Sel Improvement | FollowCraig

Yes, I’m still here…

Do you enjoy listening to piano players, talented piano artists like…David Benoit, Ramsey Lewis, Jim Brickman…and others?

I sure do, I really love the relaxing sounds of a soft jazz piano concert, then of course the thundering and bold musical piece that only a piano and its pianist can perform. Closing my eyes and listening is like viewing a beautiful Picasso, Monet or even Warhol. Perhaps for you it’s Ray Charles, Floyd Cramer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elton John, or Randy Newman. Who knows, they all have such a gift to tell us a story with keys of music.

About six months ago on a whim of sorts I bought a beautiful baby grand piano and placed it center in our living room. This was completely crazy as I have never learned to play one, not one lesson. Secretly I’ve wanted a piano for many years. You see, my father could play and play very well. He preferred playing the organ over a piano because he could create a one-man band at home. It was such a joy to listen to his music and I think of those moments often with such warmth and joy. Anyway, these last few months I’ve been practicing, learning, and ever so slowly figuring this skill out and I admit it’s frustrating at times but ever so joyful as well. It was yesterday however that brought clarity to me as to why finding a piano for me or perhaps for you some other form of an un-experienced challenge or activity is the best mind-altering escape I’ve experienced in a long, long time.

It had been a frustrating couple of days dealing with others in our HOA regarding a very irritating issue in our neighborhood. As some of you may know from experience that working with other committee members who may share a vastly differed point of view can be draining and I was profoundly drained.

Oh, what to do? My mind was a mix of emotions from disappointment to jubilation. I was all over the map and just could not mellow out. Even relentlessly repeating the “Serenity Prayer” didn’t help, I was a mucky mess for a while.

Then suddenly it was there, that beautiful Piano! The time was right to take another lesson; so I sat down, placed my iPad right up on the piano and opened the piano lesson application and began to play. The lesson of the day was the chorus of “Mr. Bojangles”. Here I was sitting at my lovely piano in the beautiful living room of our stunning home, and I just began to play. No, I was not great! I did get through it though and as I read the notes then let my hands and fingers touch the keys of music, then suddenly it happened. Not just the sound of the notes, or the feeling of the keys or the song itself. What was it? It was peace, my mind was no longer on the frustrations of the week but rather the joy of the music and the joy of learning laced with some success that I was able to play “Mr. Bojangles” (ok, sort of).

One more time, one more thing, one more action and one more gift was given to me by just taking a moment and leaving the troubles at the pedals of the piano and instead touch the keys of music. I had let go of frustration and replaced it all with a much more joyful memory. What a great way to just get out of myself.

I’m often reminded that letting others live in my head without paying rent is just not very smart. We all do it, we all listen to others and often their words just become mindless noise that turns around and around in our thoughts, even dominating our reason. When we find something different and far removed from this noise to focus on for even a short time, what a difference the outcome of your day becomes. Now when I’m thinking of this very uncomfortable HOA experience, I will also be reminded of “Mr. Bojangles and my piano”. That brings a smile.

Thanks for reading and please continue to FollowCraig…

...and you’re still reading

It’s been a few months since my last post and I have been thinking that we should catch up. Hopefully your life and experiences have been good these last months? I have been busy, busy working on my business, my home and life in general. I have also been reading a lot. Learning and refreshing skills of personal development, setting goals, helping others and finding a way to become a little bit better everyday. It’s been wonderful and so inspiring to read, listen and study people like Jim Rohn, Grant Cardone, Tony Robbins, John Maxwell, Mel Robbins and so many others. These life coaches have really become a part of my daily routine. I have also been more active in Alcoholics Anonymous, joined a new church and working hard to help others in and around my life and business life. Basically, I am living one day at a time always looking forward.

It’s funny though? Sometimes when you just don’t expect it, something or someone comes along or we find ourselves in just the right place when you need it the most. Then something magical and eye opening happens. I have decided to share one of those moments with you,

Today I was attending an AA meeting. An ordinary Friday 12:00 noon meeting. One I attend most Fridays right here in Rio Vista. Today was a “Birthday Day” and those days are often a joy. However today was very special as a gentleman spoke up who has just celebrated 40 years sober “one day at a time”. Truly an accomplishment but that is not the story? He spoke of his life today, what it’s like now after all these years living a sober life. He happens to be a top selling author (5) novels, he has traveled the world and has built several successful businesses. I happen to know where he lives and he lives very well, in fact he just returned from a six month world cruise. I remember when he and his partner left for that trip a few months ago. His life is full of incredible experiences, travels and achievements. You may wonder, did this all happen because he remained sober for 40 years or was there more?

So this is what happened? About 35 years ago in an obscure meeting in Oregon a guest stood up and spoke. this man listened. This stranger said clearly that sober is good however if you wish to find happiness and peace in life you must get busy. You must begin by writing down everything you can dream of, everything you wish you could do or have. All that you have ever wanted to do or would like to accomplish! You must have a purpose and get on with it. So my neighbor wrote all this down and began carrying this list with him everyday for these last 35 years. After he finished his short story of what’s happened in his life I was blessed to see this folded up list he carries with him everyday. I took a photo of the battered list and so wanted to share what was written at the bottom with you.

I think this truly applies to all of us, so please enjoy.

“A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object according to his nature at the time being; but whatever it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object which he has set before him…It is his duty!”

Please keep following………..Craig