Unwrap Yourself

- Miles Patrick Yohnke

We arrive not totally wired or totally assembled like an electric jigsaw puzzle. And thru life we are just trying to figure out how all our pieces go together.

A boxing match within our own mind. We human beings all beat ourselves up. This is how it feels at times. From jabs of fear to uppercuts of doubt. It's all there. So are the crosses of joy and hope. God placed it all in your mind.

One will go many rounds sparring with oneself. But it is a good fight. Internal ugliness will be knocked down and our beauty will prevail, if one chooses to fight the good fight.

Broken fragments of what we were. One climbs out from their bed of black, found in the city of death. An unknown nobody is how we feel. The burden of our own self can feel like a monster not just a monkey on our back. The madness numbs us in ways we can't imagine and yet yesterday one was loaded with care. Like the choice of choosing to walk on the sunny side or upon the side of shadows. This is the beauty of the mind. The blessings of the living.

Turn your weaknesses into your strengths. Success is failure turned inside out.

Life is sure interesting, isn't it?

Surrender. Surrender. It starts there. By one simply saying I don't have all the answers. I don't know why I do what I do, but I want to know. I'm tired of making the same mistakes over and over. I'm tired of my mind being like this. I'm tired of the same song being sung in my head. I'm tired of doing laps in my pity-pool.

So we start unlearning what we were taught. We start being less of a victim (well-meaning parents, teachers, society - ourselves) and start understanding ourselves.

If one is really living, one is looking to others or into themselves for a challenge. A challenge to be better. To be more. Far more. We may not really know the full impact we can have on each other until much later on in our life (or even after death).

Each of us start out as strangers to each other. We respond and interact and allow each other into our lives and little miracles occur. We learn and teach one another. We challenge each other to be better and be more.

When people accept that they don't have all the answers and start seeking out other sources for their own betterment, they have moved forward. A simple gesture like signing up to a self-help or inspirational website for example demonstrates that "I'm a seeker, I'm looking for help. I don't know all the answers but I'm going to be more than I was yesterday."

To be someone making an impact on this world, you have to surrender to your own limitations first. Learn from them and pass on what you have done to become more to others. Be accountable. Accountable to yourself.

Some time ago I was recording a vocal performance. It was a mid-tempo song. With heartfelt lyrics. A real nice song. Take after take and an afternoon goes by. I replied, "You have written a great song here, but I don't believe you. Your delivery or performance. It's just on the surface. It's not believable."

I told him to go back. Reflect. Take yourself back to the place you were with pen and paper when you wrote it.

The next morning we recorded it and pretty much nailed it in one take (we punched in a few touch-up lines).

He was in tears doing that track. He had been in tears when writing it, he remembered. To be real - you have to surrender.

Then and only then does your work or life take on the right meaning. This includes parenting. Anything. Sadly most of life is just on the surface. This is why McDonald's is so popular. Garbage in. Garbage out. This is why the drink, the drug, the food is so popular. We as people should be far more than this. We must be. It starts by surrendering.

Let's create anew. Let's enrich the minds and souls of all mankind. Let us gift-wrap that. Let us place that under the tree of mankind. Let us witness iPeace. iCare. iLove. iSurrender. These are the real gifts. Festival comes each day if one surrenders.

Brighten your Day

- Bob Stoess

What do you need to do to become happier in life? Do you need a new house? How about a new car or a bigger paycheck? How can you brighten your mood? What will lift your spirits? You could be suffering from a general malaise. Or, maybe, you're just suffering from the summer blues. But, whatever your discomfort, there are many easy things you can do to raise your state of health.

Psychologists tell us that feeling joyful, lighthearted, and excited about life doesn't require major soul searching or a large investment of time or money.

There are dozens of ways to lift your spirits in a scant moment.

Smile at yourself in the mirror each morning. It'll brighten your day. Stand up straight; slouching is harmful to your physical and mental health. Hum or sing your favorite tune. A shift in brain chemicals will reduce stress and lift your spirits.

Give of yourself each day. A donation dropped into a Salvation Army kettle, a coin dropped into an expired parking meter, or a simple greeting to your neighbor will lift your spirits, as you experience a high from doing good.

Dream yourself into happiness. Research reveals that by depriving yourself of at least seven hours of sleep each night could rob you of bliss. Less sleep means that you dream less.

Sleep experts tell us that when your brain has fewer hours of sleep, the REM phase of sleep leaves little time to sort through the day's emotions. As a result, you are apt to wake up cranky and feel miserable all day. So, treat yourself to a good night's rest.

Promote laughter and light heartiness. It will establish you as able and in control. Serve yourself by lifting up others. You will find great joy in making others feel good.

Have a strong faith. Be confident in knowing that God will direct you to all that you need in life.

And, most of all, realize that your brightest days are those spent in service to Loved ones and fellow men.