Fortune Friday: "You have at your command the wisdom of the ages."

My first thought when I read this was 'Yah, it's called the internet.'

Done. Easiest blog post ever.

But as I thought on it more and more over the coming days—I typically write about the previous Friday's fortune—something deeper and more affirming, on two levels, came to me.

Level 1:

I have access to all the varying degrees of wisdom I have garnered from all of my personal ages—every age of my life. I knew certain things at age 6. I knew different things age 14, and 21, and 35.

At each age I added something new to the melting pot of my life. A few more nuggets of truth, a few more dashes of wisdom. Now, at age 44, I have at my command all the combined wisdom of my ages.

Level 2:

I believe we are all eternal, spiritual beings that have existed since the beginning of time and will continue to exist forever and ever. And as such, we have access to all the threads of wisdom that are woven into the fabric of the universe.

I know that sounds heady to some, but I believe that everything that ever was, is, and will be, was divinely organized and thoughtfully planned. And prudence, judgement, and wisdom were employed in their creation. A spiritual blueprint, so to speak, for bringing the unknown into the known.

And if we connect to that source, and align our intentions with it, then we really can command the wisdom of the ages.

To your good fortune!

What Is Courage?

 This past Sunday, I attended a class at my church. During the course of the lesson, the principle of courage was discussed. And as I sat there looking at the word, I had a cool "A-ha" moment. Thanks goes out to Mrs. Needham, my eleventh grade French teacher, for this insight.

Courage. Cour-age.

In my high school French class, we not only learned nouns, verbs, and conjugation, but also the Latin roots for the words we were learning. As I looked at the letters, my mind made this connection: Coeur is the French word for 'heart.'

Courage. Cour-age. Coeur Age. Heart Age.

When people talk about courage, it is usually in terms of bravery and resilience in the face of danger or opposition.

But what if it is more simple than that?

What if courage is simply our heart maturing with age?

When we are young, our hearts are new and untested and childish—our hearts are immature, so to speak. We don't always see the big picture. And as a result we sometimes make poor decisions.

But a courageous person could simply be someone whose heart is older and tested and more "grown up". It has matured over time. It has been around the block enough times to start seeing things for what they really are. Our heart may have been through the wringer enough times that we finally have the guts to stand up for what is important to us. To choose better. We're past worrying about what other people think. We stand up for our lives—and take action.

That's real courage.

Maybe high school French wasn't a waste of time after all.

Fortune Friday: "Your uniqueness is more than an outward appearance."

So often we define ourselves by the clothes we wear or the car we drive or the music we listen to. We differentiate ourselves further by the company we keep, the foods we won't eat, and even the TV shows we watch.

And if you're a teenager you often go to extremes to express your individuality—provided you mirror your peer group exactly.

But how often do we focus on our inner uniqueness? How much time and attention do we give to nurturing and growing that special something that sets us apart from everyone else?

Or are we too busy combing our hair just right.

No one, not even identical twins, share the same fingerprints. Likewise, each of us, no matter how similar to another person, has a completely 100% unique soul. Each of us has a one-of-a-kind inner gift to share, to help make the world a better place.

Don't hide your candle under a bushel. We need your light.

To your good fortune!

Stumbling Forward

 I have a confession to make: I may or may not know what I'm doing.

Here, with this blog I mean. And in life too.

Truth is, a lot of the time I am just swinging at pitches hoping, like we all do, of hitting something, anything. I write about life and personal development and going for your dreams and taking action because those are the messages that resonate with me. I want and need to believe that it is possible for man to change his nature, to rise above the petty distractions of this world and claim our divine birthright. Much of the time I'm writing more for myself.

But it can be difficult sometimes. Some days it feels like it is all I can do to keep it together, to keep putting one foot in front of the other. And it scares me a little to say that out loud. And that is okay. I want to learn to not only face my fears, but in time to accept and even relish them.

That sounds crazy, right? Who in their right mind would want to embrace adversity?

I don't. At least not yet.

My intention then, is not to avoid stumbling altogether, but to stumble forward. To be at peace with messing up. To be okay with not "getting it right" all the time. To stumble in the direction I want to go. And because I have faith in the process, I know everything will work out as it should.

So if you ever read any of my posts and think I have it all figured out, don't believe it. I am not the expert. I have not mastered these things. Not even close. I am simply describing the ideal, how I think it could be, in hopes of helping a fellow traveler along the way.

And if you ever see me sitting beside the wayside, stop and give me a drink from your canteen. I could use it.

Because I don't always know what I'm doing. 

Fortune Friday: "Your charms have not gone unnoticed by all the angels."

Uh...say what?

I'm including this one just to prove that all the fortunes I write from are legitimate, and that I am not lobbing myself slow pitches over the plate by pre-selecting easy phrases to riff off of.

As always, these are my interpretations of the fortunes. By all means feel free to draw your own conclusions.

Now after I had read it a few times and allowed it to percolate in my mind, the obvious interpretation, at least to me, was the implication that our innate goodness (and/or good deeds) is being observed and approved, and possibly recorded, by divine beings.

But I wanted to explore a less-obvious direction.

By the way, in case you're wondering, I typically start my Fortune Friday posts by identifying any keywords that jump out at me. Charms. I like the sound of that. A lot. After all, who doesn't like to be considered charming?

Or 'unnoticed'? That contains interesting possibilities as well.

But the word that really grabbed me was 'angels'. And not angels in the typical sense, although I do believe in angels—just not the stereotypical kind with wings and harps sitting on fluffy clouds.

No, the angels I see are the ones all around us. Our loved ones. Our friends. And complete strangers too.

They watch us, observe us, notice us.

So what message are we sending? Are they charming, or something else?

To your good fortune!

Don't Write What You Know About

"Write what you know."

Aspiring writers have received this sage advice for decades. And it is truly great advice. But what exactly does it mean?

Most people confuse writing what they know with writing what they know about. There is a big difference. It is the difference between your knowledge of automotive engine repair and why you love to work on cars and how you feel when you hold a socket wrench in your greasy-nailed hand.

But what most writers do is say, "I really love my dog, so I'll write a novel in which the character and plot revolve around a kennel." This is writing what you know about. And it is not intrinsically bad. In fact, it can be a great launching point for the setting or theme, as well as lending authority through accurate technical details.

But great books are great because of the connection the author weaves with the reader. Readers see themselves, if but a glimmer, in the characters. Because as human beings we all share an inexorable link, regardless of race, gender, or culture. And we respond to that authenticity at a cellular level.

For example, above when I wrote, "I really love my dog," you didn't picture my dog. You pictured your own dog, or another animal from your life. And you attached your own memories, thoughts, and emotions to that picture. You didn't understand what I know, you related it to what you know.

So where am I going with this?

When you write, consider focusing less on the facts or the content, and instead more on how your characters see the world. And the easiest way to do that is to infuse the way you see the world. In other words, write what you know.

Let's look at this situation: You main character gets assaulted in a bar fight. Does he run, does he punch back? Is he mad, confused, insulted, afraid? What would your own reaction be? How would you react in that situation?

Now understand, I'm not saying your writing needs to be autobiographical. I'm saying you can use your own thoughts and feelings to flesh out authentic characters that readers will respond to. You can also use other people you know well.

I have a friend and former coworker I'll call Mike. Mike is a skeptic by nature. Not a pessimist or a cynic, but a skeptic. Meaning he won't accept your case at face value just because you say so. If you want to persuade him to your side, you simply have to frame and position your argument properly.

This is something I know about Mike. And because I know him so well, I know how he will respond to any proposition or voiced opinion. If I ever decide to write a character similar to Mike, I can write them with conviction and honesty. And that character will feel genuine and will resonate with readers.

Because I was writing what I know.

Fortune Friday: "Now is the time to try something new."

Years ago, I read a motivational quote that said "When is now a good time to start?"

I admit I had to reread it a couple times for it to sink in.

Now is always the best time to start something. Faye, the mother of my wife's best friend from high school, is fond of saying, "You can wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which fills up faster."

A lot of us wish for a better life, a better job, a better partner, or a better situation. But delaying the start, wishing for a better option or a more opportune moment, is a surefire path to unfulfilled dreams. All journeys begin with the first step, even if they're just tiny baby steps. And the sooner you start walking, the sooner you will get to where you're headed.

Like Andy Dufresne, Tim Robbin's character in The Shawshank Redemption, says: "I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying."

It's such a simple recipe. Funny how we're so reluctant to follow it.

I wonder, when was the last time you tried something new?

To your good fortune!

Discovering Your Purpose is a Waste of Time

Seems everywhere you read these days, people are talking about purpose and passion. Why you need to find it, where to look for it, how to recognize it, when to follow it.

It is all a bunch of bunk. Yes, you read that right. So let me say it again so we're clear: Discovering your purpose is a waste of time.

Because purpose is not something to be found. It is not an iron-bound chest buried in the sand. There's no map to its location. And "X" certainly does not mark the spot.

You create your purpose. You make a choice, a decision. You pick a direction, any direction, and move forward. And you experiment over and over. You collect data, input, and feedback and then make course corrections as you go.

But too many of us do it all backwards. We say, "Once I discover my purpose I will take action."

As if the universe will whisper into your ear, "Lisa, you must become an accountant for inner-city, single-mother entrepreneurs." If you actually are this type of accountant, I mean no offense.

It doesn't work that way. If you think it does, you'll be waiting a long, long time.

No, the way it works is by choosing a direction and acting upon it. Let me give you an example.

Let's say I am interested in writing, basket weaving, yoga, home theater electronics, and flying kites. But I also want to serve the greater good and my fellow man. What to do? How do I start?

I write them all down on a list and choose the one that interests me the most, lets say yoga, and see where it leads. I sign up for classes and buy a mat at Target. I go to the classes and pour myself into the experience. And maybe this sparks something in me and I take it to the next level. Maybe I get certified. Maybe I offer classes at my local church or community center. Maybe I open a business. The possibilities are endless.

Or maybe I don't. Maybe yoga isn't for me. I then choose to trust my inner wisdom and leave yoga on the side or behind altogether. And I say, "What interests me now? What would I like to do today? What would I like to make my life about today?"

Then I go and do that. Maybe I strike gold on my next choice. Or maybe I repeat the process a few more times. Maybe I move through writing and basket weaving and home theater electronics. Then I choose kite flying.

Turns out I love flying kites. Turns out I have a deep love for kites I never knew existed. I pour myself into the world of kite flying. My momentum builds and I grow more and more passionate. I become involved in the kite-lovers community and find connection and create new friendships. And perhaps in time I become known as The Kite Guy and people from all over the globe come to me for insight and instruction. And I serve them through my love of kites.

All because I did not waste time trying to discover my purpose.

I created it by choosing.

Fortune Friday: "You are never selfish with your advice or your help."

 How did they know?

Seriously though, this fortune immediately brings two thoughts to mind. First, stinginess never pays. And second, Karma is always watching. Knowing this is key to a happy life.

Not only does stinginess never pay, but helping is more fun. I admit, in my younger days I typically operated from a scarcity mindset. Meaning, the pie was a fixed size and every slice you got was one I did not. As I matured and aged I realized that the pie is an ever-expanding black hole and that there are more than enough slices for everyone to have their fill.

Here is an example from my career as a graphic designer. When I was young I mistakenly believed my pool of creativity was finite and that once emptied was gone forever. And more than a few times if I had a really great idea I would hoard it to myself—for future use—and hold it back from the client, judging them too unworthy or ignorant or pedestrian to appreciate it.

Yes, I know. I was a jerk. And an art snob.

Flash forward a decade. These days I lay it all out on the table. I happily throw all my best ideas out there to my design clients. Because I have learned that the creative pool is never-ending. As often as I dip my cup into it, the water level never goes down. It is as though a hidden spring at the bottom is continuously bubbling up to the surface.

I've also learned that it is fun to compliment people publicly. It is fun to champion their ideas. I enjoy speaking up in meetings and heaping praise upon those who've earned it. I like sharing this way. I feel good doing it. It takes almost no effort, but pays huge dividends in building relationships.

The legendary Bruce Lee, one of the idols of my teen years, once said, "Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality."

I love that. The more I give away, the more that comes back to me.

And those good ideas I kept to myself and planned to use later? Yeah, they're still collecting dust on my hard drive.

To your good fortune!