"Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions.
All life is an experiment. The MORE experiments you make the better.
What if they are a little coarse, and you may get your coat soiled or torn?
What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice?
Up again, you shall NEVER be so afraid of a tumble."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Stay Strong!!!
I often use this quote I love from Mother Theresa, "if you cannot feed a thousand, feed just one."
Second to that one is "It is a kingly act to assist the fallen."
Mother Theresa understood that to do great things in life you have to do the little things that matter first!
You cannot jump to greatness!!!
Do not start trying to help the masses, just help the person right next to you!!
The rest will follow!
"It's the little things you do that can make a big difference.
What are you attempting to accomplish?
What little thing can you do today that will make you more effective?
You are probably only one step away from greatness."
- Bob Proctor
"Practice yourself in little things, and then proceed to greater."
- Epictetus
Hard to argue....Stay Strong!!!
Brendan O'Toole
He was many things in his short - way too short -lifetime!!
He was a precocious child, a cut up, a star athlete, a mentor, a sounding board, a class clown, a terror, a jokester, an incredibly bright student and child, a person you could not fool, a voice of reason, a rabid fan of basketball, a ferocious and limitless defender of his family and anyone he loved, a ferocious and FEARLESS defender of the weak and the helpless, a soft soul, a tough cookie, a rebel, a boundless and amazing father, a loyal and beyond dependable brother and friend, a devoted and loving and committed son, a student of life, a well read and astute human being. The list is endless....
Although we see written and hear it way too often...TRUST ME on this when I tell you....
Brendan O'Toole was truly ONE OF A KIND!!
But one thing he has never been accused of his whole life??
Subtlety!!!
Tonight I was rushing home after a late conference call and meeting.
As I made my way through midtown to the train, a young lady stopped me in my tracks on Madison Avenue.
She was no more than 25 years old and clearly from Europe given her seemingly Swedish accent.
She wanted to get to Times Square but was not sure where it was in relation to our location.
I explained where we were and said it was probably best to grab a taxi cab to her destination.
I tried to hail a cab for her to no avail and explained to her how to spot an open cab.
As we were trying, along comes a Pedicab!!
Interestingly, as we both spotted the Pedicabber approaching, she had this look of fear, and shook her head violently that she was not interested in traveling with this gentleman on his 3 wheel chariot!!
I sensed her blatant trepidation, and almost pre-warned, and as the Pedicabber launched into his pitch
I interrupted him and asked him how much to Crowne Plaza Times Square for the lady?
As prophesied by Brendan, this guy incredibly points to his sign of fares!!!
Not a word ..and he was clearly American and spoke English!!
Yet when asked how much he would charge he merely pointed to the ridiculously criminal sign of streets and avenues and stared at us!
Well, Brendan may not be here physically but let me tell you he was more than present spiritually!!
Possessed by BTO, I said to him:
"Are you kidding me?". "Flat fee to Crowne Plaza . No bull shit ... No games."
Well this clearly shook him up but he still had his game on!
After looking at me like "WTF?" He says how much do you want to pay?"
Inga from Sweden looks at me and clearly emboldened by our exchange, yet still skeptical whispers to me..
$20...
"10 dollars" I reply!!
He looks at me again like WTF?
So I say " my Bro in law drove a Pedicab and he would be pissed ay what you are pulling on this young lady."
He says "who is your Bro in law?"
I say simply "Brendan".
He clearly knew BTO and clearly embarrassed he says to me, "I knew Brendan, he was the best"
He then says to Inga, " $10 it is...plus tip...". And flashes me a "come on Bro" look....
She looks at me and I say it is a good price and tell her to tip him ONLY If he is good and does a good job.
With a handshake I tell him to stop the pointing at the sign bullshit and be upfront with people. I told him to remember Brendan is watching him and to do the right thing!
She jumps in the pedicab and they disappear!! She looks back with a wave and a smile and she may now trust the industry again - and spread the word!
Brendan was many things, but he was never subtle and he is still telling us that he lived the last decade of his life fighting for justice and equity for his livelihood and WE NEED to fight for him now!!!
Who else will do it for him but we who loved him??
More to follow..
Stay Strong!
"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive."
- Eleanora Duse
Step back and relax today.
Focus only on the big picture.
Focus only on your abundance of blessings!
Wouldn't it be amazing and so liberating if we could stop fretting and worrying about everything that we waste time daily worrying about?
Imagine if we could just hand over and delegate all of our anxieties, worries, fears and concerns to someone else to worry about and we could focus only on our blessings and the things that bring is peace and joy and happiness!
Well, guess what...we can TODAY if we have Faith and Trust in a Master Plan for us!
Hand over all your worries and fear and useless anxieties to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
They want us to..they invite us to do it and the offer always stands!
It is quite the offer!!!
Why not give it a shot.
What do we have to lose afterall?
Stay Strong!
Please read this quote:
"To sense that behind anything that can be experienced there is a something that our mind cannot grasp and whose beauty and sublimity reaches us only indirectly and as a feeble reflection, this is religiousness.
In this sense I am religious "
When I first read this quote, I thought it was from the lips of someone who might be regarded as deeply spiritual, someone like Ghandi or a well known religious figure.
We are constantly assaulted by science and theories of evolution versus Genesis. If you are Catholic, you believe what the Bible tells us of the Creation of man directly from God.
Naturally, in the world we live in, this science and all the theoretical explanations of how we come into existence are gaining traction in many people's minds. It is an easy explanation and people like and want easy.
So when I saw this quote that essentially validated in this person's beliefs that there is something, some force beyond this physical world that exists and that we cannot fully grasp.
Something that is unexplainable and Beautiful and sublime, something that science cannot define or prove or validate for the masses!
He calls this belief "being religious".
I was thrilled to see the person quoted with this belief was none other than perhaps the most well known and respected scientist IB history... Mr. Albert Einstein!
If anyone in my opinion could come out and float a scientific theory in direct contradiction of those who believe in an after life, resurrection, and a guiding, beautiful force, it is this man!
Very refreshing!
Have a great weekend and Stay Strong!!
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
- Philo
Does not matter who you are or where you are in your life, everyone has their own challenges, battles and obstacles to battle every day.
Try to hold your tongue and your judgement when a situation arises.
Keep this in mind in your daily travels today and going forward.
Kindness and compassion are sorely needed in this world and it all begins with each of us taking the initiative upon ourselves.
Lead the way starting today!!
Stay Strong!!!
