Category Archives: Money

FollowCraig: Above Ground

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I’m so tired, my life sucks, the world is nuts, work sucks, so much traffic, my kids are driving me to drink and the list goes on. How often do we say these lines in our daily life? What about this one, I wish I could have that, I sure want that new or this piece of ….. is broken again? Yes, we humans are surely a bunch of complainers. We can find just about anything to complain about every minute of every day. The oddest of all is how we don’t even seem to know we say it. Whenever someone we know says these things, we may roll our eyes and just say to ourselves “here they go again”. But looking and listening to ourselves is entirely different. Perhaps we should keep a tape recorder strapped to ourselves for just one day and then play it back. What surprises would we hear and would we roll our own eyes?

I wonder if the words we say to ourselves, those statements we utter under our breath and the ones that would make our own eyes roll end up feeding and supporting the outcome of our life? It seems that the more we express our unhappiness with something, the more we become unhappy. If we think we don’t have enough money, it gets worse. If we talk about how much our boss sucks, the more he does and so goes the job. This is the “karma” of life I’m sure.

I walk around for example saying to people when asked “how are you”? I respond just great “Above Ground!”. What kind of statement is that?

I truly think we are all nuts. Isn’t it time we stop and listen to ourselves, think about what we utter under our breath or even what others may really hear when we speak?

A positive life begins within us, a daily minute by minute, hour by hour refreshing if our minds. Starting with the belief that life is not about having what you want but rather wanting what you have. Remembering that life is precious and short so what we make of it matters. How we speak to others also speaks to us. What if when someone asked how are you?, our response would be “Absolutely Great, and just how are you doing? When we have a difficult boss or job, just look at the best part of being there instead. Speak to the positive side of every conversation and look forward not backward when thinking of our day. So if it holds true that what we say feeds us, then how about we start feeding ourselves better word foods. This sound easy doesn’t it? Well it actually is however breaking old-established habits are not so easy and that leads to another part of the positive life “new habits”. because just as difficult as it is to break old habits also holds true for the new ones.

As I have said so many days of my life “Great, above ground”, today I will start with I’m Absolutely Great, and just how are you doing?
I’m still writing, You’re still reading, so please keep following…….

Craig

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FollowCraig: 7 Day Wind

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We have a cuckoo clock here at home that is rather old and holds great sentiment to my wife. We also have a wonderful grandfather clock that holds so many family memories. I just love wind up clocks. They remind me of a wondrous creative time when artist, science and craftsmen come together and create often beautiful or even whimsical keepers of time. Time is very interesting and even more so the methods we use to keep track of it. I remember my son never really grasping the concept of a clock with hands that revolved in a circle but rather was more comfortable with a digital clock or how in awe I was when first learning of the atomic clock in Colorado. Have you ever looked at the beauty of a watch and wondered how all those little pieces just keep working so well together? It’s amazing how much effort, thought and imagination it must take to create these wondrous devices. Then time itself is so fascinating as we all have the same number of hours, minutes and seconds everyday. No matter who you are or where one lives, time is the same for all of us and no one knows when God will call us home. So why do we have such a fascination with time and what would we do if we never kept track of time with all these clocks? What if we never knew what time it is? What would you do if you really had no concept of time?

I love wind up clocks and watches and the attention one must pay to setting them. Our cuckoo clock needs to be wound every 24 hours and if you forget, it just stops. Our grandfather clock lasts 7 days before it just stops. These clocks are much like life, in-fact very much like life. Weather each clock is a 1 day, 7 day or even 30 day wind, these incredible machines must be maintained or they just stop and re-starting them always requires a reset. Sometimes our lives need to be reset when we haven’t maintained our standards, integrity or our faith. Like these wonderful timepieces, daily, weekly or monthly winding often prevents having to reset.

Perhaps comparing wind up clocks to life seems odd however much like clocks we really can reset our lives anytime we want. And we can maintain our lives with daily, weekly or monthly maintenance. Some of us call this faith and prayer.

It so happens that my favorite clock is our “7 day wind” grandfather clock, as I wind it every Sunday before heading off to church. I believe God is the real keeper of time and our beautiful clocks are there to remind us of his love and his precious gift of time.

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following…..

Craig

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FollowCraig: “6547”

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Does it ever seem that life moves forward at a lighting speed? I wonder sometimes if it’s an American trait or do others in the world think the same. We want everything so fast. I remember when fax machines, remote control televisions, push button phones, and so many time-saving technologies didn’t exist. We had very little fast food restaurants when I was a kid and now look at them everywhere. Our need for fast food is so overwhelming we in America have become just plain fat. We want everything fixed now and have no patience for quality or long time solutions. I’m not writing this to be political however that is even the case. If you can remember, the number “6547” was the Dow Jones industrial average on March 9th. 2009. Look at it today and we think our recovery isn’t fast enough? Just 10 days after that day in history I met my wonderful wife. Even for me these years and months have moved so very fast. I truly think we move or think we should move faster than God really wanted us too. How long has it been since you sat down with your family and enjoyed a meal without the television on in the background? How long has it been since you just went on a stroll through a park to enjoy its beauty rather than jog? A picnic with your partner, mailed a letter or a card rather than an email or e-card? I know how vital in today’s world it is to keep in-touch and be available often at a minutes notice, however perhaps we should consider slowing things down just a little. I remember many years ago my very best friend in High School and his father who was a very nice man and who had worked very hard all his life. A fast paced career for his time and had never spend time enough with his family. He retired, bought a motor home and was about to begin relaxing after all those fast paced years. Just 6 days after retirement, God called him home.

We never know when our time will be over, so let’s make life the best time ever! Set goals, make plans and look forward always. Help others, be in the present, don’t look back. Just never ever forget the beauty and joy of life that surrounds you. As we used to say, take time to smell the roses as they haven’t found a way to do that on your iPad yet.

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following……..

Craig

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FollowCraig: You’re Fired!

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It happened today, I fired myself. After all if guys like Donald Trump can do it why not me? I’ve just finished writing a book about my life journey. After reading through all the chapters and all the stories, I have come to the conclusion that this old Craig guy is just not working out. He does not fit in his world of today. The old Craig was always stuck in his past. This is not the guy I need on my team. Today I must have someone who is here now, in the present and ready to take on all challenges. I’ve learned a few things from this old Craig and that was good, but now he is just not keeping up. The old Craig is holding my team down! Now some may be upset about his departure, if so just call me and I will update you on the current facts of his demise and what is in store for the future. At times he will be missed, that’s for certain. However his replacement will have some qualities to replace some of the old Craig’s faults. I know the replacement will be of good character, a productive man, a caring and loving man with a passion for all the good things life has to offer. I know this replacement will be able to be counted on and a man of great integrity. So with all my heartfelt emotions, I have had to let him go. It was tough watching him pack up his baggage and be escorted out the door by my security team, but it had to be! I’ve notified all the positive powers in my life and now those of you I like and love that today August 2nd, 2012 we fired old Craig!

………you’re still reading, I’m still writing, so please keep following

Craig

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FollowCraig: The Past “R.I.P.”

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How do we get past our past? I don’t know about you, but do I have history. Often I’m asked about or even still confront my past. For some people that may not matter much, then there are those of us who still think it does. When someone says to me, Craig just go do it and make that change today or you’re not the same person you used to be. I just freeze. I know that’s not true, I am the same person. I haven’t died yet, I have the same family, the same life and all that goes with it. I have done and experienced many things, some proudly and some not so proudly. So I conclude and hereby stand firm, I’m still the same person. I was filling out a job application not long ago and was asked to list my last 10 years of employment. Now for or a lot of people that’s easy but for me, not so much. I have had jobs, tried various business ventures, I’ve had health issues, I stopped drinking, I’ve been married twice in that time and the list is endless as well as forgettable. Asking for ten years of history for me is equivalent to writing a book. However, with all that being said, there is one wonderful truth I have learned. In these years are all the many experiences, faults, failures, successes and more that makes me and every one of us. So perhaps each day when we get up we are a different person? Different because of our past. Each day we wake up and face a new day “Reborn” as you will to start anew. And with the gifts of knowledge from our pasts we may be just a little wiser and yes a different person.

I’m still writing. you’re still reading, so please keep following…..

Craig

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FollowCraig: Internet, Prescriptions, Ammo

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This horrible shooting in Aurora, CO last week has sparked a fury over gun laws in this country and it should. Mayor Bloomberg of New York, City has called for our Presidential candidates to offer a plan to address this very issue and I can not agree more. You see, if I wish to order a prescription medication, I need to have a prescription to get it. I can’t just get on-line and put in an order without this permission slip from my doctor. However if I want to order 1000 rounds of ammunition from a gun store or the internet, I don’t even need a gun permit! Are we a mess in this country or what? So far two sitting US Congressmen have spoken openly that “had someone else in the theater only been armed, this shooter could have been taken out” Is this nuts or what? Did the scope of the 2nd amendment really intend this, that we all should carry a side arm? I am appalled at these thoughts. We in America, the supposed most civilized nation in the world is willing to accept this! Americans kill with guns more people on our streets than most of the free western world combined! (click here) I do think we need to address these issues, we need to talk about them. We spend way to much effort talking about insignificant issues, perhaps because we fear the ones that scare us most?

I’m still writing, you’re still reading. so please keep following……

Craig

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FollowCraig: Playing Small

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For over ten years or better now I have been playing small. That was not my old life, I did play big or so I thought? My life is and has been a wonderful experience. I’ve had many great blessings occur over my lifetime. It’s odd though that only now in recent years have I grown to realize this truth. Later this year I will be releasing my new book and am so looking forward to sharing so many experiences and truths with others. One of the many things I have learned is to stop playing small. At least for me it has served no real positive purpose. I truly believe that we are placed on this earth to do Gods work, to reach out and teach or help others find their way, their dreams and to embrace life. I’ve been very blessed to have had so many roads to travel in my life and I have taken many. Sometimes with careless abandon and others with extreme focus. I have had hopeless failures and disappointments and exhilarating success. Money has come and money has gone. But the wonder of the memories all remain. There is no reason for anyone not to have the life God intends for us to have. It is a responsibility I have to myself, my family and all those I love to share these stories. I can tell you from experience the things that work and those that don’t. The road to a decision and the right and the wrong. I know what damage lies do as well as truths, like diet and exercise. When we take steps each day of our life to build a foundation or what happens when we never lift a single block. God does not want us to play small, life dictates we jump in with both feet win and loose. Exercise our minds our bodies and souls. Reach out beyond ourselves and give all we can to others and let our failures be our successes. I am no longer playing small!

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following……

Craig

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FollowCraig: Intersection

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Several years ago a movie titled “Intersection” played at the theaters for a short time. Not a big hit but none the less important, at least in my life at the time. You see the story is about a man who is having an affair and has reached a decision point in his marriage. Whether to leave the wife and marry the girlfriend or not. Just as he has made his choice and is driving to the arms of love his car is struck at an intersection and he then lays deathly injured at a hospital. Both women show up at his bedside and the stories of each love affair is told through the eyes and hearts of these women. These intersections or crossroads happen in life to all of us. Not all are an affair or betrayal. Nor are all crossroads so dramatic as the movie. At that time in my life I was having an affair and the story played a big part in my decisions I made at the time. The road I followed took me to the life I have today. Without taking a chance, had I played it safe my troubles may have been less but my happiness and sense of what could have been would always haunt me. I am not recommending by any means to have an affair or that it is right in any way. In my life it seems the choices I have often made were the obvious easy ones, not the more difficult. Kind of like driving, the right turns are often easier than turning left. However each time I’ve turned left to the more difficult highway I seem to end up the happiest. In my story I did leave my marriage, not for the other woman but for a life I longed for a life I would only find by making hard choices. My journey to today has been bumpy and filled with many crossroads and intersections. The greatest thing about taking the left turns is the joy of the journey. If all we ever do is play it safe, take the easy turns and go down the easy roads that lead to those places we believe are safe, we may never really experience true love, true peace and self content? As I watched the movie come to an end and only guessing what his choice might have been before the accident, did he go home at peace? We can never know how our own movie of life will end or what God has in his plans for each of us. Whatever roads we take the left or the right they each lead to our destiny. I was told once that the “World is a stage and we are the players” If that is true, then God must be the producer, director and writer of the our story. That leaves us to enjoy our journey!

You’re still reading, I’m still writing, so please keep following…….

Craig

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FollowCraig: Hell in the Hallway

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Jobs and careers go and new ones appear, friends go and new friends appear, things we love go and new ones appear. “When one door closes another will open”, God works in wondrous ways we are told and many of us believe with all our soul that is true. I’ve got to say though while those doors are swinging it can feel like “hell in the hallway”. We worry and regret, we wonder what we did wrong or we blame someone else for what’s happened. Perhaps we cry, get depressed, go on addictive binges, over spend and the list goes on. Facing change in life especially real personal change is frightening. I think it’s a real test of our faith, our faith in ourselves, in our family and God. I know some that say faith is enough and just hang in, everything will be ok.. My life experience has taught me that’s not entirely true. It is important to make peace with the changes that is for certain as without peace the fear of the unknown will overtake you. I find it helps to repeat the Serenity Prayer when I’m in this state, perhaps you have another way to rest your mind. It’s then the most difficult thing to do of all appears? It’s called ACTION. Oh my that’s a though one, but without taking action, without reaching out for the next doorknob, no amount of prayer, faith, support or family will get you out of that “hell in the hallway”.

You’re still reading, I’m still writing, so please keep following…..

Craig

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FollowCraig: Are my addictions bothering you?

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The other day while attending a 12-step meeting I could not help but wonder what others in our world might think about those of us recovering from our addictions? It seems so many people suffer from so many addictions, alcohol, drugs, smoking, food, sex, debt and so on. How do these behaviors affect those around us? It’s easy to say “oh, that’s not my problem” he or she are just a…., it’s not my business,etc. While that all may be true, how do our addictions really affect others? I think that’s the beauty of the 12-steps to recovery. Perhaps you have never read these steps or just not reviewed for a long time so I have listed them. These are “The Twelve Steps of Recovery”

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Once again, after reading these myself I’ve come to the conclusion that those who have made the effort to live by these simple 12 principles do understand the impact of their actions on those around them. So, if my addictions are bothering you, I get it!

I’m still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following…..

Craig

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