FollowCraig: “One Message”

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I’d like a venti double mocha latte half-caf, the lady in line orders. It’s funny that we can go to any Starbucks in the world in any language and the menu is the same. The message is the same. I’m Christian and today is the celebration of “Pentecost“, many languages but the message is the same. The 12 steps of recovery is one message but many languages. Great lessons and profound messages are just that, they are one meant for all. No matter the language, the ethnic history, the color of skin but for everyone. We are all God‘s children and he has the same messages for all of us. Just like Starbucks, no matter the language we each know the proclamations. We all hear; One Message!

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

Craig

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FollowCraig: Green Demons! “the next day”

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Remember my Green Demons? In short, this is how the following day unfolded. God truly let me sleep and I awoke feeling so rested. So much different from the day before, it was nice. I was still frightened as everything in my life was screwed up! I found myself in my kitchen reading a phone book that seemed to just open to the Alcoholic‘s Anonymous phone number. I really was not looking for that number, it just appeared! So I called, they were nice and gave me an address of a meeting happening that day. After some him-hawing around I got dressed up (shirt & tie) and drove to the noon meeting. The meeting place was at an old run down dive bar on Sahara Blvd in Las Vegas. There were a bunch of motorcycles outside and what looked to me some real lost souls. I will never forget walking in only to see all these people drinking coffee, smoking, talking, playing games and such. Not at all the kind of place I would ever hang out at. What was this place? I’m in a suit and all these people look like biker people. Did I come to the right place? I was shocked to say the least, but I stayed. About noon people began to move thru an open door leading to a room filled with several tables and chairs. A lot of people all taking seats so I finally sat down in the middle of the room. The door closed and the meeting opened. I don’t remember much about the meeting, but I wondered about the list of 12 Steps posted on the wall. People began to introduce themselves and when my turn came, I quietly said I’m Craig and this is my first visit. I was so nervous and no one looked like anyone I would want to visit with. However something kept me sitting there, listening and crying inside. I thought to myself “has life had turned to this, was I one of these low life’s“. When the meeting ended and we were moving out to the common social area a fellow came up to me and just asked if I would like to have a cup of coffee with him? Sure I said, why not? It’s funny now but I don’t remember his name and I have never seen him again. We talked for what seemed like hours, I just opened up and he listened, I cried and he gave me towels for my tears. He never judged me, he just welcomed me. I didn’t feel alone anymore, it was as if some small voice was telling me I would be; OK. As we spoke another fellow stopped by and introduced himself, his name was Bob D. Now he must be the head A.A. person I thought as he was dressed very well, looked like Kenny Rogers and walked with confidence. A very charismatic man, my kind of guy! He gave me his phone number and invited me to a “Speaker Night” the following day. He said I should come, but if not at least call him. I said; OK Bob! When the afternoon was over my head was spinning. What is this A.A.? What about those 12 Steps posted on the wall? Little did I know the path my life would take, the journey to unfold ahead of me?

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

Craig

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FollowCraig: Bad Employee!

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I’ve just got to be one of the worst employee’s ever! It’s a blessing and credit to those of you who have a job and show up everyday and give it your all! So many of you put up with arrogant or unqualified bosses, your working peers hang out in circles around coffee and cigarette breaks and talk about who knows what? Some of you work so much harder than others and yet you never get appreciated. I know all this as I have tried. You see I was one of those bosses for many, many years. Then one day all that came to an end and I found myself looking for a job, a regular everyday job. Almost no one wanted me and when someone would hire me, I would find myself working for someone like myself. I would always end up trying to run the place. It just sucks! The solution for me seemed to be working for myself, but what to do? I tried all types of businesses “work from home”, route sales. M.L.M., you name it. Then one day a couple of years ago when I was working for a company (Limo Driver), it happened. All I could think was why now when I’m almost 60 do I hear this? You must tell your kids this while they have a chance! This is it; “find something you love to do and the money will follow”. Oh, so simple, so very simple. Today I write this blog because I love sharing my journey with so many others and learning from you all along the way, I am building a business selling products that everyone needs, followcraig.biz and I am finding what I love after all these years! It’s never to late….

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

Craig

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FollowCraig: What color are your Grandchildren?

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Let’s be clear on this, I was born a white guy, into a Mormon family located in California. I didn’t have any control of over who my family would be? What a surprise, I am just like everyone else. Not one of us can pick our family, where and what religion or not we are born. For those of us lucky enough to live here in the USA; “the melting pot of the world” we are hopefully raised to be accepting of our differences and celebrate the common ribbons that tie our lives together. So why is it we have so much racism and fear of those who look, talk or worship different from us? I think it’s fear of the uncertain. As a Christian man, it fascinates me that so many people forget we are all God‘s children. We come in all colors, cultures and faiths. I heard a story the other day of two older German Lutherans who have lived in Los Angeles all their adult live. Over time the neighborhood has evolved and is mostly populated with people of Hispanic heritage. When they go to church they see so many people who are not white Germans, they wonder what color their grandchildren will be? They are afraid their own legacy won’t survive. Why do we forget that our color and heritage does not matter to God? We cannot change the family we were born to, nor the place we were born. We can however choose our beliefs and faith. So, what color are your grandchildren to be? I know the color of mine are love.

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

Craig

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FollowCraig: Bad Date

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All the fabulous lights below as the plane was landing in Las Vegas about 7:00 pm on a Friday night. Normal for me as I was living there and traveling for business. It had been a long week and I was tired. So out to dinner, (party of one) then a little Jazz music at one of my favorite haunts, nice! Then it happened, she was sitting at the end of the bar, big smile, great eyes, a flashy Las Vegas beauty! I was so shy and she so wasn’t! I think that’s how it happens? You see, I was just finalizing my divorce. So, I was sure ready..Right! It had to written all over me? “Available!” That night was the beginning of what I warmly call “My Long Bad Date” You see, my personal self esteem, my own insecurities and all those years without faith and standards led me to what were to become the greatest life changing events I would ever experience. I married that Las Vegas beauty after a couple of very turbulent years. Oh we fought about everything, she gambled, spent and drank every dollar we had. Everything that was wrong between us became my fault. All I could see was that one beautiful beginning, and I did everything possible to hold it together. In time I grew to fear her, her outbursts of violence and her incredible cruelty to my family, friends, employers and me. My understanding and compassion for abused partners in relationships became crystal clear. It sneaks up on you and attacks the most vulnerable part of your soul. A dear friend later told me; “Craig” She’s not a bad person, but a sick person. Then one day, I just could not take it anymore and I gathered all the courage in me, my faith in God and left. All I had was a suitcase, an old Buick and a few hundred borrowed dollars. You see, I had stopped drinking a couple of years before that day, developed a faith in God and began setting standards for myself. How often have you heard “No Pain No Gain?”, so true! So, that faith and fear pushed me to go forward, just go! That was several years ago. Today I am very free from that abuse and fear. I live a wonderful life and face everyday with joy of the unknown. All I can say to those who suffer in silence the pain, fear and guilt of abuse is; You can change it! It will be, OK! .….more of my journey ahead..

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

Craig

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FollowCraig: Demons are Green!

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FollowCraig: Sunshine!

No man is rich enough to buy back his past. ~Oscar Wilde

I just love that quote!

Sunshine! As I write this blog; the journey I’ve been on. It occurs to me that a wonderful life was just up the road. That rest stop is TODAY. As you know by now I have been here for 60 years…short for some of you and a long time for others. Today is wonderful, I am married again and for the last time to an incredible person. A women I not only love but respect and cherish so much. Each of my children are doing well, they have children, careers and busy robust lives. My mother is still around; we should all count our blessings to have our parent(s) with us and if not to be able to carry their legacy within us. No longer do I have friends that run when times are rough, but real friends who are always there no matter what! As I sit here looking out over the waters of the Carquinez Strait from my California home, I am in awe! The life I have been given was beyond imagination only a few years ago. My hope and prayers for you and your life’s journey are to be at peace with yourself and your own life of Sunshine!

More to come!… I am still writing, you’re still reading, so please keep following…

…Craig

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FollowCraig: Millionaire

Are you a millionaire?
When I was a kid a TV Show titled The Millionaire caught my attention. This anonymous man would give a million dollars to someone each week and the story would begin. I just loved to see how lives would change? For some it was a gift and for others a curse, much like those who win the lotteries today. So are you a millionaire? Really we all are. We have been given the gifts of life, of choice, the gift of being able to give. You see it’s not about money (not stupid here, money is not a bad thing.) It’s just that “God”  (not a bad word?) has given us so much. Our choice is only what to do with the gift!
I recommend a really great little book “The Richest Man in Babylon” If you don’t have it, go to your local library and check it out or link below to buy it.

The Richest man in Babylon<img src=”https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=followcraig-20&l=ur2&o=1&#8243; width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”” style=”border:none !important; margin:0px !important;” />

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

Craig

FollowCraig: You’re Fired!

…As you follow along……..

You will find that my stories go from topic to topic. Sure “I never changed a diaper” and that was true. Many things I didn’t do? I did not pay enough attention to my life in general. I just let it happen, the only real influence was what was in it for me? Without having a direction, a plan, a foundation I was just here. We often develop “Comfort Zones” and I sure did. When that “Comfort Zone” vanishes, oh my! In short it was 1999, a day in April. A tragic day in America: Columbine Massacre – The School Shooting of April 20, 1999 Yes, this day! I remember it all too well. I drove to work that day, showed up as usual and had a normal day. About 2:00 pm I was called in to the owners office and told that I was no longer needed. After nine years, they did not need me? Not need Craig? After all, I had been there for a long time, made myself and the company a lot of money. I was valuable! But was I? I needed the job, after all I had a family, cars, bills, a mistress (yes a mistress). I was really stuck, now what? Well, the only thing I could do really? Go to the bar and have a drink! So there I was at the “Yacht Club” in: Tustin, California just tossing some back. Then on TV “Breaking News” The Columbine trouble. Even as huge as that was, the tragedy, the horror, the sadness of it all; I was only thinking of Craig. These two unrelated incidents were to become my defining moment. A moment that effected so many choices to come. I have so much more to share in the posts ahead, so please keep following:

Craig

One note about “Comfort Zone”; A friend of mine has written an article that is of great value. I have posted a link below to read.

The Anatomy Of Being Stuck…John Page Burton.

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