Warrior's Dream

This is something we use in our workshop that has taken on profound meaning for me. I was elected Warrior of my class when I participated in the workshop over a year ago. This has taken on even more meaning since then. Read it very carefully and understand what it is saying.

A lot of what we do is to protect ourselves...

We get locked into our roles and then we are not as effective as we can be, because we are holding onto people and things that are stifling us...

Letting go of what we are aware no longer serves us now, and walking into the unknown, is taking the next step as a warrior...

It's about being out front... moving beyond limits...

There is an innate desire in all creatures to grow...

Yet in any type of growth and change something has to end for something new to begin...

We are the masters of disguise and have a hard time determining what is reality and what is fantasy from wearing this masks for so long. It is incredibly rewarding when you let go of this defensiveness and reach a higher level with people from not having to wear these masks/disguises.

Tomorrow?

When I was a senior in high school my grandmother was living just three miles away in this nursing home pictured to the left. The last few weeks of my senior year my parents would come home every night from visiting her and Mom would say the same thing, "Your Grandmother wants to see you" to which I would reply "I'll do it tomorrow"

I was so busy with senior activities, getting ready for graduation and all the other things going on. I arrived home from school one afternoon and met my Mother in the drive way. Mom said "Your out of tomorrows" "Your grandmother is in ICU in Marion General".

We traveled to the hospital to visit someone who inspired me, considered me the "Apple of her eye" and I couldn't take time out of my busy schedule to drive three miles and visit with her. How many times in our lives do we say "I'll do it tomorrow", "I'll call them tomorrow", "I'll have lunch with him or her tomorrow"?

Tomorrow is promised to no one, the moment your in right now is all that matters. Do you realize that sometimes all it takes is a phone call to brighten someone's day? Why do we wait until tomorrow? Why do we wait until we're in the last part of our lives to tell the ones we hold so dear how we really feel? People sat on airplanes on 9/11 calling loved ones or at least trying to get an answering machine to convey their final thoughts. They knew the end was coming but most of us aren't that lucky. We don't know when we will close our eyes for the final time. I challenge each of you to live as if you've just found out that you have one week to live. How will you do it different?

A great song that brings it all home is Tim McGraw "Live Like You Were Dying"

What Legacy Are You Going To Leave Behind?

Have you ever considered what Legacy you creating? If you were to die tomorrow what would your eulogy be? What would people say at your calling hours? Inevitably everyday that passes brings us closer to this event. Have you ever considered starting with the end in mind?

Imagine your funeral, who will be there? What will they say? How will you be remembered? Will you leave an incredible legacy or will you leave and be forgotten soon after your passing? These may seem morbid questions, but have you really every considered them? Do you want to make your mark on this planet in the time you're here?

Look at some of these images and think about the contributions they made and the legacy they left. These people will be remembered for generations to come. Few people will have the world fame these people have, but that doesn't mean you can't make a profound contributions to your family, friends, co-workers, community and leave a legacy that will leave people remembering you for years after you are gone.

One of the most interesting things I'm learning from my training is the history of these faces that have come before me and taught us that when they have been tapped on the shoulder, they have stepped up to the plate and left their mark on this country and the world.

What's your legacy? What do you want to be remembered for? Are you living that life now? Are your actions in line with the legacy you want to leave? Are you motives pure or self-serving? These are tough questions, but their also the most rewarding.

Another Weekend In Vegas

Had the weekend off and thought I would go visit Christine and Chuck at Toucan's (Formerly Hamburger Mary's), however didn't make it. I did see "Deadman's Chest" at Greenvalley Regal Theater with a friend on Saturday afternoon. The movie was 2 1/2 hours but I loved it and can't wait to see the next. They definitely leave you hangin for the next chapter.

There's a lot of funny parts in the movie definitely done Disney style. Some of the music was a little too Disney and when they show the cannon's rotating like a newer style gun was a little unrealistic. It's definitely a movie to see, however be careful taking the children, it's a little scary in parts.

This weekend I was missing some very close friends however they are coming out Labor Day weekend so I'm looking forward to making more memories with them.

Next weekend should give me some interesting post material since I'll be taking my first road trip down to San Diego. Hope their heat wave stops before I get there. A friend called and said it was 100 with 60% humidity. He use to live here in Vegas and said that's just miserable down there.

How You Feeling?

Flu and sickness is hitting Vegas these days. Wonder if it's from all these visitors coming in from all over the world?!? I was under the weather a couple weeks ago and had one of the nastiest fevers and run down feeling.

I'm back to normal and wanting to go out tonight and hit the town however the friends I called all have what I had a couple weeks ago and I don't want it back. I'm thinking about getting my own bubble so I can stay healthy. So a Friday night finds me sitting at home watching TV and going through emails.

One of our Diversity Champions sent this link to an incredible message we use in our Diversity Champion Training classes.

Click on the link but beware... Powerful stuff ahead Make sure you have the music turned up!

Watch it through until the end, the most powerful part of the message is at the end.

http://www.TheDashMovie.com

I sent this out to a bunch of people today but just in case you didn't get it. Use the comment section and let me know what you think after you watch the video.

What Do You See?

Do you see an Old Lady or Young Lady in this picture? Isn't it amazing that two people can be looking at the same exact thing and see something totally different?

How many times do we engage in conversation where the words being said are something totally different than what's being heard?

We use this picture in our training to demonstrate how there can be another view than what we initially see on the surface. When we're face with a different point of view a different idea how much do we hold on to our beliefs and egos and refuse to acknowledge that our view may be distorted or incorrect.


I had one of these episodes a week ago with my new manager who decided to pull me into a hallway meeting and question my dedication after only the second week on the job. Of course it took me by total surprise and I put all kinds of meaning with the communication we had.

This week I am examining my inner self to determine if my map and perception of her is correct or incorrect. Am I going to let someone that has been with the company four weeks derail me or take the wind out of my sails?

If you know me you know I will not back down from the challenge and will show her that I will be the best Diversity Leadership Manager this company has ever seen.

The first thing we teach in our class is "Energy Follows Thought" I'm working on changing the thoughts creating negative energy about my new manager since I truly believe this principle of Energy Following Thoughts.

Will History Look At Today As America's Failure To It's People?

It's a sad day when the most powerful country on the planet denies thousands of people the chance for normal life again. Hundreds of stem cells are destroyed every week from fertility clinics and I don't see how that's more beneficial than using the discarded cells for research to possibly change the course of humanity.

I have faith another country will totally surpass the United States and corner the market on cures for the diseased and disabled. There will come a day when we ask ourselves why did we not lead the world in this medical breakthrough.

I feel most betrayed as an American since such important decisions are politically motivated. I don't feel Bush or any representative should be using this as a political stage to win future elections. It's time we wake up as a country and see the corrupt political figures and vote them out of office. 70% of the people in this country are in favor of stem cell research and yet the representatives aren't listening.

I believe it's time we limit the terms on the Senators and Congress People. Maybe then we'll have people doing their job and representing the people.

You may ask why Craig is so passionate about this issue, it's because I have a family member suffering from Parkinson's. When you see a loved one going through the pain and shaking and then a President using the veto for political purposes it pisses you off a little.

Great Family Reunion Weekend

I had a great weekend back in Ohio with the family. We had a great turn out both days and the first day most of the kids spent the whole day in the pond.
This picture is my parents garage painted blue with Dale Ernhardt Jr. wall paper boarder around it. The lady in the middle purple shirt is my Mother.

My parents house turned out to be a great place to have a reunion and the family decided to have the reunion there next year.
This is a picture of my parents pond with Hector my cousin from Las Vegas that just moved to Naples Florida holding up his beer as he floats in the heat wave Ohio had.

Saturday night we partied in my sisters basement and I lost $20 at poker since I don't know how to play but they were more than happy to take my money. My cousin tried to help me with my cards but I was a little too intoxicated to understand what the hell I was doing.

This is the back porch off my parents garage that faces out over the apple orchards and my sisters house next door. Everyone loved the patio area even in the 95 degree weather. The lady sitting on the left side is my Mom's Aunt Francie who turns 76 next week. Standing is my cousin Ricky who lives in Las Vegas who is standing behind him in the pink.

I flew back to Vegas last night on one of the bumpiest rides since Vegas was having thunder storms and severe lightening. The last 45 minutes of the trip were in a hold pattern and the storm was so bad they held up unloading the luggage so we all waited in baggage claim for 1 1/2 hours. If you know me you know how much I love airports and cruising but I was tired and ready to get home since I had to work at 8 a.m.

Party Animals & Celine!?!?

I have discovered the friends that I can't keep up with anymore. The term party animals comes to mind. Matt and Wes definitely out did me this trip to Vegas.

I may have been able to keep up better if I wouldn't have been sick while they were here. I had planned a bunch of stuff to show the boys and tour them around Vegas like I usually do when people come to town.

The pool party took their attention into a totally different direction and they enjoyed Vegas in a whole different way than I anticipated. I really wish there were some pictures I could post however you'll have to look for them on Ebay! ; )
Matt finally got to see Celine on his fifth or sixth trip to Vegas. Celine was absolutely amazing. J Stan got us floor seats about five rows back, AWESOME SEATS!

This is Matt and Wes touring Celine's stage. J Stan is explaining this is where Celine comes through the giant video screen.

This is Wes and Matt standing center stage with the 4,178 seat theater behind them.

Can you imagine performing in front of over 4,000 people a night? Celine does it with grace and even if you're not a fan the show blows you away!

What Happens In Vegas

I know Kyle reads my blog, I received a voicemail from him on the way home last night telling me he couldn’t take it any longer that I needed to blog! Kyle even suggested that I find a Kinko’s on the way home. Thanks Kyle for staying tuned, I hope future posts keep your attention.

It’s been a busy couple weeks in the new job and having visitors from Atlanta. A little over a week ago I found myself with strep throat and a viral infection at the same time. I visited the doctor and he shot me in the ass not once but twice and on both cheeks! I hadn’t had a shot in the ass since I was a kid and had this horrible nurse that I swear use to like to watch me squirm. Needless to say I haven’t changed much and this nurse ended up laughing when I was squirming and yelling in pain. If that pain wasn’t enough, my prescriptions cost me $344. I’m glad to say my health is back to normal.

Fourth of July was definitely one to remember with Matt and Wes visiting from Atlanta. I picked them up from the airport and showed them the dismal night life for gay people in Las Vegas.

Tuesday the 4th found me making my hash-brown casserole to take to a friends house for an afternoon pool party. The day found most people naked in the swimming pool and some fool making drinks getting everyone drunk and totally messing up the friends kitchen. I cleaned up the kitchen and then asked myself why I did it, when the owner didn’t care much about it. I guess it’s from my mother teaching me that you always leave things neater than you found them.

I ended up leaving before the orgy started, however Matt and Wes took our motto literally “What Happens In Vegas, Stays in Vegas”

All I have to say is you boys better always be nice since you know what pictures are on my camera and also the ones you don’t know about (ha ha). FYI… for future reference be careful of cameras you don’t see! ; )

God is it great to have internet access at home again!

Taken For Granted

Isn't it amazing looking at things we didn't have years ago that we just can't live without today. Imagine leaving home without that cell phone or not being able to check email. The world is in a contact flux of change and the things we are so use to today that we couldn't live without haven't been around for very long in the big scheme of things!

It makes me wonder how many of us could survive if we traveled back through time and didn't have a lot of these modern conveniences. I'm not sure about you but camping to me is a place that has a Hilton and a nice pool! ; )

I moved last night into a new house and one of the conveniences that we don't have yet is internet so the post may be further in between until we get that piece up and running. The new place is great and soon I will post pictures of the place I'm calling home. Matt and Wes will be my first visitors tomorrow night flying in from Atlanta. Wes has never been to Vegas so it will be fun especially for Matt showing him things he's never seen before. Within the next week there will be pictures of Matt and Wes at the Celine Dion show among other places in "Sin City".