I was lying in bed last nigh thinking about the words "hole" and "whole" and how interesting it is that they sound the same but are so different in meaning. Being "whole" represents a feeling or state of contentment and completeness...a perfection of sorts. It needs no thing. It lacks only craving. It is peace. However, feeling like there is a "hole" in our lives, suggests that something is missing, that we are incomplete or imperfect. It needs some thing. It is overrun with craving. It is unrest.    We vacillate between these two states in life. Feeling as though there is a "hole" in our lives or within our selves, we search for something to fill it up. We search for something to fill the "hole" to make us feel "whole." We find a t...

I JUST READ A BIG BANNER ON TV AND A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE CHEERING as they wave at the banner  Slogan The pursuit of happiness Is a completely misleading belief Your ego is what keeps pushing you and it does not believe in happiness or love So it is always doing what it is meant to do keeping you unhappy in any way it can. The ego is the lost innocent frightened child in each of us who is terrified of change to one degree or another The ego is the Pretender who runs your life. And I mean it makes you run. Or it sits down and says whatever. Until you catch it at work. The ego is what places the carrot just always out of reach That is what the pursuit of happiness is. INSTEAD OF BEING HAPPY EVERY...

http://gomestic.com/do-it-yourself/make-your-own-coffee-table/ The article above demonstrates how I save the material from wind damaged trees and build something good from it. I have salvaged over 1,000 trees in the last eight years. I have to admit, not every tree will be worth $1,600 because of the way the wind blows it down splitting it or cracking it badly and not all trees are suitable for the projects shown in the link above. For eco conscientious  people this is a pleasant way to use your hobby time with a very small outlay of tools. All of my tools were bought on sale and one or two projects paid for my entire shop. Take a look, if you like what you read in the link, click the I Like button. Dr Robert E McGinnis http://w...

Several years ago, I wrote a book for my children. this is but one out of hundreds. Beyond our genetic limitations, we may have a lot of say so over our aging process. This process started long before we were born and, physically, will terminate about the same time we do. However, what happens during the time between your birth and demise may have a lot to do with how long you live. There are many who espouse the principal of exercise, hard work, etc, and then we have those who depend on a good and steady diet of healthy foods. Is this enough? Is this necessary, or is something missing? What if, and I only suggest, what if, it is our outlook, attitude and relationships that give us the greatest strength in a long and very happy li...

I had never been burgled before. When I returned home earlier I walked in to find the back door of the house had been kicked through and was broken in half. It came as a surprise. What does one do in such situations? Glass and wood debris lay in the house and out. The mangled lower half of the door was hanging by the hinge. I have had many more pleasant experiences in my time. A few hours later I had a door in place and a great deal of gratitude for what has just happened. Although the assailants had broken the back door they had largely left the house alone. The contents of one of the draws had been emptied onto the bed and a small amount of money had been taken. Amongst the contents on the bed were a few envelopes of gratitude notes th...

To be trapped by anything can make one feel as if they are imprisoned in a small space with no air to breathe. Unlike the Jeanie trapped in a bottle for centuries until someone happened to find this bottle and magically rub it to life. You are not that lucky! Unfortunately there is no Prince Charming out there that will find you and magically rub you until you are free. You are the only one that can escape the prison of low self-esteem! Your self-esteem is up to you and only you. You can waste days upon days…years upon years waiting and hoping for that someone to come and make your self-esteem higher. It will never happen. You will have lived life lonely, angry, hidden and trapped. My advice to you is to begin with who you see ev...

I read David Einert's journal this morning about how we put ourselves into a box and then we complain because others have or are trying to put us in a box, and I knew I had to share my most recent "duh" moment in my journal today. I'll explain... After attending a fun workshop on vision boards, I have been thinking for the last week or so about what it is I really want. In this workshop they suggested that you put pictures of things you want to attain on your wall and look at them each day. The result would be that you would focus on those things and be able to physically bring them into your life. I decided to make a list of the things that I wanted on my vision board. So, I started to ask myself the question..."what is it that yo...

American children's television show host, Mr. Rogers (Fred Rogers) had it right when he said: "You are special. And so is everyone else in this world." This simple little statement might be taken as trite, when in fact, it is quite profound if you stop to consider it and even more so if you live in a way that reflects it. The magic starts when you first believe that you are special. If you believe that you are indeed special, then you will be motivated to try to reach your potential in life. You will feel your worth. You will strive to develop your gifts and talents. You will work hard at being your best. Lastly, you will have the confidence you need to see you through all of this because there will be a certainty backing up a...

We often find ourselves asking the question, "what's in it for me?" Naturally we want to know how we will benefit from whatever it is we are considering whether it be a relationship, a career opportunity, a product or service, etc. Not only is this part of our hard wiring, but it is also taught, conditioned, and nourished among the culture of humanity. In fact, whether you realize it or not, this question may have been and/or currently is your approach to life in general. It is the perverbial "search for happiness." We are always looking to find fulfillment. The problem is that so many never really do find it and if they do, it is not lasting. Why is that? Is it wrong to want to be happy? Of course not. But perhaps we are going about it ...

"I'm too old for this stuff, and I'm tired of dealing with it," I mumbled with a sigh wishing for a simpler life. I have come to a place in my life where I want less whining, less freaking out, less contention, less DRAMA both within myself and with others! I want more simplicity, more peace, more powerful action, and more truth, and the drama seems to interfere with all of these things. I guess I am in search of the drama-free life! What does that mean, you ask? For me, it is living a life based on truth, simplicity, responsibility, and authenticity. It is peaceful and loving. It is living a life run by spiritual self rather than by ego. Here are a few important points I came up with about living drama-free... 1....