Questioning Life, Possibility, and Decisions

“Be mindful of your self-talk. It is a conversation with the universe. You are a being, full of infinite possibilities! Focus your mind with positivity and you will have dictated the direction of your journey, your soul and your being, cascading in infinite abundance.”

-- Angie karan

How do I change someone’s life from bad to good?

You can’t. It must be their choice to change. They need to do the work to succeed or the win is worth nothing to them. You can mentor them… if asked, but they, alone, must walk their path.

Who are some famous people that failed a class subject and still became successful in that subject? For example, a person failing a high school photography class and then later in life becoming a famous photographer.

Albert Einstein was “good” in many subjects, but was not what many would consider a genius; he struggled. Now, his name is synonymous with the term.

Why do people judge you based on what you achieve in life? Why do your parents tell you to get an education and a good job even if you'd rather live a simple life?

I got an education and several good jobs, by choice, and I ended up living a simple life. I have no regrets. No one can judge you, and you, by the same token, have no right to judge others. If your choice is to do nothing with your life, so be it, but don’t expect anybody else to carry your load for you. You can’t apply for welfare benefits and suck from the public teat. Your life you must carry by yourself.

“Perhaps, if you weren't so busy regarding my shortcomings, you'd find that I do possess redeeming qualities, discreet as they may be. I notice when the sky is blue. I smile down at children. I laugh at any innocent attempt at humor. I quietly carry the burdens of others as though they were my own. And I say 'I'm sorry' when you don't. I am not without fault, but I am not without goodness either.”

-- Richelle E. Goodrich

If you were asked to choose someone to be your mentor, which would you choose, experienced or knowledgeable? Why?

What works for me might not work for everyone, so experience or knowledge is worthless, where mentoring is concerned, without each other. I’d prefer to hear from someone who has failed many times. learned from their failures, and finally attained success. They have truly “been around the block” in life and will have some good information to pass on.

What is “just do it nothing is impossible”?

If you don’t at least try, how do you know it is impossible? Because some “quitter” told you it was? If you have the wherewithal to attain it, everything is within reach, but you have to reach.

Why didn't you become what you wanted to be when you were small?

I was small. I was always small. I was very nearsighted, and physically not very strong. At the time, the 1960s and 70s, Science and technology had not caught up to my weaknesses. I could run like the wind, but only enough to escape the bullies I constantly taunted. I finally reached 5’9″ in the military, where running great distance was required, but it took a lot of determination, as did qualifying with firearms.

I wanted to be a diver, a fireman, a pilot, a policeman, or military special forces, typical for the very young. I was never able to become what I wanted due to physical limitations, but I excelled at my career in the Intelligence field. What I wanted to be was replaced with what I was born to be, and I learned to never look back.

“We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and—in spite of True Romance magazines—we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way. I do not say lonely—at least, not all the time—but essentially, and finally, alone. This is what makes your self-respect so important, and I don't see how you can respect yourself if you must look in the hearts and minds of others for your happiness.”

-- Hunter S. Thompson

What is a great example?

This question was originally stated as “What are some good examples of things?” I will answer that question since it was what was asked.

An apple is a great example of fruit. A woman is a great example of a female. A “Great White” is a great example of a shark. And, I’m a pretty good example of “full of shit” according to many in the League of the Perpetually Offended.

What is the real test of passion?

Staying power. If you are truly passionate, nothing can detur you from being involved with what, or who, you are passionate about. Rejection and ignorance might be reasons to not attain success, but they wouldn’t stop you from being interested in whatever you have a passion for.

Which type of thinking do you prefer to use in a real-life situation? Why?

This answer is situational. It depends on what life has thrown my way. I can see using any of the seven types of thinking, or more than one, or all of them in varying order, depending on what the situation demands from me. When you consider the types of thinking, critical, analytical, abstract, concrete, convergent, or divergent, one or all might be useful.

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

-- Albert Einstein

What you have experienced makes you feel life is hard?

Taking care of my mother as she approaches 90 years of age. It can make me “feel” life is hard, but she gave of herself for many years to ensure I was able to be with her, now. This “feeling” is the least I can deal with.

Can you inspire more to others by coming last in an event than those who come first?

It’s all about attitude. If you keep a smile on your face and show you are gracious in losing, if you don’t give up in the face of adversity, and if you help others along the way, then, yes, you can be more of an inspiration than those who know they can win. Whether you win or lose, it is all about the event, the journey, more than it is the destination.

Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?

I would have put more effort into success. I was approaching life as a good time more than a learning experience. I should have approached life as a bit of both, have fun but keep your eye on a prize.

“Seedlings of life sometimes come out of the fertilizer of what was left behind.”

-- Gillian Duce

What does "Get ahead of the mistake" mean? Does it mean "accept it" or "your mistake makes you progress"?

Neither of these works for me. It certainly isn’t about accepting the mistake, and the mistake only makes you progress if you take the time to learn from it. I look at getting ahead of the mistake as “mitigating” it. You made a mistake, now take the time to do what you can to prevent it from damaging something else down the road, like success. It might even mean finding a way to erase the mistake altogether.

How do I make my decisions independently in life?

First of all, let’s answer the question that was asked, “How can I be independent and make my own decision?”

This is self-defining. If you’re not making your own decisions, you aren’t “independent” in life, and few of us totally are. At one point or another, we ask for some assistance with decisions and choices. Ultimately, though, it remains up to us to make the final decision or choice. To surrender that freedom is to admit you rely on others for living your life.

What matters most in life, because I didn't find something that gives me satisfaction?

Happiness matters most, and if happiness doesn’t satisfy you, there is a good probability nothing ever will. Success is nothing unless you can be truly happy in attaining it. The only way one can be truly happy is by discovering what happiness truly is.

“So many people think that they are not gifted because they don’t have an obvious talent that people can recognize because it doesn’t fall under the creative arts category—writing, dancing, music, acting, art or singing. Sadly, they let their real talents go undeveloped, while they chase after fame. I am grateful for the people with obscure unremarked talents because they make our lives easier---inventors, organizers, planners, peacemakers, communicators, activists, scientists, and so forth. However, there is one gift that trumps all other talents—being an excellent parent. If you can successfully raise a child in this day in age to have integrity then you have left a legacy that future generations will benefit from.”

-- Shannon L. Alder 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com