Wednesday 03/18/09 @ 2:18 p.m.

Good afternoon everybody! Well, today I just want to insert a quick note that will piggy back on yesterday's discussion. It's about forgiveness. You know that nasty little word that you hear all too often?

And quite frankly, forgiveness is the last thing anybody wants to think about when they've been hurt or wronged by someone. I would say the first thing that you grapple with is the shock or disappointment of the offense, then the hurt, pain and suffering that it caused. Finally, unforgiveness begins to settle in way before you even want to think about forgiveness.

The only sticky thing about unforgiveness is that it hangs out with a bad crowd. I refer to them as the "joy-stealers": resentment, anger and hatred.

Unforgiveness causes you to attach all these negative assessories to your character. It's like allowing a bunch of hoodlums into your house to run amuck and do as they please with your precious belongings. Unforgiveness and its Draconian clan / gang are bad news and the most insidious attribute that they all have in common is their ability to cause more harm to the victim than to the offender.

In fact, unforgiveness almost never has any affect on the offender, but it always negatively impacts the one who harbors it in their heart.

Did you know that unforgiveness, resentment and anger cause serious health problems? They, for starters, weaken the immune system, enabling the body to become more susceptible to disease. They also produce stress and anxiety, that further compromise the immune system and hinder digestion of your foods.

Maybe the offense wasn't strong enough to knock you down, but the aftermath of unforgiveness has the power to take your life. Believe me when I say, the laundry list of side effects unforgiveness brings to the table are astounding.

True happiness and unforgiveness can not cohabitate -- one has to move out to leave space for the other. Which one are you willing to hang on to?

Remember this one thing: forgiveness is not for the offender's sake, rather it's a favor you do for yourself.

BE HAPPY *_*

Tuesday 03/17/09 @ 11:18 a.m.

My apologies for not posting the last few days. Saturday was my birthday. I had a wonderful time hanging out with my friends at Posh Restaurant and Supper Club, located in Washington, DC. They serve dinner until 10:30 p.m. and afterwards they move the tables out of the main section of the restaurant to allow for dancing and shaking a tail feather. Which, by the way, I did my fair share of shaking what my mother gave me.

On the flip side, the DJ was horrible in my opinion. I think he could use some classes on transitioning between songs. But other than that, I had a blast. Needless to say, Saturday, I had no time to write in my blog.

Sunday, was a no go for me because I have implemented a no work Sunday into my schedule. Sunday is an absolute relaxation day for me. I have placed that rule on my "no exceptions policy." The "no exceptions policy" is a principle discussed in the current book I'm reading -- The Power of Focus: How to Hit Your Business, Personal and Financial Targets with Absolute Certainty -- an excellent book! Its authors are Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt. I highly recommend this book to anyone serious about achieving success in their life and are tired of living in the stagnant waters of mediocrity.

Speaking of living a mediocre lifestyle, I would like to use that to segue back to my previous discussion about "happiness." Define what it means to you. What exactly does it look like -- specifically? What steps do you need to take in order to make that a reality in your life?

For me, happiness looks like a good man, by my side, slaying every dragon the world throws our way. It's dancing whenever and wherever my heart desires. It's eating a bowl of ice cream, without regard to the outside temperature, while watching a good show on television. It's purchasing my single family, detached, brick-front, 3,500 - 4,000 square foot (on two floors) home in River Falls / Old Hickory Golf Course Community. I don't want a house bigger than that. I know that I'm able to attain something larger, but I don't desire that --at all!

Happiness is finally walking across the stage with my Master's Degree in Journalism and working in my career field. Happiness is me being free of negative, judgemental people who sapp energy from my well of enthusiasm. Happiness is the tingles I get from vibing with my man and sharing passionate exchanges, a smile and that look. Happiness is spending quality time with my family members and friends. Happiness is helping someone achieve their goals and dreams. My list could literally go on for days.

It's important to tap into what makes _____ (fill in your name) happy. Do you realize just how short our lives are here? I believe one of the best books in the Bible is Ecclesiastes. It talks about how life is like a vapor and how so many things in life are futile if not done with balance and wisdom. It goes on to say that the only thing a man or woman has in this life is to eat, drink and to be happy -- that's it! Nothing else means anything. You see, setting goals and working hard to obtain them without enjoying the works of your hands is vanity and like grasping for the wind.

Happiness has to be all encompassing. It's not good enough to work hard to have nice things, but be unable to enjoy them, that's futile toil. It goes on to say that we shouldn't be too righteous or too evil. In other words, apply your heart to do what's right in every situation and balance that out with doing the things that make you happy.

Subtract the principle of straining knats and swallowing camels from your life's equation. Don't focus on insignificant things that hold no weight. Open up, let your hair down and welcome in a merry heart. Take that trip, no matter what! Go dancing! Are you more stressed out and upset than you are happy and smiling? If so, something is wrong with your picture.

Balanced happiness is the principle thing in life. Working yourself to death without enjoying any of your time alone or with family and friends, is vanity. Having all the riches in the world with no one to share them with is vanity.

My point is to develop the entire picture of happiness and joy for yourself and let nothing get in the way of you achieving it. Live a life in total pursuit of happiness because it is our only reward here on earth.

Friday 03/13/09 @ 9:48pm

Today has been such a grueling day. I woke up around 5:50 a.m. to begin my exercise regimen. A quick run was slated for this morning. However, when I looked outside, through the one eye that I managed to peel open, there was a thick cloud cover waiting to give me an excuse to reconnect with my pillow for just one more hour.

My target goal today was to finish my website and post it on the web. Well, the good news is that I was able to post it, but it's a far cry from being completed.

Enough of my head-nodding platitudes, outlining my less than exciting life. I want to talk about "happiness" today. What makes you smile and truly lightens up your life? What is it that you truly want during this short time that is spent here?

Take some time out right now and just think about it. I'm actually pondering that same question as I type.