There is no doubt about it. What he did changed my life. I was an Apple Macintosh user when being an Apple Macintosh user wasn't cool. I bought Apple stock when it was $13.56 a share. Thankfully I am still holding it. I got my first iPod nearly a year before I ever heard anybody else talk about it. I am writing this on my MacBook Pro. My iPhone is in my pocket, and my iPad is within reach. These things changed my life and definitely make life more convenient, but did they make my life more meaningful?

The answer to that question is a definite no. What Steve did changed what I do, but it did not change who I am. As I examine his life, I am learning many lessons that I think can help me live a more meaningful life, but these are things that were largely hidden while he was alive. Sadly, much of what I am discovering as I read his biography speak more about how not to live a meaningful life then about how to live a meaningful life. I am not sure how Steve would feel about this statement, because I think he was generally confused about what mattered most: the market or the people. In my mind, there is no confusion. The quantity of what we do, can never compare to the quality of who we become. 

By Saying this, I do not mean to imply that he was a bad man. I think he was a good man who just got a little to busy, though, like most of us sometimes do. The busyness and the business of life prevented him, for much of his life, from focusing on what really mattered. His biography makes it pretty clear that he knew this about himself. Unfortunately, this self-awareness did not change how he lived for most of his life. This should not surprise us, Many of us see the same thing, yet we continue to focus on the things that matter least. There is a worldly pressure to do so.

The Motivating Force of Mortality

In 2003, Steve was diagnosed with a rare, somewhat treatable, form of pancreatic cancer. One great quality that he demonstrated from that point on was his extreme faith. His faith was not particularly spiritual, as he stated that the existence of God was only 50-50. He simply believed that he would survive the impact of this disease. He told us several times that he was cured. Reports indicate that he believed he would beat it, right up until the day he died.

Yet somewhere inside, he lived with the knowledge that his time was short. It is reported that he looked in the mirror everyday so that he could ask himself one simple question: "If today was my last day, would I do the things that I am about to do?" The question is revealing because of what he did with his time. The tech contributions he made after his diagnosis are the ones that define his legacy and the post-mordem advances that we are told are yet to be released will bless the world we live in for years to come. 

There is evidence to suggest that he valued his life more after he learned of the disease that eventually killed him. He is quoted as having said that his increased awareness of his own mortality motivated and focused him. Perhaps the clearest picture of what he valued comes to us from the commencement address he delivered at Stanford University in 2005. On that occasion he shared three simple lessons from his life. 

The lessons Steve shared at that time were all learned through his personal heartache, humiliation and close calls. Remarkably, this how we learn many things. Life has a way of presenting us with some event, person, death, idea, or relationship that challenges us beyond our capabilities. These things often lead us to the very edge of our own private resources. Sooner or later, no matter how much success we have enjoyed, we all "lose" at something. Through these losses, we learn that there is a larger journey; something bigger than what we produce.

For Our Greater Good

My question is this: Is a crisis necessary to motivate us to make meaning? 

I thought about this from a long time and I am convinced that the answer is no. In fact, I have done more than think about this. I have dedicated my life and my work to meaning making experiences. I found that the meaning that comes from understanding in moments of joy is much more powerful than the meaning that comes from the moments of crisis. I also learned that when I take the time to make the meaning during the good times the crises I experience seem more bearable. The strength I gain from this approach is remarkable. This is why I so often say, "Life is Good!" It really is.

So why don't we do it? Because thinking about the big picture, (who we want to be?), requires us to think big, while living into the results questions, (what do I want to do?), just requires us to do.

René Descarte said, "I think, therefore I am." Thinking is not enough, as Steve's most famous campaign taught us, we must "Think Different". The big picture requires us to push the pause button, at least every once in a while, so that we can reflect and examine our life. This helps us become clear about what we want.

When the "Who am I?" question is well defined, the "What should I do?" questions are easily answered . That is how meaning is created. That is how we live into purpose. That is how we become whole and authentic. 

Goodbye Steve. We learned so much from you. I hope the most important lesson we learn is that no one gets out alive. If we could only learn to understand that one simple lesson, I am sure we allow our own mortality to motivate us to live a more meaningful life.

Live Today! Love Today!

Dr. Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

There Is No Time In Eternity

The purpose of time is often debated. Some of the greatest spiritual and scientific minds believe that time is merely a measuring point in this temporal experience. They propose, that when we leave this realm we free ourselves from the constraints of time. I believe they are correct. Time is only felt in this existence because our entry and exit are marked by birth and death.

The fact that I accept this proposition, does not release me from the reality that time does exist in this sphere, and that I am subject to it. Still, I believe I choose the severity of its impact. In other words, if I focus on what time is doing to me, I become lost. Time then, erodes my memory of my eternal self, making it possible for me to forget my eternal identity. Once these memories are lost, I can no longer function as an eternal being. Instead, I become a slave to the clock. More clearly stated, my energy is drained by the mortal nature of this experience we mistakenly call life. 

Now Is The Measurement of Eternity

My thought process this week led me to the importance of the present moment. In eternity, that is all there is. "Now" is the only way you and I can step back into our eternal nature. A focus on the past often brings us guilt, a focus on the future often steals our energy to reach for our potential. It is not that we can don't learn from the past or that we must avoid looking to the future. I simply declare that these activities often become the dominating drive in our lives and as we dwell on the past and dream of the future we lose the only thing that is real: "NOW".

Our potential can only be reached and expressed in the present moment. The past is done. It can not help us now. We move from the past equipped with the lessons (knowledge) we gained, but that is all. we can not improve that knowledge by looking back, we can only use it now. The future is a dream that we create by engaging right now in the present moment. 

In eternity, there is nothing but "NOW". That is why we must learn to master it under the constraints of time. If we can not learn to master the present moment when the clock is ticking, we will be a useless force in eternity. Our time here will be wasted. We must learn to be about the business of purpose and meaning making in every moment. There is no waste in the righteous use of eternity. The moments do matter, and how we use them matters even more. 

Drink It In!

Right now, I hope you are thinking, "yeah, I get it." But maybe you are wondering why this matters. It matters, because I am certain that you spent most of your moments in the past week pursuing that which matters least. This is not a commentary on you, or how you are using your time, it is merely a commentary on the general nature of human beings. It is easy for us to forget the concepts of eternal worth. When we do, we freely trade them for the value that only time can redeem. Sadly, time is not on our side. Sooner or later, it runs out for all of us. Time cannot keep its promise. Meaningless experiences are always wasted on dead men. 

What are you doing right now?

How is that activity connected to the real you?

If your continue doing it, will fill your desire for purpose and meaning?

These are some of the questions that keep me in the now. When I ask them of myself, I find a greater ability to wake up and live in the moment with purpose and meaning. Life is now! Are you with me?

Live Today! Love Today!

Dr. Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

How much time did you spend this week reflecting about what is going on around you and planning your life?

What are you afraid of? Is your fear keeping you from acting courageously?

Do you know why you get up in the morning? Is your purpose clearly defined?

I ask you to consider these questions because they are directly related with the responses gathered from a one question survey of older adults (+ 75). The question is a simple one – "If you could live your life over, what would you do differently?"

I think the answer to this question is pertinent to all of us, but especially to those of us who still have the greater portion of the second half of their life to live. Are you as interested as I am in the responses? Do you think the responses can help you make a course correction if needed?

Trick Questions

Your answers to the questions I asked you to consider at the beginning of this post are very important. That is because the questions are closely correlated with the top three answers the seniors gave in the one questions survey. They said that if they could live their life over, they would do the following:

1. Spend more time reflecting on life.
   
2. Act more courageously.
3. Clarify earlier in their life their individual purpose.

Take a look again at your answers. Are you satisfied with your responses? Are you spending enough time in these areas to help you make meaning out of your life? It is your life to live and I affirm that now, is the most valuable resource you have. Use it wisely.

Live Today! Love Today!

Dr. Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

Be Prepared

Our purpose is to scout the trail in advance of a 60 mile hike we will take next week with a group of young men. There was heavy snowfall this year, and the last couple of miles before the summit are on a very steep ridge line.

Too much snow on the ground can make this difficult for the inexperienced hiker to pass safely.  Our plan today is to observe conditions, and select an alternative trail if necessary. This will also give us a chance to identify any other potential dangers.

Today's hike is simply a planning hike. We are investing our time and efforts to better understand the conditions of the trail before we subject our whole organization to its rigors. In away, you can say we are gaining competitive intelligence. We want to understand the cost before we fully invest our resources.

The Power of Planning

These preliminary efforts, remind me how important it is to plan. The amount of energy we spend on this task is directly correlated to the amount of success we experience. Most of us are very good at planning our work efforts, and even our vacations, but too few of us are good at planning life.

To me, life planning exercises are more important than any other type of planning exercises. Yet for some reason, our investment in this activity is surprisingly small. We barely recognize the fact that we are wandering until we reach the end of the trail of life and realize that we have many things that are left undone.

When we take the time to carefully plan our life, we begin to understand which paths we want to take, and which ones we want to avoid. Planning also helps us feel like we are in balance. Successful people plan regularly. In fact, statistics state that the most successful people plan an average of 30 minutes per day. 

Which Way Do I Go?

Today, is a day of discovery. We are seeking to find the safest trail where we will experience the greatest amount of success when we bring our whole team. I liken this step to the dreaming phase of life. It is vitally important because it helps us to identify which way we should go. It also brings certainty to the trail.

What obstacles ahead may prevent your success?

What is your plan to avoid them?

How much time are you spending on life planning exercises?

Life is meant to be enjoyed. It is also meant to be lived on purpose. Time spent on planning exercises helps us to bring critical steps and activities in focus, which always leads to sense of balance and a position of strength. I dare you to invest a few moments each day on discovering, through the power of planning, what you want out of life. I promise your efforts will bring great results. See you on the trail.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

This Magic Moment

We are excited and we are concerned. There are many things to be happy about and there are many things to worry about. I suspect that this is normal. We don't have much time to prepare. The wedding is planned for August 14th.

As the shock wears off, I find myself reflecting on my own story. Some of the things that were said at the time of our engagement are starting to make sense. The concerns of a parent are real to the parent, but totally unfounded for the couple being married. Together, Stacy and I formed a union that proved to be stronger than any of the concerns of our friends and family. I hope the same thing happens for Christina and Mike.

Choice

In a strange way, I feel very good about something. The man my daughter is marrying is not the man we would have chosen for her. Our hopes and dreams created a very different picture. That may sound harsh to admit, but I do not mean it in a critical way. I simply find myself feeling very happy that my daughter is making her own choices. To me, it is a sign of our success as parents.

We know, that our influence is still felt and respected. She knows of our concerns, we have discussed them openly with her. Despite our apprehensions, she is moving forward with her choice. That is the way it should be.

Life is Good!

I called each of my brothers and sisters this morning as soon as I got the news. We are a busy family, and I wanted to make sure that they got the date on their calendar so they could begin to plan. Each conversation was distinct. Some shared perspective, others shared advice and all shared hope. These conversations were different for me. In many ways they marked new beginnings.

During one conversation, I felt myself moving on into a new phase of life. I saw the exit door opening just a crack. I could see that my time is giving way to my children's time. Very soon, we will have 14 kids instead of 7 and many tiny voices will be calling us Grandma and Grandpa. I did not feel afraid by this vision, I felt excited. 

And so it begins. it seems like only yesterday that we hunted through the mall for the very last Little Mermaid video and now we give our princess away. We are full of hope. We want the best for her, and we know we cannot give it to her. She must find it herself. To some, that may seem scary, but I wouldn't want it any other way. See you soon Grandma!

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

Rule # 6

They are very excited and ready to go. I have a lot of things going on right now with work and I nearly broke my promise and said, "I can't go today."

This got me thinking. I don't ditch enough. It really isn't that big of deal to take a day off every now and then, but for some reason, we get so caught up in the work we are doing, that we forget to allow ourselves a chance to take a breath. For whatever reason, we just get caught up in following Rule # 6. 

What's that? You haven't heard of Rule # 6? It is perhaps the most important rule to remember – simply stated, it reads, "Don't take yourself too seriously!" 

Hand In The Bucket

Sometimes, we get so confused. We believe that the roles we play are so important and that life will somehow come to a screeching halt if we do not show up. It won't, it will just go on,

You don't believe me? Then please go and fill a bucket of water. Once it is filled, stick your hand in it. Then take your hand out. Do you notice any difference? I didn't think so. Ok, the difference can be measured, but it is very hard to perceive with the naked eye.

You are important. The work you do is needed and nobody can do it quite like you. I just want to make sure you remember that when you are finished, somebody will come along and occupy your role. They won't do it like you, they will do it differently and it will be good enough. Don't take your role so seriously that it costs you the things that really matter. Those are the things that nobody else can do.

When was the last time you ditched?

What would you do if you could take the day off today?

Who would you spend it with?

Today, I am giving myself permission to skip out. I give you the same permission. Take a day off soon and spend it with someone you love. You won't ever regret. Jacob will soon be gone and we will always remember today!

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

I had spent time with him on a few different occasions, but I never really got to know him. Today, I attended the funeral and learned a lot about the mark he made in the world. 

Ordinary Lives

He was really just an ordinary guy, just like you and me, just like most everyone else for that matter. Nothing he did could be considered world changing, yet he regularly changed the world of the people around him. He came from a very large family and many of them spoke about his charitable nature.

He really didn't have very much, but he always gave them something. Sometimes it was the gift of time, other times it was just a simple piece of candy. They all knew that if they needed something, he would be there to help.

Our Legacy

The funeral experience got me thinking again about the legacy we each leave behind. For whatever reason, many of us believe that our legacy is connected to the greatness we achieve. This sad belief is fueled by society's mirage that the highest achievements in life are usually the most difficult, and therefore may only be achieved by a select few. The higher the standard, the fewer there are that can reach it. Not everybody can get to the top – so we honor those that do. 

This idea contributes to the false belief that what we do really matters. Here is why I think it is a false belief. Can you name the top musicians, actors, politicians, ministers, athletes, public speaker or any other category of fame from 100 years ago without googling it? How about the criminals, schmucks, dirtbags and/or villians of the same time period? Most of us would answer no, to these two questions – and that is precisely my point. Very few of the things that we value as a society are really the things that matter.

Point of Impact

Our impact will only be felt by those closest to us. That is why it is so important to make sure that we spend the majority of our time developing and fostering those relationships. I am not going to live for 100 more years, but I may live another 40 – 50 years. During that time, I will have grandchildren and even some great-grandchildren. Some of my great-grandchildren will be alive 100 years from now and if I take the time to love and cherish them, they will remember me.

They are the keepers of my legacy. If I ignore them, they will forget me just like everybody else. It is crucial for us to learn this as early as possible and then to live and behave accordingly. Any other way will only lead to unfulfilled potential. 

Here are the questions for the day:

Are you giving the least to those who matter most?

Are you more concerned about what the world thinks of you then what your family thinks of you?

Who do you love? How do they know?

Driving through the grave yard today reminded me that we are only here temporarily and none of us will get out alive. Too often we take ourselves and life too seriously. It is meant to be fun and full of joy. If it is anything else for you, then it is time to let go and . . . 

Live Today! Love Today!

Your personal legacy depends on it!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

I am amazed at how much stuff we have accumulated over the years, and even more amazed at how little of it we actually use. There are essential and nonessential items. As I go through them, I am eliminating as much as I can. Moving time is a great time to jettison the clutter and junk that fills the space of our existence. The question I find myself asking the most right now is, "Do I really need this"?

Cleaning Up

Some items are easy to dispose of, and others are much more difficult. In my office, there are items that have accumulated since the beginning of this business and since the beginning of the business we sold over eight years ago. Some of those things have survived well beyond the span of their useful life, but for some reason I have hung onto them, just in case they become useful again. 

I find that the unnecessary things I am holding represent some of my biggest successes and failures. Some are investments in technology that never yielded a return and some are the paper trail remnants of long ago highlights. The move into the new space, and my desire to keep it looking like a resort, now requires me to carefully eliminate all unneeded things.

The Space Between Our Ears

This exercise in elimination is reminding me of how easy it is to carry around similar baggage in our conscious and unconscious realms. We all know people who had a success 20 years ago and continue to live on that success. I agree that the successes of our past our important, but if we never move to the next level, our past life experiences become of little or no value to us. We also know people who cling to some failure or another and allow their forward progress to be damned because they do not believe they are worthy.

Both of these perspectives have the power to clutter our minds, making it very difficult to move forward. This is why it is important to constantly be evaluating the things that are going on around us. A simple evaluation is all it really takes and there are two questions that help us identify what we need to do to move forward.

What am I getting? and What do I want? If the two are not aligned, then we know it is time to move. Moving comes when we ask two other questions: What is helping me get what I want? and What is preventing me from getting what I want? The answers to these questions help us to identify what we need to do more of, and what we need to do less of. 

Settling In

The Trauma of moving is always mitigated by the excitement that comes from settling into the new place. New starts always feel fresh. I love to turn the page, it puts me in a growth mode better than anything I know. Fortunately, we don't need to wait for moving day, we can create compelling moments of cleaning up any time we want.

What motivates you to move?

How easy is it to let go of things that no longer serve, but represent precious memories?

What would life be like if you repacked your bags?

I am thankful for the introspective moments that come to me as I live life. I share them with you with the hope that my thoughts will stimulate your own thinking process. Your voice, is the voice that matters. Are you listening?

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548 

The Rear View Mirror

We often look back on the mistakes we made in search of insights on how we can become better. I agree that this is a valuable exercise, but I think it can also hinder our progress when we do it too much.This is because we cannot change the past. We can learn from it, but in order to do that, we must be willing to let it go. That is very hard to do when we are constantly focusing on it. 

To illustrate this point, I invite you to think for a moment about the last time you drove your car. I am sure that you regularly checked your rear view mirror. The information from that tool is critical, but imagine what would happen if you attempted to drive your car with only the information you gain by looking into the backward facing mirrors. The results would be disastrous.

The Front Windshield

The view ahead is wide and expansive. It allows us to identify opportunities and threats. We choose our focal point. We go where we look, and we can course correct at any given moment. Periodic "look backs" are necessary, but the majority of our attention must be forward facing.

Success is accelerated when our forward focus is dominated by the positive things we can do to stay on course. There are many ways to get this information. I am particularly fond of asking powerful questions that help me discover the positive steps I can take to ensure forward progress. 

I ask these questions of myself and of others. When I ask them of myself, I am allowing myself to be in a reflective state. When I ask them of others, I am allowing myself to be in a receptive state. I ask them so that I may discover positive suggestions that will help me reach my developmental targets. I want to see and hear the things I can do to become the best "me". I want to receive that information in the most positive light possible.

These moments are much different than feedback sessions. Instead of examining the past and what I did wrong, these are opportunities to ponder the road ahead and what I may become.

Now Is The Time

The hope of spring provides an excellent opportunity to look forward. Now is the time to identify the steps that will take you to your next level. The days are longer and the spirit of renewal is in the air. Take some time to ask yourself the following questions.

Am I checking the rearview mirror too often? 

Am I focusing enough on the opportunities of the future?

Am I allowing others to speak positive suggestions in my life about the goals I wish to accomplish?

The front windshield provides much better information than the rearview mirror. Your opportunities are straight ahead. You are going to go where you steer, so steer toward the positive.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

This question, caused me to wonder about the formula for being and several questions began to enter my mind. What does it mean to be? What is the role of doing in that formula? How are doing and being related? Is there any relation at all?

It didn't take me long to realize that it is possible to do, without being, but I do not believe that it is possible to become, or to be, without doing something. Are you with me on that?

Permission To Soar In Ascending Spirals

This is actually a conversation that I have had with myself many times and it represents the vision of my work. I believe that achievement, the result of our doing, by itself is worth very little. If we spend our life achieving and doing, we will never be filled. We will simply move from one quest to another without ever gaining any sense of satisfaction. That said, we can't just throw away any and all forms of doing in pursuit to be. In all reality, we must be anxiously engaged in many good causes.

Buddha taught this lesson beautifully. He began his journey to enlightenment by sitting under a Bodhi tree. He believed that if he denied himself all his privileges and desires and sat under that tree suffering all manners of affliction, he would soon suffer his way to an enlightened state of being. It didn't take him long to discover that that was not the way. He realized that the true path required both active (doing) and passive (being) activities.

The journey to being begins with a careful clarification of what it is that we value. Our values, must then influence our dreams and aspirations. Our dreams and aspirations, must then guide the things we do. Aligning all that we do, with what we wish to become puts us in a state of balance and we are then free to soar in ascending spirals. This is important, WE GIVE OURSELVES PERMISSION TO DO THAT!

Living The Commitments That Accelerate Growth

What we do, determines our ability to grow and to be. Paul, taught us this lesson in a letter he wrote to the early Christian community that was living in the Roman Province of Galatia. He warned them to be very careful about how they spent their time by saying, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Hence, our version, you reap what you sow, was born.

If you really want to "BE" something, you must be willing to live the commitments that are associated with that quality or behavior. You can't smoke and be a "non-smoker". It takes effort to be, and that effort translates into doing. Do you see the natural connection?

Arya was asking about the relationship between doing and being, but I believe he was also asking about the place of rest and meditation. Is it necessary to be doing something all the time? The answer of course is yes, but you are the one responsible for choosing your activity. 

My perfect day includes a lot of time to meditate, pray, study, and ponder. I like to be alone in my thoughts. It is how I reinvent myself. It is how I recharge my batteries. When I give those activities up for the pursuit of others, I find myself out of balance. These are the things that I am willing to commit to, and they work for me. You may find your energy in totally different places doing totally different activities. The key is deciding what commitments we are willing to make and then sticking with them. 

This, is where the balanced feeling of being comes from. When our dreams are aligned with our commitments, we create harmony. Life begins to feel like, and appear as if, we are running on auto-pilot. Growth is accelerated, and we are ready to become.

Standing Whole and Ready To Lead With Purpose

But alignment is not enough. Your light, the essence of your being, will never reach its full potential until you learn to shine brightly. It is only when we learn to radiate the vision of who we are to the world, that we begin to lead with purpose.

Leadership – that is the purpose of becoming. The greatest work we will ever do is to lift another to a new level. It is the most fulfilling and satisfying experience. It is the essence of being. When we become our best, we see for the first time that there is room for everyone to be their best.

Arriving at this gateway to enlightenment strips us of all forms of toxic competition. We learn to cheer others on without any worry that they will somehow surpass us. We are inspired by their efforts. We feel a desire to be better for our own account, because we see that there is so much potential that is yet to be realized. We see so very clearly that we are all connected and that we are all one. 

Life moves fluidly. The doing that we do appears to happen without any effort. From the outside to the inside, we are filled with peace. We know who we are and we are being that person. The struggle to do, is no longer found within us. We simply live on purpose and we lead that way too.

Have you identified your aspirations? 

Are you willing to live the commitments that are necessary for their realization?

What are you doing with your light? Are you willing to shine brightly?

I don't have all the answers, but I know that I am anxiously engaged in becoming my best. I understand where balance comes from and what it takes to get it. I want you to create harmony in your own life and leadership responsibilities because I know it will bring you great joy. Please do me a favor today. Take a moment to write down what you value most in life. Then examine how you are spending your time. Then take a step, no matter how small toward balancing the ledger. You are now free to move about the cabin!

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

Before we knew it, two hours had passed and we were in the middle of some serious plans for the future. The creative energy we were feeling filled us up with so many new ideas. A new vision was born and we began to discuss how we will make it happen. The combination of strengths made this project seem so fulfilling for both of us.

If You Want To Reach Your Dreams You Must Have Support

This was not a new experience for either one of us. During our 22 years of marriage, we have dreamed many things together. To be honest, we haven't just dreamed them, we have actually brought them into reality.

I love how we work so well together. There is no spirit of competition between us. We simply see the future together and then engage in making it happen. We are careful to utilize the best, that each of us has to offer. This means that we often take turns leading. 

The support we give each other is the secret to our success. There is a vetting process that we use to make sure that we are both willing to do what it will take to pursue the goal, but once we have decided, we stand together and support each other. I am so thankful to live this way. It is what makes life so good for me. 

Setting The Stage

To make sure we are aligned, we often conduct a cost / benefit analysis. This helps us make sure that we are both willing to support the dream. This process has nothing to do with money, and everything to do with the way we will be spending our time.

We want to see the potential pitfalls and risks. Once we see them, we seek to discover the worst possible scenarios. We want to know what can go wrong and if we would be ok if that actually happened. An amazing thing happens when we look at the worst possible scenario, we no longer fear it and we are able to move forward with out worrying about what could possibly go wrong. Since we know what the worst looks like we are able to avoid it. Rarely, if ever, has the worst actually happened to us.

This perspective frees our entire energy to focus on creating the results we want and living the dream we envisioned. I promise you, this really works, and it works every time.

Who breathes life into your dreams?

Are you willing to include them in all the facets of planning, even the process of imagining the worst?

What can you do today to free yourself of all negative energy and move forward?

Our aspirations are more easily attained when we align them with those who will support our efforts. To do this, we must be willing to clearly define what we want. We can't expect people to support us blindly. Shine the light on it today. You will be surprised how much light you receive back.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

As we looked out the window towards Paris Mountain, a magnificent hawk soared into our view. We marveled at its beauty and its ability to the ride the invisible air currents. It barely moved and yet it continued to rise in a tight spiral. When it floated out of the mini-jetstream, it gently flapped its massive wings and repositioned itself so that it could continue to float effortlessly upward. This image captured our attention and all we could do was stare out the window in wondrous awe.

The View Below

On the ground, far below this incredible display, is the city cemetery. It was a strange feeling to look down upon the graves of the men and women of Greenville past. I thought a lot about their lives. Of course, I know nothing about them, but I know they lived with the same types of passions and purposes that you and I embrace. Their life is over, but their tombstones mark their existence.

When I looked down, I was reminded that I am only a temporary resident of this planet. My opportunity to stand in that window was only given to me for a moment. Someday, I will be interred and somewhat forgotten.

This thought is enough to discourage some people into believing that there is no purpose to this life. We live and we die without much notice. I am sure that many people walk by that cemetery every day without even noticing it is there. I am also sure that the remains of some of the greatest people in Greenville are firmly planted in that city cemetery. Where are they now? Have they lost all influence?

Descend, Or Ascend – You Decide

In that magical moment the stunning contrast of life and death stared me directly in the face. Far below were images of death and despair – yet soaring in my level view was an image of life and graceful power. Up above, soared the hope of an even greater power.

I pondered the freedom we have to choose were we want to look. We can see life or death from almost any vista. Both, will always be present. We can choose to engage in the downward spirals of life, or we can choose to soar in its ascending spirals. I choose to look upward. That view brings so much happiness and joy. It fills my life and makes me whole.

Where do you choose to look?

Can you see the beauty of your current circumstances?

Do you casually flap your wings when you need to re-enter the jet streams of life? or Do you allow yourself to get lost in the free fall of despair?

You are empowered to choose. Today, a new you will be born. You can be whoever you want to be. Your journey begins with a plan. You are responsible for filing that plan. Please give yourself permission to soar in life's ascending spirals. The view up here is breath taking. Wake up! Look up! Now fly!

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

I completely understand that I am aging and that 64 is not really that far away. I even have moments of concern when my own mortality stares me in the face, but for the most part, I fool myself into believing that I am going to be forever young and that death is something that happens to other people.

Today!

I actually believe that this self-deceptive thinking is both natural and healthy. The only real danger that I can see is that it causes us to forget to do the work of today. This happens, when we falsely believe that there will always be another tomorrow.

Our tomorrows will eventually run out. Some discover this in the Dr's office. I believe it is best, when we realize it on our own. Doing so, empowers us to make the most out of today. It shifts us from a short term thinking approach to a long term thinking approach.

I know that sounds counter-intuitive, but when we realize that today is the only day we have, we live much differently. We don't waste our time doing the things we normally do. Instead, we are extraordinarily focused on the things that matter most. We don't want to miss a single meaningful opportunity so we let go of any and all meaningless activities.

Being In The Moment

Some erroneously believe that living in the moment means that we take no thought for the future. They couldn't be further from the truth. Living in the moment, actually means that the "present me" is constantly creating the "future me". The process of becoming takes time. It doesn't magically happen over night for anyone.

Living on purpose only happens when we realize that our time on the planet is temporary. When I am awake, I cannot be lulled into monotony. Instead I live with passion. Every day becomes an opportunity to grow. Every day, a "new me" is born.

Today Is Your First and Last

Life, is amazing! I am constantly astonished by how much control we have in inventing our own reality. I am even more astounded by those who let things happen to them, instead of creating their own story. 

I invite you to live and love today with one thought in mind. Today will be your first and your last. It will be the first day you look more deeply into the mirror of life and see and reach for the real you. It will be the last day you spend the majority of your time on the things that matter least. Wake up!

What is important to you?

How are you spending your time?

Is the way you are spending your time aligned with what is important to you?

Don't be fooled. LIfe is an illusion and you can be whoever you want to be. The only rule is that your choices are followed by consequences. Think about it for a minute. You actually choose the consequences when you make your choices. Have fun!

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

I felt stunned when I received the news. My mind turned to our many interactions over the years. I thought of the good times and the bad times, the happy times and the sad times. These memories flooded my mind as I attempted to make sense of this senseless accident. It was very difficult for me to believe that this news was true. I did not want to accept it.

This Is Our Moment

My friend is gone. His time in this world is over, but you and I are still here. We cannot guarantee that we will be here beyond this moment, so we must make every moment matter.

He did not know when he left work that it would be his last moment. I am not sure if he called to tell his wife and children that he was on his way home and that he loved them. I am not sure if he lived his last day in alignment with the things that mattered most to him, or if he spent it doing the dumb things that he thought he had to do. I am sure, that like the rest of us, he thought he had a lot of time to do these things. He was wrong.

This is our moment. We cannot waste it with thoughts that another time will come. We must act now. We must learn to be the person that we dream of being. We cannot wait for someday, because it may never come.

The Meaning of Life

Life is about loving and living in the moment. We create our own individual experiences. The choices we make, shape our reality. They birth our meaningful moments. We must be anxiously engaged in becoming our very best. We can do that by standing a little taller each and every day. We must not be afraid of becoming better. We must not waste our moments engaged in non-productive activities. Even our moments of rest, can be purposefully focused on building our legacy.

Are you giving the least, to those who matter most?

Who do you love? How do they know?

What can you do to create more purpose in your life?

How can you honor the real you?

This is our moment. No matter how long we live on this planet, it will only be a moment when compared to the span of its life giving existence. Your moments will only matter to those you love. Don't ignore them, cheat them, abuse them, or deny them. Don't get caught in the thick of thin things. 

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

On Groundhog Day, we created two very special moments. One was a time honored tradition, and the other was a LOST moment.

Tag Your "IT"

For the past 12 years, we have gathered on the front lawn as a family to play Groundhog Tag on Groundhog Day. Some of you may know it as Freeze Tag. One person is "IT" and they run around and try to tag everyone else. If you are tagged, you must freeze. The only way you can become unfrozen is to have one of the other players crawl through the space between your legs and the ground. 

We have a lot of fun playing this game together. I don't know of many 17, 15 and 13 year old boys who are willing to play tag on the front lawn with their Mom and Dad and their 9, 5, and 3 year old sisters. They played and had fun. The older the boys get, the harder it is for them to make it through the legs, and it is very hard for anybody to fit through the little one's legs. 

I am thankful for this tradition and for the time we spend together doing it. Before long they will all be gone, but we will always be able to look out the front window at the lawn and remember being "IT".

Final Season of Lost

Later in the evening we all gathered around the TV to watch the Season Premiere of Lost. The start time was well after bed time for half of the family and the end time was far beyond the bed time of all of the rest of us. We stayed together for the whole show, even though we knew we could watch it on the internet the next day. 

The suspense nearly killed us, but we stuck with it. The girls fell asleep and the boys complained about the many commercial breaks. I enjoyed the breaks, because they gave us time to talk about what we were watching and what we thought would happen next.  We definitely got lost in the moment.

Taking Time Out For Family

Life is hectic, I know and feel that personally. I have come to understand that the most meaningful moments come from taking time out to be with the family. The concerns of the day will wait, and they will always be there. Our children will not wait, and they will not always be there. We must remember to pause and be with them, learn from them and love them.

I am aware that many of you reading do not have kids, but you do have a family. Family relationships are very important and you must do your best to nurture the intimate relationships that you do enjoy.

What are you doing to develop your family relationships?

How can you make the moments more memorable?

How do you want your family to remember you?

From my office, I am watching the sun go down. As it slips behind the rocky slopes of our desert hills, I get a visual reminder of how quickly the moments pass. Be present. You will never look back and say, "I wish I was gone more."

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

I wanted to see the town, so I set my alarm and arose early to run into it. It was only a mile and half away, so I figured it would be a nice short run to get me going for the day.

It's All Downhill

Dawn had not yet arrived when I left the home, and the air was crisp. The stars were still lighting the clear, dark sky. It felt incredible to be outdoors and for some reason my body settled into the rigors of the run much quicker than normal. I ran at a pace that was faster than my usual gait. I literally felt stronger than my normal self, and that invigorated me.

I lost myself in thought and arrived at the center of the town, sooner than I expected. Because I felt so good, I decided to run a little further. I ran another mile and half and then decided to head back to my friends home.

Uh-Oh

Immediately, I discovered the source of my energy. There was something that I hadn't realized when I left the house. Because I was feeling so good, and since it was dark, I failed to understand the steepness of the road into town. I felt so good as I descended, that the hill really didn't seem as steep as it actually was. I labored as I ran to get back to the top of it. I was surprised at how difficult it was to be on the very same road that only moments before seemed like the perfect run. I was on the same road, but the direction I was heading made the degree of difficulty much more challenging.

As I reflected on my situation I thought about how similar this is to life. Have you ever met someone on a road that to you did not seem particularly difficult, but for some reason the person you met was struggling?

I have, and I hate to say it, but I have some times judged these people as either unfocused or unable to function. I never considered the direction they were heading on the road. They looked like they were in motion and moving fairly quickly, but they may have been running up hill. 

When I found myself that day on the same road huffing and puffing, I became aware of how ironic my situation really was. I was running on the same dirt. Nothing had changed except my direction. This change in direction caused me to have a change in perception as to the difficulty of the road. It even caused me to have to work much harder. I was unable to coast and catch my breath. It was a new challenge.

Check Your Direction

Some times, we are in too big of a hurry to get to where we are going, that we fail to figure the direction we are heading. We think if we move quickly, we will get there faster. The direction is much more important than our speed. It has the ability to influence the ease of the journey.

What direction are you heading?

Are you hurrying quickly on a difficult path?

What adjustments can you make to move in a better way?

When we move in the right direction, we are in a better position to help others. Because we feel strong, we have enough to inspire others to seek the next level. Chart your course wisely – it will make all the difference in where and how you arrive.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

He is not alone. There are many who find themselves in a similar situation. Sadly, our standards a such that many of his friends are saying, "you didn't do anything wrong" and "what you said really wasn't that bad". Thankfully he is not listening and he is moving to higher ground and accepting responsibility for his individual actions. I am glad to be his friend and happy to be a part of his rehabilitation. 

Moral Discipline

All of his pain could have been avoided, if he just would have checked himself. We all value the freedom of expression, but we must never fail to exercise moral discipline.

I am fully aware, that the concept of moral discipline – self-discipline based on moral standards – is considered by many to be an archaic practice.

We live in a society that continuously embraces the thought that truth is relevant and that everyone must decide for himself or herself what is right. This prevalent posture condemns concepts such as sin and wrong as "value judgements". Consequently, self-discipline continues to erode and our society is increasingly being left to maintain order and civility by compulsion. The lack of internal control is fostering more and more opportunities for the government to gain control over us, and they are not afraid to take it. 

Legal Means

In the past, we relied on moral discipline to keep us safe from inappropriate and hurtful people and situations. Now, we are increasingly relying on a tangled set of laws to regulate behavior. Our legal system should be the last, not the first line of defense for maintaining a civilized society. The fact that we have more laws than ever, is actually a measure of how uncivilized we are becoming. Sadly the laws are failing to live up to their purpose. Does anybody really think that these new laws can replace self-discipline as a compelling means for doing what's right? 

Consider the extended and devastating worldwide economic recession. There were many sparks that contributed to this out of control flame, but the most prevalent cause was the widespread dishonest and unethical conduct in the housing and financial markets. We attempted to bail those industries out by giving them money, and we establishing stronger regulations. Is that working out the way anybody hoped it would?

Our freedoms are being diminished on a daily basis and our answer continues to be to create more regulations. That is not going to work, because as soon as we create the new regulations, new industries are born to find the loop holes and work arounds. Simply put, we cannot enforce the laws we have now. What makes us think more laws will help us overcome this blithe.

What's The Answer?

I do not believe in complaining for the sake of complaining, nor do I believe it is fair to post a rant without proposing at least one suggestion for a resolution. So here you go.

We need to recalibrate our internal compasses. We must turn our focus toward the rediscovery of self-discipline and the reestablishment of higher standards. We cannot allow ourselves to continue to believe that there is no such thing as sin.

Sin is real. I say that from a moral point of view and not a religious point of view. Editorial writers at the Wall Street Journal once observed:

“Sin isn’t something that many people, including most churches, have spent much time talking about or worrying about through the years of the [sexual] revolution. But we will say this for sin: it at least offered a frame of reference for personal behavior. When the frame was dismantled, guilt wasn’t the only thing that fell away; we also lost the guidewire of personal responsibility.

“The United States has a drug problem and a high-school-sex problem and a welfare problem and an AIDS problem and a rape problem. None of this will go away until more people in positions of responsibility are willing to come forward and explain, in frankly moral terms, that some of the things that people do nowadays are wrong” (“The Joy of What?” Wall Street Journal, Dec. 12, 1991, A14).

Standing Up

This is what I stand for. I am willing to stick my neck out and say that we must begin to seek a more virtuous way of living. We need to deny ourselves those activities that provide us with momentary feelings of pleasure so that we may model the way and enjoy the lasting feelings of peace and joy. We must reject the trash that is being pressed upon as entertainment. We must refuse to believe that "if if feels good we should do it" and realize that true happiness can only be found through principle centered living. 

I promise to raise the bar on my own individual behavior. I promise to speak appropriately at all times. I promise to be honest in my dealings with others. I promise to monitor the content that I personally see and that I allow into my home. I promise to do this without judging others. I promise to continue to believe that the world can be a better place. I hope you will join me.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

This week, we are experiencing some very amazing rain storms. I have lived here twenty years, and I can only remember one other storm during that time period, that even comes close to matching the amount of water we are receiving. 

Too Much Of A Good Thing

We need this rain. Our natural water supplies are low. We are all very excited that it keeps coming down, but we are beginning to experience some pretty significant consequences. It reminds us that too much of a good thing, can actually become, a bad thing. 

This thought has been with me for a while, but I saw a new side of it today as I drove around town to run a few errands. Our town is not built for this much rain. We have several storm washes that guide the water to our reservoirs and rivers, but they are not capable of handling a steady down pour for two days. After a couple of hours, they overflow and begin to find a new path which usually crosses homes and roads indiscriminately. The rain we so desperately need continues to fall, but it is now causing quite a bit of damage.

I have seen a similar thing happen with people. We all need to receive recognition, but I have known those who received so much that it changed them. Their interpersonal pathways become flooded and they begin to behave differently than they normally behave. They become puffed up and full of pride. They lose their ability to help others, because they are so caught up in their own pursuits. When the praise they crave stops, and the flow of compliments resides, we can see the damage to their image and reputation.

Seeking Higher Ground

The quality we must cultivate, to avoid this downfall, is humility. Humility is the great protector. It is the antidote against pride. The proud can only hear the clamor of the crowd, and that prevents them from hearing their own internal correcting voice and the voice of others who would offer the feedback so necessary for improvement. Humility is the catalyst for all learning. It prevents us from overdoing our strengths. 

What are you doing to develop the quality of humility?

Can you see the difference from being humbled and having humility?

Is it possible to demonstrate confidence and humility at the same time?

Humility, is a rare quality to see these days, almost as rare as a rainbow in the High Desert. When we see it in others, we are attracted to them. We want to be around them and we recognize them as true leaders. Because they are open to receiving counsel from above, beside and below, they know who to abandon their pride and lead with authenticity. Their regular review of these diverse perspectives regularly, creates an unusual calmness around them and they become inspiring forces of growth in others. O be humble! It will allow you to receive the nourishing rain of praise without having it run off of your countenance in waste.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548 

This storm is making me excited for spring. I can't wait to see the wildflowers that will bloom as a result of it. 

The table was delivered to the office last year. It is an impressive work of art, even when nobody is sitting around it. I am fortunate enough to see it every day that I work in the office. I marvel at the fact that not a single power tool was used to create its beauty. 

A Symbol of Love

The table is inscribed with a giant banyan tree. In the Hindu culture, the banyan tree is a symbol of unity and wish fulfillment. It certainly lives up to its symbolic nature, but to me it stands for something even greater.

Every day, when I walk into my office, I am reminded of my beautiful wife and her never ending support for my efforts. She believes in me and that great blessing inspires me to believe in myself. The work that I do is continuously stretching me and creating new opportunities to step up. Sometimes, the seeds of doubt creep in and frustrate my self-belief for a moment. When I find myself wondering if I am up to the task, I take a moment to regard this beautiful table. Every time I do so, I remember the trust and confidence Stacy places in me and I receive the energy I need to act with poise and purpose.

Seeds of Gratitude and Generosity

Remembrance prompts a sense of gratitude. The expression of a grateful heart is usually manifested through some generous act. A thankful heart is more than willing to speak a kind comment or perform an act of service. When we allow ourselves to live in the moments of gratitude, we are reminded that because we have been given much, we too must give. 

Service to others is the natural desire of an enlightened being, and these selfless acts increase our ability to love the other. They create a comfort within us that removes the fear of being passed over and the anguish of living in scarcity.

The abundant life is the result of our conscious choice to live abundantly. Yes, it it a choice we make and we must make it before it can ever be bestowed upon us. Growth is a positive function and it cannot occur when we act defensively. To truly grow, we must be open to the whisperings of the spirit. Those whisperings only come to us when we are willing to do something more than seek after our own agenda. 

What moves you to remembrance?

What evokes gratitude in your heart?

When was the last time you expanded the reaches of your generosity?

I know these are difficult times. Each day, there is bad news. We can fight against that by abandoning our selfish pursuits and meeting the needs of others. We live in abundance. There is a seat for you at our table.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

I was fortunate enough to be flying business class, which meant that my seat would fully recline into the flat position. it also meant that I would be one of the first passengers to board. Time seemed to be at a standstill and I wanted to get on that plane pretty bad.

Overzealous Behavior

Finally, they announced that it was OK to board. Because I of my fatigue, I failed to notice a couple of people who were clearly in front of me. I did not run them over, but I definitely behaved in a way that would have made my mother angry with me. I was rude and inconsiderate.

It would be easy to say that I was not aware, and that I just was moving as quickly as I could to get on the plane, but in reality, I purposefully moved in a way that said, "get out of my way", and everybody in my way knew it.

Most of the passengers got out of my way without saying anything, but one man stopped me and said, "why don't you go on ahead. I am sure I will have plenty of time to board and I don't think they will leave without me." He actually said it in one of most loving and caring voices that I have ever heard. There was not a hint of sarcasm or anger in his voice. 

His tone actually woke me up from the "sleep deprived, get-out-of-my-way charge" that I was inflicting upon my fellow passengers. I immediately recognized what I was doing and asked for his forgiveness. He was more than willing to offer it and we boarded the plane together. As we went our separate ways, I thanked him again for sending me a polite wake-up. He was even more polite and said not to worry about it.

Awareness

He was sitting just a couple of seats away from me and as we were preparing to take off, I am overheard a conversation he was having with his seat mate. My new friend was talking about the day he had had. He said that his earlier flight had also been delayed and that he had spent most of the day in the airport trying to get home to his country. The flight we were on was a substitute flight and would not take him home. He was going to have to take another flight before he could get there and this one would make his total delay in getting home about 13 hours.

I knew that if anybody had a right to be uptight, upset and angry, it was this man, yet for some reason he seemed to be the calmest man on board. As I sat in my seat, I thought about what made this possible. Why was it, that this man was able to demonstrate so much patience? What made him so delightful?

As I pondered this experience I actually dug a little deeper and turned my thoughts inward. I am happy person. Like many of you, I have a good life. I like life. So why did I find myself on that day possessing so little patience? Why was I so easily upset by a nominal delay? What was causing me to behave this way.

As I asked myself these questions, I realized that the answer was because I was behaving in a selfish way. Instead of looking around and seeing how I could help others, i was looking around and seeing how I could increase my own advantage. It was then that the real impact of my travel companion's words hit me. Once again, I heard him say in my mind, "why don't you go on ahead. I am sure I will have plenty of time to board and I don't think they will leave without me." That was the key. No matter how fast I boarded, I was not going to get to my destination any quicker. His patience and kindness lifted my spirits and inspired me with a desire to behave the same way. I cringe as I think about what my behavior inspired in others.

Looking Through Selfless Eyes

An observer, would have seen two travelers that day. Both would arrive at their destination at the same time, but one would arrive with a smile and the other with a grimace. After that day, I decided to be the traveller with a smile. It is amazing what a smile and a kind word can do.

What would our world be like if we all behaved in a kind and gentle way?

What is the risk of being kind to others? Are you willing to let it begin with you?

Are you willing to be thoughtful enough to consider your own behavior and how it impacts those around you?

I invite you to behave in a delightful way. The next time somebody cuts you off, smile and let them in. You will deeply appreciate the peace and energy that will come to you from doing such a simple thing. I am not afraid to use myself as an example of what not to do in this post, because through this experience I learned to be a better me. That is why I can authentically promise that when we behave this way, it is worth it.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548