Today's post is just a reminder of that. And I'm going to do it by giving a little perspective.
A few weeks ago, I watched the movie Contact, starring Jodie Foster. It's based on the novel by late Carl Sagan. Although I don't necessarily share all of Carl's views, he was a great man... and no matter what he may think, he's somewhere out there :)
The introduction to the movie however included an amazing three minutes of tracking back. From a picture of earth and its various radio signals... out into deep, deep space.
It's staggering -- and it should make you realize that we aren't that big after all.
Our actions really aren't of any real significance.
This blog post is hardly likely to ever go down in history. And as far as the "BIG EVERYTHING" is concerned, Karl Moore is hardly likely to ever really mean anything.
All we're ever likely to be, or do, or anything... is what we be, or do, RIGHT NOW.
So what could YOU dare that is worthy today?
And why not JUST DO IT...
After all, it's really not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.
Lloyd Jones said: "If you have tried to do something and failed you are vastly better than if you had tried to do nothing and succeeded."
So go on. Dare something worthy.
Now I'll leave you with my second favourite scene in the movie. The timewarps!
(If you're reading this via e-mail, visit the official site at www.karlblog.com to view the videos.)
Take a moment to reflect ... are you happy and fulfilled?
Are you enjoying the time of your life?
If not, then what are you going to do about it?
There is no better time than NOW so seize the day!
Not only seize it, but own it too!
Henry David Thoreau said: 'Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.'
So, make sure that you're focused on living your best time ever - NOW.
Let go of the sabotaging thoughts and feelings that are holding you back or telling you that you can't live your dream.
Realize that you're here to experience life and to enjoy it.
You are more than worthy of living your best time ever.
Consider the positive in your life and be grateful for everything that you have.
In fact, celebrate those simple but powerful gifts that you possess ... gifts such as love, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, vitality, freedom of spirit, joy and so on.
You really have so much to be grateful for.
Celebrate the uniqueness that is YOU!
When you focus on making this your best time ever, you really start to live life with meaning and truth.
So, make this the day that you change your life for the better.
Make this... One Fine Day.
(If you're reading this by e-mail, visit www.karlblog.com to view the video.)
"Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day.
"Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business.
"Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy.
"Guard your fragile life carefully.
"Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces."
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes - but in having new eyes."
Yes, everybody hurts.
Allow yourself to hurt just a little. Then rest, and remember that the sun will shine again tomorrow morning. Allowing you to look at the issue with new eyes. Hopeful eyes. Eyes of happiness.
And smile.
Because you are.
(Visit www.karlblog.com to view the video in this blog post.)
Today's suggestion comes courtesy of best-selling author, Nick Daws, who writes:
"The next time you receive particularly good service in a shop, restaurant or even a government office, don't just thank the person concerned. Get their name and write a letter of praise to their manager!
"If for some reason you can't get their name, describe them in enough detail so that their manager will have no problem identifying who it is. Many people working in service industries get little recognition for their efforts, so something like this really can make their day!"
Not sure if that really makes a difference?
It happened recently to my neighbour and friend, Geoffrey Gregg, with whom I play chess and Countdown regularly.
In this video, Geoff talks about about how someone wrote a letter of appreciation for his organ playing at the local crematorium...
you twinkle above us, we twinkle below good morning starshine, you lead us along my love and me as we sing our early morning singing song
gliddy glub gloopy nibby nabby noopy la la la - lo lo sabba sibbi sabba nooby aba naba lee lee - lo lo tooby ooby wala nooby aba naba early morning singing song
Good morning . . .
gliddy glub gloopy . . .
Singing a song, humming a song singing a song loving a song, laughing a song singing a song
sing the song song the sing song song song sing sing sing sing song
The ad is a work of genius, and watching it is certainly an uncanny experience.
In the ad, "Bob" helps to promote the fact that although it kills just as many people as breast cancer, prostate cancer only receives a percentage of the research money.
And if you can, give a few pounds anonymously, via PayPal.
I just did.
I'd like to end with one of Bob's famous one-liners.
"They all laughed when I said I wanted to become a comedian. They're not laughing now!"
In today's Friday Factoid, I'm on location in at the Betws-y-Coed waterfalls, where I have all the answers!
Simply click the play button to watch the video. If you're reading this by e-mail, visit the site at www.karlblog.com to view my first video blog entry!
So here is the version Tony Bennett and Celine Dion did together. Look beyond the love tint here. It's a song about change. Enjoy :)
And why not sing along? ....
* * *
If I ruled the world Every day would be the first day of Spring Every heart would have a new song to sing And we'd sing of the joy every morning would bring
If I ruled the world Every man would be as free as a bird Every voice would be a voice to be heard Take my word, we would treasure each day that occurred
My world would be a beautiful place Where we would weave such wonderful dreams My world would wear a smile on its face Like the man in the moon when the moon beams
If I ruled the world Every man would say the world was his friend There'd be happiness that no man could end No my friend, not if I ruled the world
Every head would be held up high There'd be sunshine in everyone's sky If the day ever dawned when I ruled the world
I remember sitting in a Sheffield audience once, watching the late, great Harry Secombe sing "The Impossible Dream."
It was The Pickwick Papers panto, so it didn't quite hold Harry's typical Songs of Praise spirituality. It was maybe 15 years ago, but I absolutely loved it - and today I'd like to share that song with you.
Here it is, alongside a video created by someone at YouTube:
Enjoy - and if you care to sing along, here are those noble lyrics:
To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong To love pure and chaste from afar To try when your arms are too weary To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest To follow that star No matter how hopeless No matter how far
To fight for the right Without question or pause To be willing to march into Hell For a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true To this glorious quest That my heart will lie peaceful and calm When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this That one man, scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star
(If you're reading this by e-mail, visit the blog online at www.karlblog.com to view the video.)
I'd hammer in the morning! I'd hammer in the evening... all over this land! I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out a warning, I'd hammer out love between all of my brothers and my sisters... All over this land!
Those are the words sung by Mexi-merican singer Trini Lopez in his song "If I Had a Hammer," which hit number one in a staggering 25 countries.
It's still a big primary school hit across the US - and if you've heard this simple, upbeat song, you'll know why.
So, why not have a listen? :)
It's incredibly catchy, even today.
Try to listen once and not be singing it all day.
So ENJOY -- and get hammering! :)
(PS. If you're reading this via e-mail, visit www.karlblog.com to view the video.)
Today's post is just a reminder of that. And I'm going to do it by giving a little perspective.
A few weeks ago, I watched the movie Contact, starring Jodie Foster. It's based on the novel by late Carl Sagan. Although I don't necessarily share all of Carl's views, he was a great man... and no matter what he may think, he's somewhere out there :)
The introduction to the movie however included an amazing three minutes of zooming out. From a picture of earth and its various radio signals... out into deep, deep space.
It's staggering -- and it should make you realize that we aren't that big after all.
Our actions really aren't of any real significance.
This blog post is hardly likely to ever go down in history. And as far as the "BIG EVERYTHING" is concerned, Karl Moore is hardly likely to ever really mean anything.
All we're ever likely to be, or do, or anything... is what we be, or do, RIGHT NOW.
So what could YOU dare that is worthy today?
And why not JUST DO IT...
After all, it's really not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.
Lloyd Jones said: "If you have tried to do something and failed you are vastly better than if you had tried to do nothing and succeeded."
So go on. Dare something worthy.
Now I'll leave you with my second favourite scene in the movie. The timewarps!
(If you're reading this via e-mail, visit the official site at www.karlblog.com to view the videos.)
These days, I seem to have so many thumbs in so many pies, I'm starting to lose track myself.
So, just for the record....
I run White Cliff Computing Ltd. The online part of that is called the WCCL Network, which includes over 100 different websites. Some of these sites sell products, some are just free for the community.
We produce tools for four core markets, each of which is one of my passions.
I'm personally involved in a lot of this - for example, I handle all of the online interviews at Writers FM and Self Dev Radio. (Mainly because that's the really fun bit!!)
The WCCL Network has just launched an online video showcasing some of its websites, and so I'd like to share that with you today. It's a bit easier than explaining it all.
You see... If I'm totally honest, I wasn't overly impressed by "What the Bleep!?" as this year's supposed "mind-boggling" movie. It all seemed a bit predictable to me, and not overly inspiring.
The Secret however is different.
It's a movie I'd urge you to watch - especially if you'd like 2007 to be different.
And best of all?
It has JUST been released on Google Video FREE of charge... apparently as part of a promotion by producers Drew Pictures.
I'm sure that at some young age I actually wanted to be an elf.
But not today, in late 2006.
Still - if you've ever wanted to see me dressed in silky green stockings, doing a festive jig against a seasonal backdrop, then you've come to the right place.
In today's modern world, everyone is trying to look the best.
If they don't look like somebody out of OK! or Heat or whatever the devil you call those ghastly magazines, they go wild... and simply must have a facial or lunch-break-tummy-tuck in order to recover.
But, really - isn't beauty just a little deeper?
My friend Richard Asquith and myself were chatting on the topic just a few nights ago.
Looking beautiful is temporary. True beauty is much deeper.
And although you might spend thousands on your APPEARANCE, how much did you last spend on your PERSONALITY? When did you last take time out to improve your social skills... or simply to smile at a stranger?
Is physical beauty really that important?
Just smile. Be happy. Laugh. Be approachable. Say "Yes" more.
What else do you need?
And to demonstrate just how "fake" the beauty world can be...
And, at least for today, remember those words of wisdom from Annie...
I must admit, it's not something I usually do. All that "My favourite colour is yellow, I love Durham Cathedral and my yummiest food is prawn cocktail" stuff sends shivers down my spine.
However thanks to the glorious copyright-carefree haven that is YouTube, I can now bring you actual previews of my favourite movies. So you can decide whether you want to watch them.
Or not.
So if you didn't read my first write-up, click here and figure out why I like 'em.
And then, get ready to click play.
Firstly, Playing By Hearts... chick-flick material with a very deep message, if only you listen with intent.
Next up, The Six Degrees of Seperation... because life is predictably chaos, control, chaos, control. Just like a Kadinsky.
And finally, my comfort film, Death on the Nile... with it's fantastic, embedded, character-based humour.
Pass it on. Enjoy! :)
(If you're reading this post by e-mail, you'll have to visit Karl Blog.com to view the video.)
Christmas is a time for sharing, for giving, for opening your heart, and embracing positivity.
And at the heart of everything is the message: Love.
Love everything. Adore todo.
And especially family. No matter what you may think about relationships with your folks, with your partner, with your children... the love bond still probably runs deeper than you can possibly imagine.
And of course they never understand. And they never appreciate. Certainly not. Tsk.
But sometimes you have to take the first step and say... "I love you."
Have you done that recently?
Here's a little video I stumbled across this morning. And it brought a tear to my eye.
