FollowCraig: U+ME+?=1?

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U+Me+?=1? Is this some secret formula, something like H2O? Well kind of! It was sure a secret to me? When I married in the late seventies, I was so happy! My life was going to be just perfect. A wonderful woman, a daughter already in the family, my career was soaring and as they say: “my future was so bright; I had to wear shades”. It’s funny though, when your own life is not built on solid ground, when you don’t know your own standards it’s easy to begin drifting. I sure did, I was living in fear and didn’t even know it. That fear drove me to a very self-centered existence, Craig first, career 2nd, family and wife somewhere in the rear. I did whatever I wanted! When I traveled out-of-town on business, I would visit “Strip Clubs and Bars of every sort” I would be the big shot at every party, pick up bar tabs, wore plenty of gold and very expensive custom hand-made shirts! So very much about Craig! No one would really ever believe I had a wife and little girl at home? This was my behavior before my son came along. After he was born, I got even worse. So it’s known, I love my son with all my heart! It’s just at that time in my life having children and a family interfered with my busy playtime. As for my wife, she went to work, stayed quiet, didn’t speak out about her feelings. She just read paperback love stories all the time. It’s not until now at this time in my life that I get it! In a recent post I am “Housewife”; I am Man! | followcraig., I spoke of the three most important persons in every relationship. Do you know who they are? Some would say it’s both partners plus God or both plus the children. In fact when I married for the last time a little over a year ago, my pastor spoke of this. He said the three people in every relationship are the two plus God. I disagree! The most important persons are; the two plus the relationship itself. That relationship, like children are born of the two. It is so to speak their first child together, it must learn to crawl, walk, be fed, housed and loved. Both partners must pay attention to this gift. We will always have our personal lives, our desires, our own passions and that is what brings us together to create this relationship. It’s up to each partner to covet their relationship, to feed it with love, faith and attention. God is always watching over the relationship and it’s partners. These things I know!

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

Craig

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FollowCraig: Oh! “****” STOP!!!!

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So one day I am driving along in my car, listening to the radio, just happy as a bird! Suddenly some fool in front of me slammed on his brakes. So after some very fast reaction on my part I was able to STOP! Everything in the car went flying and I of course yelled some very colorful metaphor that would surely make my mother curl. This happens to all of us from time to time, then you pick things up, slow down and go on. That’s what happened to my life at about 51 yrs old or so. It sounded so easy, people around me, support groups I was part of told me “Craig” you can change everything, every problem right now. Just STOP! No one told me the junk in my life would just keep flying like it did in that car? However, just as in the car, the junk did stop flying and I picked it up, tossed some bad stuff out and started again a little bit slower. This is how life works. If we really, truly want to change, to have a better life, perhaps follow a dream forgotten; Then we must stop, pick things up, slowdown and move forward! It took me so long to get that. If you have some experiences with this in your life, please share!

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

Craig

FollowCraig: Pots and Pans

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In today’s world we have many things we can’t live without, ie; SmartPhones, I-pads, TV, telephone’s, computers, cars and yes; Pots & Pans! I remember while getting divorced after being married for so many years. I had a phone, a car, computer even a TV. However one day while at home by myself, I realized I had no Pot’s & Pans? How could I cook and take care of myself without these basic tools? Of course the problem was easy to fix, all I needed to do was take a little action and buy Pots & Pans. Problem solved! Looking back now, that was an easy problem to solve! So why does it take so long to realize that most problems are just as easy to solve? Life’s problems are like those Pots & Pans, we need the tools to feed our minds and souls and we only need to take the steps and actions to get them. Your life, your faith, your loves are all in your hands. They are your gifts to receive and to give!

…..once again, I’m still writing and 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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