Talk about overdue. I’ve been meaning to write about Neil Pasricha’s book titled “The Book of Awesome” for way too long. Neil was kind and generous enough to send me a free advance copy of his book before it hit stores – so the least I can do is share my thoughts on how much I’ve enjoyed his book and his blog, 1000 Awesome Things.

If you buy the book or get a chance to read it – you’ll learn a little bit about Neil’s story and what inspired him to begin a simple website that featured happy little moments full of awesomeness. On a sad night that echoed negativity in every sense of the word, Neil decided that it was time to instill some positivity back into his life. Hence, the birth of his blog.

The book itself is extraordinarily entertaining and will leave you laughing, smiling and reminiscing about the times that you remember such awesomeness that has occurred in your life. The writing is hilarious and brings to life those little things that are completely universal that we have all experienced at one time or another. Too many people forget to enjoy the little things that they have around them everyday, because their minds are off in a different world and in a state of constant desire. Part of what I like to write about on FiT, is that you can derive so much inspiration out of your daily life to do something great.

I know Neil’s book will leave you with a smile on your face or some sore abs from laughing a lung up one awesome thing after another. A fun book to have around as well – before you know it you’ll have a group of people telling stories after glancing at a few of Neil’s awesome things. A job well done Neil. And once again, thanks for the copy! Check out the trailer video below…

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Music is a great enhancer of emotion and befriends your mood whether it’s happy, sad, fired up, sleepy, bored, etc., etc. The video and song below is a very chill song and when I listen to it two words really stand out: breathe and believe. There’s not a whole lot to the song – but it gives me the feeling of being on a journey and hearing the words “another day, just believe, another day, just breathe” – collectively inspires me. I remember hearing this song many years ago from an apartment ten stories or so high – and while it was playing I was staring out the window, watching some snow fall peacefully. It was one of those memories that photogenically stands out in my mind. Hence, I share with you.

Today is another day for you to breathe and believe. So is tomorrow and the next day. Breathe. Believe.

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A great quote stuck with me last week as I was doing some light reading between traveling from Denver, Dallas and San Francisco all in the same day.

“Today is the youngest you’ll ever be – live like it”

It’s easy to get so caught up in the daily to-do’s and thoughts of an ultimate destination – that the day at hand gets tossed aside. It’s so easy to let temporary life circumstances dominate the mind. This is a great little quote to toss on a post-it note and post up where you will see it everyday. You aren’t guaranteed anything in life – so cherish today and don’t forget just how young you are and how much life you have in front of you.

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You may have read this story – if you have, it’s a great one to read again. If it’s new to you – I recommend you check it out and I can promise you it will be worth it. Enjoy!

Perspective is where it’s at – and stories, quotes and other tools that help you and I gain perspective on life are not shared enough. Feel free to share with your family and friends like I have! Enjoy…

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2″ in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous – yes.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar – effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, and your children – Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house, and your car.
The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.
“Take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.
The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.”

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“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them make them.” -George Bernard Shaw

I am now 27. One more year is behind me with another one smack dab in front of me. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about personal development in general, and more specifically how it has impacted my life in the last year or so. I began reading several books on the subject and put myself in an environment where I was able to meet people with similar ambitions and interests. I asked myself questions about where I wanted to go in life – laid a foundation and now I know that I have momentum on my side. Before I get on with talking about building momentum for yourself – I want to touch on the subject of personal development first.

I Can Write About Personal Development – Because I Said So.

So, you might ask what qualifies me to write about PD, and the answer to that question is absolutely nothing. I do it, practice it, and believe in it – as it has the power to change my life – and yours. But, again, if you want to know why I’m qualified to write about it I can’t really tell you anything special. By no means am I living a perfect life or doing exactly what I want to be doing – I am in debt (student loans ya know), I have my bad days here and there, and my life is a work in progress. So am I technically qualified? Probably not. But can I offer you value? Definitely. There are so many websites out there that give general advice about life, productivity, building personal and financial wealth, etc. – that it’s sometimes tough to discern what’s real and what’s garbage. I’ve been writing for six months or so – and while my reflections and writings have value – you may not feel like you know the person that it’s coming from. My goal now, and moving forward – is to connect with you on more of a personal level.

I definitely don’t write about PD because I think I am better than you or have more knowledge on ‘how to live a better life’. Soon on F.i.T. (I need to get around to it!), I’ll be adding a tagline somewhere near the top of the page that states “Getting better at living YOUR life – one day at a time.” That’s my goal – and I’m sure you won’t argue that in some way – you have the same goals in your life.

You and I both understand that every person has a unique story – your life is different than mine – in probably thousands and thousands of ways. You are motivated to better your life and seek growth for different reasons than I am. Our dreams aren’t the same either. Uniqueness and individuality is a beautiful thing. But there is a common thread for each and every one of us – and it’s why PD can become a positive catalyst and difference maker for many and something that once begins – never stops. When you embark on a mission – like “getting better at living YOUR life – one day at a time” – you naturally gain momentum one day at a time. Before you know it, you’re growing, you’re vision becomes clearer, and it’s something that can’t be stopped

Create Your Own Momentum and Run With It

Momentum. I need it and so do you. I believe that momentum is often present, but not so much recognized by the beholder. Have you ever began a project, a job, or anything that required you to start at ground zero – from the very bottom? I bet you have. I know I have. This blog is a perfect example. The first day I decided to start a blog, I went to the library and began learning about programming languages. I had no idea there were amazing blogging tools out there like Wordpress. But I began to lay a foundation - and it lead to questions, I sought out information, and learned bits of information everyday. Now, just half a year later, I’ve built something that I’m proud of – something that is now part of my overall vision of where I’m taking my life. Personal development had it’s part in setting my mentality as I set my sights on building a website. Now, there is no quit in me – and PD is a big reason for that. The more books I read, articles I write, and mornings that I reflect on my life and the direction it’s moving – the more momentum I gain.

The point is that you have to simply get started, now – on something. Momentum will always be nonexistent if you aren’t taking consistent action. I can’t stress enough how important it is to get started. Even if it’s simply a matter of putting your thoughts, goals, frustrations, etc. on paper. That’s progress, that’s a step forward, and at the end of the day – that’s a little bit of momentum. And if you nurture that momentum by giving it as much attention that your time and lifestyle allows for – well, you’re going to take a look back some months down the road and realize just how far you’ve came along in a short period of time.

Do It Your Way – You Don’t Have to Conform to the Norm

While I have no problem telling you that I am not qualified, nor am I a recognized expert on the subject of personal development – I’ll tell you that I’m going to do it anyway. Here’s why. I believe that just about anybody, at any stage in life, can take value and learn from someone that is on a unique mission of their own – one created and manifested from their heart. So I say that I’m not qualified, but my mission is to get better at living MY life – one day at a time – and my mission will bear information that I can share along the way that will translate into something you can learn from.

I’m a firm believer, that in order to start anything of great substance and value, it must be built upon a solid foundation that leverages the power of momentum. I don’t need to reach thousands and thousands – while I certainly wouldn’t turn that many readers down – I want to be a leader and an example for my followers that feel the same way I do about life, embarking on a mission and personal development. I write with people like my brother in mind – who hasn’t really found what he truly wants to do with his life yet – but is smart and people are attracted to his personality like a freakin’ magnet. I know that one-day he is going to do something great.

Part of my goal on F.i.T. – is to help as many people as I can and share my journey. And all it might take for you to get started on your mission is some initial momentum – a start. Isn’t it almost funny how we often let easy things get in way of our mission – then before you know it your momentum, if you had any, goes splat on the concrete! There are a lot of reasons why we let momentum die – lack of confidence, a phone call, giving up too way way to soon, not connecting with the right people, lack of monetary resources, etc. – the list most certainly goes on. But a mission is not something that dies easily – and if you consider yourself to be on a mission, if you wake up and stare at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself about your mission – it’s a whole lot harder to let things get in the way and squash your momentum.

The Trap

Our belief system is so often our greatest obstacle – a trap that we get ourselves into and usually we don’t even know it. You notice it a lot when you offer up ideas to someone that is in one life-state, but they desire to have another. The Trap, as I like to call it, is the ultimate killer of creativity and resourcefulness. But if you don’t believe you can do something – you have no chance. And that’s the bottom line.

I want my brother to start his own business. As I mentioned before, his personality and like-ability is a gem, a strength that would allow him to excel at a particular small business I’ve suggested that he start. I’m not calling him out (ok maybe a little bit!), but he knows it’s all good-natured and with good intention. I could use a few other people that I am close to as examples as well. The Trap usually likes to respond with the same type of answers when presented with a suggested opportunity. They all start with a little bit of…”I can’t because..”, “I don’t have..”, “But, the economy..”, “What if I start and..”. Notice a bit of a trend? Each and every response is a limiting belief. Now, I’m not suggesting that my brother drops everything and risks a loss of income to run off and start a business. I’m suggesting that he explores it, builds a foundation, and sees where his momentum takes him.

Your Mission Will be a Collective Effort

Movements, successful businesses, and well-executed plans are not conducted alone. It’s important to realize that the most successful people didn’t get successful by going at it alone. As a generality, people love helping, advising, and seeing other people find their unique successes in life. It becomes an amazing thing. If you get started on a mission – seek the help of others. I promise, you’ll be amazed at how many people are interested in helping you get to where you want to go. A common and overused phrase I hear all the time is “let’s not reinvent the wheel here.” While your mission is unique – in theory it’s been done before a thousand times. Instead of spending valuable time trying to figure everything out for yourself, extend yourself and seek the help of others. Before you know it, you are going to have a number of people that are willing to go to bat for you.

Months ago, I was reluctant to share my aspirations for this blog and how I see it playing into my future. Flat out, I’d love to be a full-time writer five years down the road. I love to travel, inspire others, experience success, immerse myself in other cultures, meet new people – and I can do all of these things if I am a full-time writer. That sounded pretty silly to me at first – so I kept those thoughts to myself. Now, after connecting with like-minded people both on and offline, it seems like much more of a reality that could come to fruition five years down the road.

Even if you don’t have a clue what your unique mission might be – share the tiniest inclinations of what you think it might be with people around you. Even if you think it might sound silly – it’s not. And if you start taking consistent action – why you might just be surprised how quickly those little inclinations and bits of thought turn into something you couldn’t have imagined.

Don’t forget that the ultimate source of energy and change lies within ourselves.

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I’ve recently been conversing with the author of 1000 Awesome Things and have been reading through an advanced copy of his book, The Book of Awesome, that Neil so kindly sent me. I’ll be posting an official review of his book here in the next week or so. I’ll carry on – a quote from Neil hit me like a ton of bricks today as I was paging through his book.

“You will never be as young as you are right now.” – Neil Pasricha of 1000 Awesome Things

And That Is Why You Should Love Today

I didn’t plan to write about this quote, but after I read it I just continued to think about it. It literally bounced around my brain and was distracting me from doing other things – so I figured, what better way to get it out of my head than to write about it!

Man is it ever true. You and I are not ever going to be younger than we are today. To me, that is extraordinarily empowering and however young you are, in no way should that depress you. As we are all unique individuals, these types of messages will affect us all in different ways. I am thankful that I have today, and that I have tomorrow.

Don’t Waste Time. If you have days or even periods of time that you waste – do you, at all, have a discomforting feeling about the time you are wasting? I know I did. I waste much less time these days than I used to – and only passing time can help you become gratuitous for your decision to quit wasting time. It’s essentially the payoff. You work hard today to bear the fruits of your labor down the road.

I’ll use the date of January 1, 2011. Mark that sucker on your calendar and keep it in the forefront of your mind. You and I know how fast the time seems to pass. Weren’t we just counting down the last seconds of 2009? You’re right, we were – and it’s already April. 25% of the year has already passed us by. SO, when January 1, 2011 comes, if you make the most of each day and build upon yesterday you’ll be so thankful you did. I promise. Surprise yourself and accomplish more than you ever fathomed – and do it by 1/1/2011.

Here I come, my ball is picking up steam. How about you? Today is a great day to get the ball rolling. Once it’s rolling, nobody can stop it!

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Intro: This was initially one post listing out 20 great methods or things you can use to find inspiration in your life. I have decided to expand upon each one (in no particular order!) because so often we read “how-to’s” and different things we should do in list forms – and typically no action is ever taken. I wanted to talk in more detail about how I interpret and get inspired by each one.

#10 – People Watch

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” ~Ryunosuke Satoro

People watching is no doubt a form of entertainment – and is more so when you are in the presence of a financially and ethnically diverse crowd. As entertaining as people watching may be, it can also be incredibly inspirational. You get to see how people that are far different from you communicate and interact – usually forcing some self-reflection on your own life’s interactions and tendencies. For me, being a writer, people watching is a great source for new ideas and creativity.

My current 9 to 5 gig has forced me to do a great deal of networking. So on a consistent basis I am exposing myself to new people – often times I meet and speak with up to 30 new people per week. There’s an intriguing realization that happens once you begin to observe, meet and then get to know a new person. I’ve realized that, typically, my first impressions of someone as I watch them go about their business is partly spot on – but partly way off. And there are concrete reasons why your impressions are somewhat spot on, then spot off. Give it a shot the next time you are people watching. You can turn it into a game – try and guess how a person is going to interact – or try and guess what you think that person might do next.

You can learn about a person by the way the walk, their general mannerisms, what they are wearing, and definitely their facial expressions and general demeanor. And the best part of it all, is that you can reflect on your life and walk away feeling inspired…

20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #11
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #12
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #13
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #14
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #15
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #16
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #17
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #18
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #19
20 Ways to Find Inspiration: #20

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So I am training for a half-marathon that I will be running in six weeks – hence I’ve been listening to more music lately when I venture out for a jog. When I run, I sometimes skip through songs until I find one I feel like listening to, but often times they just play at random and I am not incredibly aware of what I’m listening to. Today, a particular song really struck a chord with me and stood out. For me, it’s the type of song that can spark deep thought and reflection because it’s about Inspiration, Gratitude and Truth.

The song is called “Right Now” by an artist named Fort Minor. You can find the lyrics below and listen to the song here.

…Why I Chose To Share This Song

I wanted to share this song with you because of how it made me feel as I listened. I felt inspired and humbled at the same time. The song writer focuses on several life-scenarios and pulls them together by saying that while he is on the road traveling from city to city and hotel to hotel – all of these scenarios are playing out at that very moment. It’s humbling to realize that people all over the world are experiencing emotions on all realms of the the spectrum – from extreme happiness to suicide.

When you go into an inner city area you see the scenarios that this song talks about. And for as dire and desperate as many people are that live in a state of poverty – you get the sense that they appreciate what they do have, as opposed to what they don’t have.

If you can – even if you don’t care for the music genre (hip-hop) – give it a quick listen and you might just feel a bit more fortunate and be inspired by the realities of the world that is all around you.

Someone right now is leaving their apartment
Looking down at the street, wondering where their car went
There’s somebody on the curb who really needs a jacket
spent half the rent at a bar getting plastered
Now he gotta walk fourteen blocks
to work at a shop where he’s about to get fired.

Someone right now is looking pretty tired
Staring at a laptop trying to get inspired
Somebody living right across the street
She wrote the best things she’s written all week
but her best friends coughing up blood in the sink
Can’t even think what happened, feeling so confused
And he knows it looks bad but there’s nothing he can do
I wonder what it’s like to be right there in his shoes

But no I’m just taking it in
Out the window of a hotel bedroom again
Tomorrow I’ll be gone I don’t know when I’ll be back
But in this world everything can change just like that,
Like that

Yo somebody right now is dropping his vote inside a box
And trying not to get shot in his throat
For the act of freedom right now somebody is stuck in Iraq
Hoping that he gets shipped back breathing
in a war that he’s not really sure of the reasons
So we show our support when the press mislead them
Though we more then remain proud and salute the troops
get some I know you boys got some work to do
Meanwhile right now someones 25 to life
And is standing on the corner with their thumb up hitchiking
Stretching off a lotto ticket hoping for a real winner
Sneaking through the border just to work and to eat a real dinner
Right now someone wishes they were you and I
instead of second guessing freedom thoughts of quiet suicide
But right now I’m staring at the window at a frame
with holes in his arm and holes in his jeans
he pulled out his cigarette sparked the light
And walked right around the corner just outta my sight

But yo I’m just taking it in
From the second story hotel window again,
The TV’s on, and my bags are packed,
But in this world everything can change just like that,
Like that

Ya right now somebody sitting in the darkness
Trying to figure out how to put some heat in their apartment
But they got a little mattress and a little carpet
And they appreciate it ’cause some people on a park bench
You see them when you rushing to get to the office
wife robbed blind when she coming from the market
Right now somebody coming out from the pocket
Trying to dump that rock they run around the block with at
The same time the cops is raising the glock with aim
To fill your legs and back with some hot shit
Right now somebody struggling to stop this man
Who’s kick and punching and cussing at the doctors
Down the hall the child taking his first breath
The doctors ain’t even passed him to the nurse yet yo
I wonder if he understands what it’s worth yet
Like the time spent while we here on the earth yet
The answer to the question that we all seek
can be found depend on how free y’all think
Right now it’s somebody who ain’t eat all week
That would kill for the shit that you throw away in the street
I guess one man’s trash is the next man’s treasure
One mans pain is the next mans pleasure
one say infinity the next say forever
right now everybody got to get it together man

I’m just taking it in another strange hotel lobby again
Put my luggage on my back I don’t know where I’m at
I’m in world where we all change just like that

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Image by Manannan Fanch

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