Success Starts Here!

Well its not "Thanksgiving" day yet back in the states. It is here in Korea where I'm currently stationed. Before I forget, may all of you who celebrate this special occasion find great joy today in your families and loved ones and the memories of those who once touched your lives. I've been so busy the last few days I haven't had the chance to jot down some notes about the topic of giving thanks. But I have a few moments now so here goes. First, many years ago I was quite a negative person. I had to "learn" and then practice being a positive, thankful, appreciative person until it became a part of me. I couldn't be happier with the me I am right now. Believe me, there are A LOT of things I don't like about myself, but the one thing I truly am happy for, is my ability to look at the bright side of things. Every morning when I wake up, I spend just a quick minute laying there thanking my God for all the great things he has done for me. Its ok i

As I write this we are exactly 49 days from wishing each other a Happy New Year. As I look forward to New Years 2012 and reminisce back to New Years 2011, I was reminded of some of my posts almost a year ago. Many were designed to hopefully spur myself and anyone nice enough to read my blog into action. I spoke regularly throughout the early part of the year about New Years Resolutions and reminded my readers to please push towards their goals so that during this time of the year, they'd be closer to them than not. As is every year, I can pretty safely say many of us probably didn't follow my advice, me included. Too many times I looked for excuses not to work out, too much stuff I had to have to worry about making smart financial decisions, too many hours at the office away from my family because some project which really wasn't that important came before my loved ones. I had opportunity after opportunity to move closer towards my goals and yet, I didn't. I'm just

Veteran's day is a little bit of a strange holiday for me. Soldiers are a little different than the rest of the population.  We do what we do and we know it is in defense of our country, our constitution, and most importantly our citizens. Having said that, we aren't big on attention. We don't expect anything from our fellow citizens other than hoping they fulfill their full potential as Americans. Even if it means they use that potential to hate us as soldiers. Today I'm reminded of the experience of Corporal Dave Stevenson. Corporal Stevenson left for Vietnam when I was a baby. He left the summer of 1970. During his tour in Vietnam he was hit four times. He fought for 24 months straight. No idea if he would even return alive. His fourth "hit", the damage to his body was so significant, that he was finally sent home. He came home to a country that hated him and a population which blamed him for the "war". I remember hearing this motivational speake