Freedom is not free

I was in Virginia and Washington DC the past couple days and got a vivid reminder of our history. In Fredricksburg, Virginia, I walked around a field and over man made trenches from a battle in the Civil War. I visited a shop that was standing since the war and was shown holes in the ceiling where cannon balls had been shot through. Then in DC, I got a private tour of Ford's theatre where Lincoln was assassinated. I saw the WWW II memorial, which my father fought on and the Vietnam wall memorial, a war my uncle fought in. There was a inscription on a wall by the war memorial that said "Freedom is not free". I am grateful today to all those who have paid so much so that I don't have to.

Feedback

Sometimes I'm not sure of the difference between feedback and criticism. Sometimes someone will give me "feedback" and I am just sure that it's "there stuff" and they are really just venting. And, I may just be "right" and they may have no good intentions at all. The thing I have come to realize is....What difference does it make? I miss a lot of opportunities to learn and grow if I care what the persons intention is or who is right or wrong. Opportunities to grow can come from any place, I just need to be wiling to hear it.

My big brother

I'm in Virginia for a few days and today I made plans to see my brother Mark, who lives close to where I am. Mark was the one brother that I was intimidated by growing up. I wasn't intimidated because he was violent or mean, but because he told it like it was. I am the youngest of 16 and I was a bit spoiled. Was mother and sisters mostly would do a lot for me and answer for me when I could have myself. Mark would always be the one to go againsts the grain and say things like "let him do it himself". At the time I remember thinking " butt out buddy". I would get angry with him because I felt it meant he didn't love me or care about me. Now of course I know it's just the opposte. He was fighting for me. I guess the point isn't when we get the lesson, but that we do.

Meeting again for the first time

I spent the past few days with some people who I knew, some who I even considered good friends. It's amazing to me how I can think I know someone and then when in a different situation or environment together I get to know them all over again. I know that from the experience we shared this weekend, our relationships will be propelled to a whole new level. I also know that when I share myelfhonestly with others, they feel free to share themselves with me. From this point on when I seek to meet new people, I will not limit that to the people I haven't met yet.

What do I know?

I spent the past two days absorbing a lot of amazing information. A lot of it, I could say that I have heard before.... But, do I know it? How do I know if I already know something, concepts, ideas.... Does anyone know it? Even the trainer? I mean, they are concepts right? If I say I know it... I miss it. A lot of it I have heard before... Great! Am I living it in my life? And the concepts I heard that are new to me, what good is it if I don't practice it? My commitment to myself is to continue to learn, be open and be in action... That's the only way I know I'm moving forward.

Diversity

Yesterday was the first day of a training I'm doing this weekend. My faverite part of day one was the opportunity to interact with new people. One of the things I love about New York is the diversity. These were people with Such various opinions, personalities and cultures. I see it as such an opportunity to grow and learn how to be with people who I wouldn't normally have a chance to interact with. It's a reminder that I can create that opportunity at any moment.

Creating Mastery

I am doing a training this weekend and looking to do a three month course at the end of the month that both have the word master in them. I have a different view on what a master is these days or what me being a master means. I used to think it would be cool to be a master of the guitar, acting, singing or baseball. today, to me...I want to master my relationships with people, my health, my own mind, my moods. what I am aiming to achieve is designing the life I want without allowing barriers that I create to get in the way.