The Slow Down

I have been contending with a personal knee injury for over two months now and while I await my impending surgery date, I have been forced to slow down quite a bit.  It certainly has been another eye opening period of time, when one is subjected to the fact that our body parts are wearing out and some tune ups or patch ups are needed to keep us going.  I figure since our cars and trucks need these maintenance periods, then we are no different in that form of reference.  I can tell you what I miss most is just the simple pleasure of a walk outside, with my music playing on my MP3 device, as I head up a hill that is filled with lots of natures beauty.  As I drive by it these days, I simply wave to it and whisper that I will be back soon.  In my mind, I already picture that as I look at the trees that may now be bigger or sprouting different leaves.  The different flowers that bloom during the winter rainy and cold weather, are also awaiting for me to stop by and admire them in their state of being.  My saving grace with my connection to plants and nature are my own set of flowers and plants that are on my patio.  I have been able to go outside and sit next to them, as I admire all of the new growth along with the flourishing greenery that is loving the season of rain that has come upon us in Southern California.  My thoughts have also been with the nearby mountains and deserts who as a result of some of this seasonal wet weather, will soon be teeming with lots of lush green colors, while the flowers that bloom in the more arid areas are percolating with an explosion of beauty that is just imminent.  When you slow down, you realize that the things you take for granted at times is what one can miss the most.  What has come out of this experience is another sense of deep gratitude for the many other things that I do have as part of my health and although this may be a hiccup for now, I always remember that others are struggling with illnesses that are far more worse than mine.  It does not take long to take inventory of those items that one can be appreciative of.  I also see that with technology, the window to the world is simply waiting on a screen of a myriad of devices that can instantly take you to those places that you miss or wish you were at.  On a daily basis I make the time for pause reflection and prayer, as they are part of my life and in this existing state, I find that there are just many more opportunities to revel in them.  What has transpired is a period of quiet peace that some people have to make time for, while I can carve out many periods of them through out the day.  While I can't wait to get back to my hill and the beauty of its surrounding nature, I will patiently anticipate that day when I can greet it with a smile that is reminiscent of a reunion with an old friend.

Game Changer

Sharing a column that will be published next month. 

Inventing Your Life

“Game Changer”

By

Rob Claudio

When you watch a competitive game either in person or via television, there is a lot of excitement associated with the unknown outcome once the clock runs out.  We all like to root for our favorite players or teams and our loyalty to them is sometimes based upon a formula that is hard to explain.   Why I became a supporter of a team for instance, was based upon my inner circle of friends and family who also cheered them on with passionate accord, without a lot of explanation as to why.  From a very young age, I can just remember that if you did not support a particular team, then you were not part of the family or group of friends.  Our loyalty was challenged from a very young age and it instilled in us this sense of pride if they won or we felt disheartened when they lost.  I love the fact that in every type of sporting event, there is also a moment that can completely change the momentum of the game and can cause what would have been a potential loss, to become a winning result in the end.  The sportscasters of the world will replay that moment over and over again, while they spend a good amount of time discussing that pivotal instance that was deemed as the game changer.  In life, we too have moments that change our momentum and sometimes they can have both positive and negative effects that come with them.  How we deal with those instances is what defines us as we learn through our circumstance that we are capable of rising above a challenge, in order to grow from it and also be able to help others overcome a similar situation.  It is important for us to remember that a potential setback changing moment can enable us to reach for even higher lengths and we can all remember a period of time where we thought we would never be able to get past it, yet we all have.  Our game changing moments are like large dots on a map, which can show us where we were and also provide a history of the road we have traveled.  As we get older, looking back at the amount and the sizes of those large dots makes one realize how privileged we are in the many years that we have been alive to be able to retrace them.  Sometimes just remembering a particular challenging time, can cause us to wonder out loud how we survived that period.  The next time you look at the highlights of game that was played, think about the highlights in your own life.  Many of us fail to give ourselves credit for the things that we have achieved and what I find in my older seasoned years of living, is that I would like to think that my mom and grandmother who were the largest influences in my life would be proud of how I turned out.  As a direct byproduct of what they helped nurture during their lives, I am forever grateful for all that they did for me.  As most of us were cared for and led by instrumental parents, mentors or teachers in our lives, we owe all of our success to those that came before us.  For it is because of those pivotal people that lit the way when we faced darkness in our journey, that we were able to arrive at the place where we needed to be.  It is my hope that you can recall many great game changing moments that caused you to do better and be better as a result.  Remember that the game is not over until the clock stops and until that occurs, you still have the possibility of making a great play that will forever define you as a human being.  After all, it is the memories of those highlight reels which will be left behind as part of your legacy, long after the lights have been turned off.

“The game of life has two participants, spectators and players.  Pick one.”

-Author unknown

Your Words; Your Reality

Today I am sharing an article that will be published next month.

Inventing Your Life

“Your Words; Your Reality”

By

Rob Claudio

As I meandered through a Saturday afternoon over the past weekend I was catching up on television shows that I had recorded and deleting some that I felt I would not have enough time for.  I got to a point in one of the recordings where I saw a reality television commercial and there was a life/fitness coach speaking to someone that wanted to give up on their goal.  I listened for a few minutes and then quickly moved on, however, I kept thinking about what the person was telling the individual that was in the middle of giving up, because he felt he could no longer move forward.  In hearing the person speak, I could tell that he had changed his belief about himself on his journey.  After I left the house and went about my errands, I kept thinking about the power of our own words and what we tell ourselves that can either help us believe in achieving something or can also deter us from arriving at a goal.  We can do a good job of talking ourselves out of many things by creating our own downward spiral conversation from within, without the need of another individual.  What we speak to ourselves can be the most powerful weapon that can be used for both good or to create doubt and apprehension.  Think about the words that were used with you as a child and I bet there is a vivid memory of a very positive example, when words of encouragement were spoken to you by someone which perhaps was life-changing.  Conversely, I believe that other memories may exist that may provide you with opposite feelings, especially if someone spoke to you while using negative or harmful words.   Because I would rather live in a world filled with encouragement and peace, I choose to remember only the good memories and I hope you strive to do the same.  From the negative recollections, those I use to inspire to be better and do better. Hence, I encourage you to speak words that have good intentions behind them, with a positive light and where the action around you can be nurtured to move forward and not backwards or stand still. Your ability to transcend and create change in your life which can be more beneficial, begins with your ability to believe in your personal words to yourself.  If you find that there are people around you that are naysayers or don’t support what you want to do in your life, then find new folks to replace them as part of your inner circle.  Remember that not everyone grows in the same direction as we get older and some people become uncomfortable when you start changing, because it means that they are not.  The responsibility to change lies within each individual, so try to remember that when you feel you have a project at hand in attempting to change someone else.  In the end, you can change and if others do not, then hopefully they will catch up with you sometime soon.  Finally, remember to use your words wisely and with some ongoing practice I am sure that you will be speaking in a harmonious truth, that will attract like-minded individuals to be part of your circle of support.

"Your words have power. Speak words that are kind, loving, positive, uplifting, encouraging, and life-giving."

-      Author Unknown

When Your Soul Sings

We have opportunities to experience joy on any given day through out our lifetime.  As I experience those moments now as an older adult I tend to slow down to relish the feeling even longer, as my appreciation for these periods has grown tremendously.  There are many things that can bring us that feeling of overwhelming happiness and it can come from the simplest of things to the most complex of them.  For the foodies of this world, perhaps it is the taste of the best comfort cuisine that wakes up your senses and sends you to another place in appreciation for what you just savored.  Then there are nature enthusiasts, who feel their hearts jump with delight when they are in front of a beautiful waterfall or perhaps at the top of a majestic mountain with a view that could last for years.  Let us not forget that the laughter of a child can be music to the ears of many folks as well and when we hear this we can all agree that most of us smile as soon as it happens around us.  Then there is the first time parent who is introduced to their newborn child and when they first see their baby with utter amazement the bond is immediate and embedded into their soul, as the moment fills a heart with abundant elation.  The examples are so numerous that one could write out complete volumes of encyclopedias with them, however, I think you get the picture of what I am trying to convey.  I have termed these moments for myself "when your soul sings", because it feels like this other part of you gets connected to something beyond what your eyes can see and draws from this great feeling of happiness that almost has no words for it.  If you believe in God, then you can also relate to that feeling where prayer, meditation and simply being in the presence of something much greater than yourself, can transcend a moment that at times may feel much longer and filled with euphoric and peaceful joy.  The key thing to remember is that the more you look for those things to be part of your daily experience, the more the law of attraction becomes present in your life.  What takes a bit of practice is to begin collecting all of those small moments of joy, as you string them together into greater lasting amounts.  When you think about the time that you are left with the remaining days of your life, it would only seem appropriate that you make calculated choices in selecting to live your life with more of an abundant bliss.  Because there are many things in our world that are tend to sap our energy and can bring us down emotionally, I think it is even more important now to counter all of that momentum with an opposite more appealing one.  Therefore, I do hope that many of you will make a more determined effort to screen more of the right things in your life and be present in the presence of a joy filled experience. Ultimately, I hope that all of it will provide you with ongoing opportunities which will allow your soul to sing consistently as well, as it reaches for even higher notes in the future.

Our Living Memories

After returning home to celebrate a couple of events a few weeks ago, I found out a family member had been extremely ill for a short time period and ended up passing away very soon thereafter.  I had made plans to visit him in the hospital, only to find out that time had marched forward very quickly and his time with us had come to an end very suddenly.  I went from going to celebrate happy occasions to making another trip home a week later to a more somber celebration of an individual's life, which reminded me that life is full circle of all of these types of moments.  We all have a limited journey in which we have no control over when the celestial clock that determines where it comes to a complete stop.  For those of us still living, we are left to contemplate what we have done to leave an indelible mark, that we hope will bring a smile to somebody's face when they remember us after we are long gone.  It isn't until when these moments occur, that we realize how sometimes we do take time for granted.  Many of us believe that we will always have another weekend or perhaps another holiday when we can catch up with a dear family member or an old friend.  Yet, the reality is that in many instances we miss the opportunity in which we could have said hello or goodbye one last time.  I am sure we all can remember a final instance when we saw someone that was close to us, which ended up being the last time we have a living memory of them.  What we are left with are instances where we capture a final picture or moment which plays back to us like a video montage after they have left.  As I get older, I realize that time stands still for nobody and as the clock continues to tick in the distance and it reminds me that we need to make the best of the days along with hours that still remain.  Many of us have suffered losses and no matter what the circumstances, we are never prepared for when those moments occur.  If we think about someone that was very close to us that is no longer living, I am sure that we all have had the same thought about having one final opportunity to have one more day where we could have one last talk or hug that would comfort and fill our hearts. Because we are all left with just the pictures in our minds and in our hearts, we have to find some comfort in having those occasions where we can replay them of that person sitting next to us and providing us with that feeling of being connected in life.  Since none of us is promised another tomorrow, it is important to reach out and say thank you, I love you or any other thoughts we want to express while we are still living to those that mean something to us.  In my mind, I feel like I have a catalog of albums that are filled with so many pictures and videos that I sometimes have a hard time finding the right one that I was looking for, when I need a playback.  Then as days go by, something will happen or somebody will say a word that triggers that memory or picture and in a quick flash, I can see the image I had been searching for which is usually followed by a smile and a sense of happiness.   I hope your personal pictures, videos and moments live on forever in your memories and in your heart of those that meant so much to you.  My other wish is that the time that you have left can always be filled with those occasions that make life worth living.  To my happy go lucky cousin with a great big generous heart, Roberto a.k.a. "Pollo"☨ who now rests in eternal peace, I will miss you and one day we will meet again to have some additional laughs and give a welcoming hug as we catch up on the time that has passed in-between.

Strength Within

I am sharing a column that will be published next month. 

“Strength Within”

By

Rob Claudio

I have always been interested in hearing about stories of perseverance, because they become examples of inspiration when we find ourselves challenged by any number of things in our lives.  I saw a person some time ago accepting an award on a television show as he was being recognized for his determination and outstanding sports casting skills, as he has been battling cancer for almost two years.  They showed video of his typical day, which began with an early trip to the cancer center hospital, where he underwent radiation therapy for a few hours.  He then would pack up and head off to the sports stadium either in his home town or away where his team was playing, in order to do his show from the sidelines.  A typical day for him was almost fourteen hours of non-stop activity before he got the opportunity to go home and rest.  As one can imagine, if a person is battling a serious medical condition and receiving extensive treatment, there would appear to be little room for the energy needed to travel and perform at a high profile job.  Yet, this individual chose to have the best attitude about his situation and in contrast to many who may have been in similar circumstances, demonstrated to the world that his love for life and his work, was far stronger than any ailment.  It was very uplifting to see how this person's strength within, was so evident on the outside and one could not detect any type of deficiency associated with a person suffering from a life threatening illness.  I love examples like him and I know there are many more out there, because I am reminded that life is not always easy, yet the opportunity to achieve great things in the midst of heartache is extremely possible.  We all could learn a lesson or two from these types of individuals that will themselves forward far beyond what one could think is imaginable.    If there is someone whom you know that is going through a particular challenge, then take the initiative to be their light in their cloudy moment.  An invitation to have a cup of coffee, share a meal or simply let them know that you are there for them, can change a person’s day, week or month.  Nobody is immune to challenges or adversity through-out their lives, so always remember that at any given time it can be anyone of us who may need to summon our inner strength.  What I have found to be true with experience, is that if I was there for others in the past, I usually end up with some guiding lights in my life that will help me in my own time of need.  Always remember that no matter what your current circumstance, hope prevails and all things have a time limit to them as nothing is forever.  Whenever you want to potentially complain about something, simply think of these prominent examples that have shown all of us and the rest of the world what triumph over adversity can look like.

“Joy is of the will which labors, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph”’

-William Butler Yeats

Rearranging Your Boxes

I have had some items from my old computer sitting in my room on a leather chair for some time and they had become part of my room as a cluttered island unto themselves.  My mom who happened to be in town and had been staying with me at my house, kept passing by those items and she finally had enough of looking at them as part of this rummage that was taking up space.  One day when I got home from work, I noticed the chair was empty and did a double take as to where those items could be.  I did not notice right away, however, my mom had neatly rearranged the items in a stack placed behind my door where you could barely notice them.  I smiled for a moment as it came to mind that I never thought about rearranging these things that I still did not want to through away.  I just kept them in a cluttered pile and there was no thought put behind them about using that space more efficiently.  I kept thinking about this simple solution that was created when someone else looked at the same thing with a different perspective and was able to reach a welcome and desired outcome.  I find it amazing that one can contemplate solutions to something and you come up with blanks, while somebody else can see the exact same thing and are able to create a well polished answer.  As a result, I think it is a great concept when you think about how in your life you can think about how you would rearrange some your own life boxes.  Perhaps you have gotten into a routine of some sort that has become comfortable, yet also has grown a bit stale.  When you realize that many of the things that used to spark enthusiasm in you no longer generate the same feeling, then it is certainly worth your time to contemplate why that is and what you need to do in order to re-energize yourself.  Stepping away from things and spending some time meditating on where you are and where you want to be is also a good thing.  Many times we don't have the exact solution to everything right away, however, it is the beginning of that thought process that will eventually generate the answer that is needed.  If you have things in your life that resemble clutter whether they are actual boxes or other issues that are muddled in your life, begin to look at the possibility of rearranging all of it one box at a time.  Small steps toward your ultimate goal is often the best approach and will yield long lasting results.  The effort that you put into making these adjustments simply takes a beginning and some continued consistency in order to get there.  Remember that looking at an issue from a different view can change the dynamics of the problem at hand.  Therefore, don't be limited by your current view of things and think about the possibilities of what can be your ultimate and desired outcome.