Questioning Balance, Money, and Success

“My point is, life is about balance. The good and the bad. The highs and the lows. The pina and the colada.”

-- Ellen DeGeneres 

What is your general attitude towards life?

Strive to be happy always, because the alternative simply sucks.

What comes to your mind when you get money or your salary?

What’s for dinner?

How do I balance my responsibilities, problems, and goals?

First of all, I always consider my problems as my responsibilities. So, now you have responsibilities and goals. Your goals, while you’re in quandary, should only include those things you absolutely have to attain, which, when you think about it, make them responsibilities. Now, you have only responsibilities to rank in order of importance. No balance is necessary when you only have one column to deal with. Get to ranking.

“What is joy without sorrow? what is success without failure? What is a win without a loss? What is health without illness? You have to experience each if you are to appreciate the other. There is always going to be suffering. It’s how you look at your suffering, how you deal with it, that will define you.”

-- Mark Twain

What announcement will I make at midnight on Friday, the 13th of November? 

You’re really Jason Voorhees?  You better sudy the calendar better, Jason.  The 13th is a Saturday this month.

Are there other quotes that mean something like “once you've experienced the best, you can never be satisfied by anything less” (in a positive way)?

Not meaning to inject race and sex, but, you asked: “Once you’ve tried black you’ll never go back.”

What is the ultimate good? How do we achieve it?

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

-- John 15:13

Achievement is self-explanatory, I think. But, as an “ultimate good” I think this qualifies.

“What's simple is that everything good comes from God, and everything bad comes from man. Where it gets complicated is that everything seemingly good but ultimately bad comes from man, and everything seemingly bad but ultimately good comes from God.”

-- Criss Jami

How do you focus on what you can control when faced with so much uncertainty?

If I can control it, the “uncertainty” is minimized. If the uncertainty is minimized, then my ability to focus on control is exponentially higher.

What do you think is a good life?

True happiness, although the question isn’t what was originally asked (What is a good life all about?). My answer would be the same, either way.

Does failure always lead to success?

Failure is simply an opportunity to learn. If a person feels they’re a failure, maybe they aren’t learning from what they failed doing. Failure is about critiquing where we went wrong, learning from the mistake, and trying again, and again until we get it right, or we find out it is beyond our capability… at this time. One is never a failure until they stop trying.

“Failure is constructive feedback that tells you to try a different approach to accomplish what you want.”

-- Idowu Koyenikan

If I failed in my examinations, what should I do?

Study harder? Find a tutor to explain it all again? Lower your job expectations?

What do you attribute the biggest successes in your life to?

Knowledge, hard work, and perseverance.

Do you think persistence is important? Why or why not?

If you don’t persist the option is to fail. If you fail, with no desire to persist, you have quit. So, you can be persistent, or a quitter. It is a choice.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "Press On!" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

-- Calvin Coolidge

What was the worst thing that happened from letting someone use your toilet?

Let’s just say I almost threw up, and leave it there.

Is life really fair?

No, but it’s a good mix. There must be balance in everything. How would we know what’s “fair” without knowing what isn’t?

What is the secret of success if you have no money?

True happiness at all times and in everything you do. True happiness is the one thing money can never buy you.

“Success, just like poverty is a state of mind. You can become successful instantly with a simple decision and commitment. Long-lasting and pronounced success comes to those who renew their commitment to a mindset of abundance every minute, hour, and day.”

-- Bryant McGill

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