physically challenging – and it immediately made me think about my faith. So much in our lives “isn’t Chess Club”… it’s a tough world out there, and we need to train and exercise our minds, just as I’m working on my body. Do you read the bible or listen to music that loads your head up with scripture? Do you have a church family? What about a small group that you attend? Arming yourself with these ‘tools’ will help you defend yourself when attacked by the ‘great deceiver’ – or enable you to manage a negative situation. Hopefully you can avoid some of life’s bloody noses!

Love,
Jason

www.transparentchristianmagazine.com

TUESDAY THOUGHT 2/17/09

The Quest for Happiness

No one is happy all the time … except, of course, for the terminally moronic!  As my mother used to say:  “If you find brief moments of joy in this life of struggle, count your blessings.”  Good advice.  I can be happy with that.

Of course, it seems to me that happiness is way overrated.  Personally, maybe it’s a sign of age, but I’d much prefer satisfaction these days, knowing that my life is being well spent with and on good people, not squandered in a quest for feel-good self-fulfillment.  

My point:  Money, power, success, physical pleasures (now there’s a euphemism if ever there was one) may keep us busy and fill our time, but it seems to me that the greatest joy in life results from believing in something well worth believing in.  Enjoy this beautiful day. — jri

“Many people have a wrong idea
of what constitutes true happiness.
It is not attained through self-
Gratification, but through fidelity to
A worthy purpose.”
 – Helen Keller

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 2/11/09

Growth?  Pain?  Yes?  So?
 
I just joined Toastmasters last fall.  Why?  Because, at 58, though I’m not bad on my feet, I know I can be better.  My brother, when he was pushing 60, took up running for the first time.  Next month he will complete yet another Boston Marathon.  Why?  Why not?
 
Growth is challenging.  It can be stressful.  But if you don’t grow … well, look at that baby struggling to take his first steps.  It takes every ounce of strength and concentration.  Or look at the tree that is pruned way back … only to grow better, bigger and stronger. 
 
The bottom line:  It takes work, sweat (and a fair amount of falling on our butts) to grow and to achieve anything worthwhile.  Sooooo, no whining, no complaining; ignore the bumps and bruises … and just go for it.  Why not?  — jri
 
“We cannot become what we need to
to be by remaining what we are.”
        –    Zig Ziglar
 
If you enjoy my ramblings, please share them.  Oh, and check out my latest book, The Back to Basics Book of Money!  A Couple’s Guide to Financial Peace.  It will be available by the end of February.  But order a pre-publication copy now (and workbook) and I’ll cover the shipping costs. Thanks
John R. Ingrisano
www.b2bbookofmoney.com
(920) 559-3722

MONDAY THOUGHT 2/9/09

Blessed or Miserable?
 
Did you ever notice that many people who have pretty much everything often seem a whole lot less happy than many folks who carry a heavy sack of troubles on their shoulders?
 
No, I’m not suggesting that misery is a good thing.  However, I am saying that people who have learned to deal with their problems do seem a whole lot more appreciative of their blessings.
 
My point:  Misery or joy, it is a choice of attitude, well within our own control.  So, I challenge myself (and I invite anyone else who would care to join me) to be flat-out joyful — no matter what — on this beautiful day. — jri   
 
“Delight yourself in the Lord
    and he will give you the desires
    of your heart.”
        –    King David
               (Psalm 37:7)

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 2/4/09

“What, me worry?”
 
Alfred E. Neuman, the dopey, big-eared fictional mascot for Mad magazine, got it right.  We waste so much time worrying about what we do wrong, what we have failed to do right, what went wrong yesterday, what just might go wrong tomorrow.  Whew! 
 
I know people who, as a result of their habitual worrying, rob themselves and their loved ones of peace and joy.  They destroy their happiness. 
 
My point:  Work hard to make of life what you want it to be.  And then … forget about it.  Enjoy the upticks and downbeats, the incredible wins and the two-by-four-across-the-nose setbacks.  Enjoy your strengths and your weaknesses.  None of us is perfect.  Do not worry yourself sick about it.  So, as my Italian grandmother would say — enjoy!  — jri
 
“The spiritual life is the life of a man’s real
self, the life of that interior self whose flame
is so often allowed to be smothered under
the ashes of anxiety and futile concern.”
        –    Thomas Merton
 
Thank you for the opportunity to visit with you today.  If you enjoy my ramblings, please share them.  If not, please let me know that as well.  Also, I have a new book coming out this month, The Back to Basics Book of Money!  A Couple’s Guide to Financial Peace.  For more info, click on www.b2bbookofmoney.com.
John R. Ingrisano

SATURDAY THOUGHT 1/31/09

A Positive Attitude Transforms Lives

I learned a strange thing down in the islands years ago.  When I wrote about an experience in my “Island Notes,” people reacted poorly if my tone was negative, even in truth.  On the other hand, when I took a positive or light tone, even when describing a tragedy (finding that silver lining), my readers enjoyed what I had to say.

This illustrated something even bigger that I have come to learn:  People flock to positive people.  It can be one of the most important things you bring to your business or career-building efforts. 

My point:  No, don’t be a mindless grinner, but do offer hope and positive ideas rather than negativity and woe.  It can dramatically change your image and your fortunes … almost overnight. — jri

“I can live for two months on a
good compliment.”
    –    Mark Twain

Want down-to-earth business ideas?  Check out www.TheFreestyleEntrepreneur.com

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 1/21/09

Go Ahead, Be Happy!
 
I think it is safe to say that worry and anxiety are endemic in our society and that most of us live in lifelong pursuit of ever-elusive happiness. 
 
Well, a friend of mine shared with me a story on that subject that just tickled me.  He wrote about another friend who “was delivered from serious emotional problems by the Lord. He was judged as a hopeless case, not curable. Anyway he relates this story where he had complained and moaned to God over and over again that all he wanted in life was just to be happy. Finally God spoke to him and said, ‘Well, go ahead, be happy’.”  And from that do on, he was.
 
My point:  Be joyful.  Easier said than done?  Maybe, but it’s still a choice, our choice.  So, why not choose to be happy?  — jri
 
“Sing to the Lord a new song.”
    –    Isaiah 42:10

TUESDAY 1/6/09

The King of Stupid

Bernie Madoff is perhaps the stupidest man on earth.  I say this because — in spite of his ability to con numerous people out of billions of dollars — I don’t think he had a clue as to WHY he was doing it.  Mindless, blind ambition!  I wonder if he had friends or just an entourage he bought and paid for with cash.  Sad.  Stupid.  He has a true gift, and he has squandered it.

I suspect the psychiatrists would have a field day with this sad little man, who had to rob and cheat people — hmmm, not sure why — perhaps to feel good about himself.  I wonder if the eighth billion feels as good as the first billion … or if it’s like trying to get the same satisfaction stuffing  the eighth slice of pizza into our mouths we got from that first bite of the first slice.  It fills the belly but not the soul. 

My point:  I think we all have a hunger, a hole in our soul.  The stupid ones attempt to fill it with stuff and busy-ness.  The smart ones actually do fill it with friends and family and a positive purpose in life.  Take time today for the real things, the smart things.  — jri 
 
“Battle your way to the top, says the world,
and you are a man.  Why is it then that the
men who get there are often the emptiest,
most frightened, prideful posers around?
They are mercenaries, battling only to build
their own kingdoms….  The same holds true
of the adventure addicts; no matter how
much you spend, no matter how far you take
your hobby, it’s still merely that — a hobby.”
    –    John Eldredge
           (Wild at Heart)

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 11/26/08

What, Me Worry?
 
I was once told that fear and worry are signs of lack of faith.  Great!  One more thing to worry about!  I’d love to be able to brag that — as a man who takes his faith seriously — I never worry.  I mean, I’m in God’s ever-reliable, trustworthy hands, right?  Absolutely.  But I’m a man of small faith, not the part-the-Red-Sea-in-the-morning-and-cure-a-leper-or-two-in-the-afternoon kind of faith.
 
I’m a show-me, remind me, reassure me, doubting-Thomas kind of believer.  I know — how pathetic!  I stand up in the morning and, like St. Peter, swear my devotion to and love for God.  But by afternoon, when something as insignificant as the handle breaking on the refrigerator, I swear at God and curse my luckless fate.  I feel sorry for God.  He doesn’t have much with which to work when it comes to me. 
 
The good news:  I know and believe (beyond just a hunch or a hope) that it’s okay, that God has worked with bigger clowns than me (well, maybe not, but that still puts Peter and me in darn good company), and that if He can put up with this clay-footed, unreliable yahoo, then I’ll do my best to stumble along until I almost get it right, worry and all.  And for that I’m ever grateful … most of the time. — jri
 
“For he chose us in him before the
creation of the world to be holy and
blameless in his sight.”
        –    St. Paul
               (Ephesians 1:4)

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 10/29/08

Cold Gold
 
When I was younger, everything I touched turned to gold.  Oh, I worked hard, but I was amply rewarded for my efforts — a thriving business, beautiful home, lakefront vacation cottage, great vacation travels, etc. etc. etc.
 
On one hand, it was great fun; power and wealth always are.  On the other, I became arrogant, a swaggering, know-it-all, pontificating ass.  By the time I lost everything (and I thank God for that), I was pretty much alone.  Having everything and no one to truly enjoy it with is a sad life.   Today, when it comes to material goods, I have no great mansions, but I do have exactly enough.  I still work hard, but now I am blessed with the opportunity to share what I have with a wealth of good friends and loving family. 
 
My point?  If you have read the story of King Midas (everything he touched turned to gold, too), you know that he ended up miserable, cursing his own gift.  Wealth comes in many forms.  Whether it be gold or talents or just a loving heart, enjoy it and share it.  God bless.  — jri
 
“It is possible to own much and yet
have very little.”
    –    John R. Ingrisano

MONDAY THOUGHT 10/27/08

Life Can Hurt … A Lot
 
My Mother used to say, “If you get brief glimpses of joy in this life of pain and suffering, count your blessings.”  Well, I don’t know even today if Mom was exaggerating, but I do know that she did find great joy amid great sorrow, and maybe that was her point. 
 
Another thing I do know is that way too many people these days self-medicate to cope with the pain of life, whether looking for that perfect love that – this time, finally – will  make life a blissful fairy tale, or making a visit to Dr. Feelgood’s Emporium of Mind-Dulling Delights.  Well, for all the alcoholics and drug addicts and food-aholics and magic pill seekers out there, here’s the good news:  Life is SUPPOSED to hurt now and then … even hurt a lot.  Get that one straight and life actually gets easier. 
 
My point?  Those who dedicate their lives to looking for comfort, ease and relief waste their time in false hopes.  On the other hand, those who gird their loins, strap on a breastplate and accept pain as a normal part of life, these are the ones who find joy amid the sorrow.  It takes a clear head and a focused eye to get through the many and to-be-expected challenges of life.  Face them.  Tackle them.  And, yes, even enjoy them.  — jri
 
“We have been told that for every pain,
there is a pill we could take to make the
hurting stop.  In essence, we have been
promised a pain-free life.  When it does
not work out that way, our inability to handle
any strong emotion, especially pain, leaves
us feeling confused and helpless.”
        –    Harold Kushner