My Riffs

Didn’t everyone’s Mom have this rule, “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. I wonder how the world would change if everyone adhered to this rule? I wonder how our lives personally would change if we adhered to this? This doesn’t mean don’t speak truths, but even in speaking difficult truths, we can always be kind.

In our society convenience seems to be the top factor is almost everything. We live at an extremely fast pace, so it only makes sense that convenience is the highest priority. Internet speeds, microwaves, pre-cooked or prepared meals, instant access to music, shows, books and information, Amazon, grocery delivery, and on and on. Because we're so busy we look for shortcuts of convenience to help us manage our busy lives. We've accepted that convenience is a good thing. But is it? It seems that doing what is convenient isn't always what's best. The most convenient coffee isn't the best coffee. The best coffee takes time to make. The best meals take time to make, they're not found in drive throughs. The deepest and most meaningful relationships are quite inconvenient, they take time and energy. The shortest route somewhere may not be the best route. The things that come free or easy are hard to appreciate. It's the things that are inconvenient, that tak...

"This is gonna change your life" or "it was life changing". Well, everything you encounter in some way changes your life. We're changing constantly whether we like it or not. So in a way, everything is life changing. You're the sum of your habits, so if it doesn't become or altar your habits, it probably isn't changing your life significantly.

1. Stooping shouldn’t be about where other people are. It’s about making sure to never go beneath yourself, not others. 2. Only go down to a lower level if you’re helping someone up. And in that case don’t join them at a low level, reach down and help them up.

Failing to try is failing. Try and not succeeding isn’t a failure. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. But first you have to try. Every success started with someone trying something that probably scared them.

Today's society is obsessed with celebrity, status and position. Everybody's aim is seems it to be at the top of the heap. But they don't realize, the top is empty. There's nothing up there, except the fact you can say you're there. Observe those who are "at the top". That alone should tell you all you need to know about the top. Aim high, as high as you can. But aim based on being your best, not at being above someone else.

Sometimes we are surrounded by storm. And we're tossed to and fro in the storm. Sometimes we don't know what end is up or down. It's easy to be overcome by the storm. Some storms we brought on ourselves. Some storms we didn't ask for. In each storm though, be as close to the eye of the storm as possible. Try to centre yourself and be a spectator rather than unwilling participator being tossed about in the storm. In every storm, I believe there is a place of peace, you just have to find it. Which is MUCH harder to do than I could ever convey in words.

Technology has allowed information to pass at a unprecedented rate. This has allowed many things to become normalized in a rapid state. Things that may be been happening at the fringes or in dark corners have become "normalized'. One thing is, seeing something written or published makes it seem more legitimate. So technology has allowed certain things to appear as legitimate just because they now have a platform. The other thing is, the things happening on the fringes weren't spoken about in the public eye. Now with technology and the ability for an idea to spread across the globe in moments, has allowed certain bad ideas to propagate from the dark corners out into the main light. And those who are less discerning see this and see them as "normal". So don't trust something just because it may be considered normal. Very bizarre ideas can become normalized, thanks in large part to technology.

Just life everything in life, self awareness needs to be handled in balance. A baby has no self awareness. As you watch a child get older, then become more self aware. They may become shy, or even the opposite, they may quite enjoy getting attention. This is a good thing, self awareness is given and can be developed to the point where we can really refine ourselves. But self awareness can overcome us, rather than being a useful tool. Self awareness can cause some to hide their whole life. And that's not a good thing. Hold self awareness in a careful balance, using it's good attributes to become a better you and keeping it from overcoming you and causing you to hide.

Total cost of ownership. This is something we rarely think about. We usually only think about up front costs. We rarely think of what it will cost us over the lifetime of the purchase or our lifetime. Our decisions usually have an upfront cost, but also a total cost. And making a decision based on the upfront cost only can get us into serious trouble. When making big decsions, think about what it will cost in a years time, in 5 years time or even longer. The upfront cost may be cheap, but the total cost may be more than you can afford.

In videography you will notice in really beautiful scenes, they are often shown in slow motion. When do we slow down enough to enjoy the beauty and good things around us? We have to move at a breakneck pace to just keep up. But in doing so we miss so much of the simple beauty around us. Try setting aside time to move at slow mo. You may notice things you've never noticed as regular speed.

We are never hopeless, I firmly believe that. But there are times we feel hopeless. And without hope, we have nothing. It's dangerous to descend into hopelessness. It's a dangerous space to occupy. Find someone to talk to when feeling hopeless. Find someone who can provide a realistic and true hope.

We're bombarded by marketing all day, every day. The underlying premise of that marketing is we don't have enough. Between marketing and social media, it can sure make someone feel like they aren't enough. We seem to forget something very important... The person rich enough to buy everything isn't happier than the one who can't buy anything.

Most know some form of the lesson, you reap what you sew. Or some call it karma. But I've learned a similar but different lesson to this. It seems to me that what you wish for other people (particularly those you disagree with or maybe don't naturally get along with) is what happens to you. So wishing something bad for someone may actually cause that to happen bad thing to yourself. The lesson learned is to never wish anyone but the best. Even if it's difficult, because that bad wish just may come back and become reality for yourself. The same is true if you wish someone the best.

The bad: we can get in trouble this way. One wrong acceptance can lead to a catastrophe. The good: don't minimize one small thing, because it may lead to something bigger or a preferred end.

Plans go sideways, often and almost always. Plans are good and even necessary. But more importantly, what’s the plan when there’s no plan? That’s where instincts and preparation come into place. How well educated are you on the subject? How is your patience? How do you handle stress? A work emergency today has me considering these questions. We will see how it goes.

Boldness is necessary. It's a great thing and provides balance and equity in the world. But I see it being used so wrong so often now. So many are being bold for the wrong reasons. Boldness should be used to love not defeat. Boldness should be used to support ethical and moral principles. Boldness should be for helping not harming. Internet and technology are empowering new boldness that didn't have a voice before. Bad boldness must be overcome with stronger, kinder and purer boldness.

Today I saw a very, very angry person. Someone pulled in front of him in a parking lot unintentionally. I'm sure there was more going on in his life that caused the extremely angry re-action. There are probably some issues that he needs help with. I don't want to be an angry person. It doesn't help anyone out, especially yourself. Let this stand as a reminder to myself to keep angry emotions at bay. There are very very few situations where anger is a correct response. And even in those situations, anger is an extremely difficult emotion to wield with any kind of balance. It often takes control of us. So it's best to not wield it at all.

To determine if something is worth fighting for, think about it from the future perspective. Say 5 years down the road... Will it have been worth fighting for? I think we can let a lot more things go that we tend to. I know for myself I tend to fight for things that maybe just don't matter in the long run. But if we look at things from a future perspective, we can know better if they're worth fighting for.

"Happiness is reality minus expectations" - Elon Musk There is probably a lot of truth to this. Elon said this in a discussion about social media and Instagram in particular. Social media and comparison can alter our expectations to the point where people have taken their own lives. When we base our expectations for life based on what people are posting and saying online, it almost always makes us feel worse, not better. I personally like social media, but we have to be very aware of the dangers of it, and teach the dangers to young people and children, both who are using social media younger and younger. Don't set your expectations based on what you see online and on social media. You are seeing something that is most likely not a full reality. It's a sanitized or filtered version of reality. Set your expectations based on your own abilities, not others.

If you leave things, nature will creep back and take over. If you build a house and never tend to the yard, eventually nature will take back over and the house will never look like when it was completed. Or if you build a road, eventually cracks will form and grass will grow up through the road and maybe trees will grow in the road. The same goes for our nature. It's something we constantly have to keep tending to, or it will overtake us. You have to know what your nature is that shouldn't take over you. For some it may be temper, or a propensity to lie, or for some laziness... These are the things in our nature we need to be aware of and fight to keep from overtaking us.

Making happiness your greatest goal in life isn’t a bad one. But it’s not the best goal either. Life throws a lot of things your way that will threaten happiness. Happiness in a way is quite fickle. A lost job can threaten happiness. An illness can threaten happiness. So purpose is a better goal. Purpose gives us the better “why” in life. And things like loss of job can’t deter us from purpose as easily as they can deter us from happiness.

Perspective is so important. It seems we gain perspective in two overall ways. 1. Listening 2. Doing Not speaking. So do things to gain experience and perspective. Listen a lot to gain perspective. Do things that challenge you. Travel. Experience new things. Listen to friends. Listen to contrary opinions. Read. This will help develop a more full perspective.

Good things come to those who wait... I believe it and it’s true. By good things don’t come to those who procrastinate. Knowing the line between patience and procrastination is a fine art.

I've lived long enough to learn you can find a reason/excuse for almost everything. No matter how bizarre it is. I've seen (and probably done this) people act how they want, then find the excuses later. Rather than informing themselves then acting out in accordance to being informed. Acting out then finding excuses is a not a good way to live. Inform yourself, then act out from there.

I often think I need something in order to get something. What I can often lose sight of is, I already have enough to get something. I have enough tools, resources and ingenuity to complete most tasks. So waiting until I have *this or *that is maybe more often than anything an excuse.

Airplanes need level ground to take off and land. Boats need relatively level ground to float. Homes need level ground to be built properly. When our lives get out of balance, they can no longer provide a level foundation to build upon. Level ground is a form of balance. If the ground isn't evenly balanced it becomes uneven and unsuitable for anything serious to happen to it. Mountains are beautiful, but they aren't a place you can build anything substantial. At least not reasonably. Same thing for us. When we're out of balance we can't provide adequate foundation for anything substantial.

Every single day is a gift. The one thing about gifts is, we don’t often value them as much as something we’ve paid for. We have to make sure we value each day like it’s something we’ve paid our last penny for.

It matters. Your opinion matters much. Getting your opinion out there doesn't matter so much. What you have to say is important and should be heard. But your opinion matters more than just speaking it. Your opinion dictates your perspective and behaviour. So your opinion matters a whole lot. You will live out your opinions. Don't worry so much about getting your opinion out there, worry more about getting it right.

Work without rest is wearisome. Rest without work isn’t satisfying. Play without work is detrimental. Do all three in balance.