Once Inspired

Archive for the ‘Motivation’ Category

Here is a something great to start your week.

When my son was in second grade I was the leader of his Cub Scout Den. Before his third grade school year started, a Cub Scout Pack leader called and asked if I would take on another boy. We had a large group and I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but so did everyone else in this age group.

The kicker of the deal was that Tray was a cancer patient and an amputee, one leg at the knee. I had a hard time making up my mind about exposing “my” boys to what I was almost positive would surely end in a lot of anguish and sadness for all of us. I finally decided to take him in, but before I said yes to our Pack leader I called all my parents to let them know what I planned to do and get their feedback.

1. Do a cartwheel.
2. Sing into your hairbrush.
3. Walk barefoot in wet grass.
4. Play a song you like really loud, over and over.
5. Dot all your “i”’s with smiley faces.
6. Read the funnies. Throw the rest of the paper away.
7. Dunk your cookies.
8. Play a game where you make up the rules as you go along.
9. Step carefully over sidewalk cracks.
10. Change into some play clothes.
11. Try to get someone to trade you a better sandwich.
12. Eat ice cream for breakfast.
13. Kiss a frog, just in case.
14. Blow the wrapper off a straw.
15. Have someone read you a story.
16. Find some pretty stones and save them.

It would appear that summer is upon us here in Cape Town and yet again, as with every other summer’s day during which I find myself captive within the confines of the concrete jungle, I am frustrated by the fact that I am not able to experience life as an essential part of our greater existence. This greater part of our existence is with reference to the fact that we are actually an energy source travelling through time. Our human form is merely a dimension of our greater existence.

So this frustration has led me to pursue a life less complicated; a life more meaningful where I can merely exist and enjoy the splendors of planet Earth. Bliss, in some form, is what most people are longing for.

This is a very short story with a fairly significant moral. Enjoy it.

“Mom, can I ask you some questions?”

“Sure son. Is there something bothering you?”

“Why do camels have humps?”

“Well son, we are desert animals. We need our humps to store water. We are known to go for days without water in the desert.”

“Okay, but then why are our legs long and thin and feet big and round?”

“You see son, our legs and feet are made especially for walking for days in the soft sand of the desert.”

“I see. One last question though mother.”

“Sure son.”

“Why the hell are we in the zoo then?”

Good Monday to you. I thought I’d start the week off with a wonderful story about a young South African who had a planet named after him. Here’s how it goes.

“I was Chairperson of the Anglo American Open Scholarship Panel for many years. Because we offered not only basic university fees but also a generous living allowance plus an overseas trip, it was like auditioning for Idols.

We got an unbelievable response every year which involved some of the most intelligent matric students in South Africa. Last year in January, we interviewed the brightest of them all – a young man called Siyabulela Xuza. He hails from Umtata in the Eastern Cape and was awarded an Academic Scholarship to St John’s College – a top private school in Johannesburg – from Grade 8.

What is it that motivates us? What is the basic fundamental of all motivation? Everyone seeks freedom in some form or another. And although absolute freedom is not possible, our struggle to achieve the ideal is the basis of our motivation. That is what motivates us here on earth. There is however an unconscious motivation, one which involves us returning to our source. For now though, I will be referring to the conscious form.

The motivation to be successful is something that I’m sure everyone strives toward. However I fear that some people do not know the true meaning of success. Perhaps my dad can help you with that. “Success is not measured by the thickness of the wallet but rather by the fullness of the heart.” – Anton Muhl. Learn it.

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80′s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

The old Cherokee simply replied,  ”The one you feed.”

Simple, truthful.

Thanks Jack

I was doing some cyber-surfing (the real waves were no good) and I came across a certain man by the name of John R. Wooden.

John R. Wooden was a three time All American basketball player, including college player of the year his senior season at Purdue. He is the only person to be inducted into both the Players’ and Coaches’ Halls of Fame. Through his word and deed, he taught people how to be successful. Coach Wooden, and his record, remain the standard by which EXCELLENCE can be measured.
Coach Wooden built his dynasty with this philosophy: “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.