Mr. Besilly's Blog

When The Giving Gets Tough

“The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth, you have given away.” Marcus Aurelius

Regardless of how much personal wealth we individually possess we have each been granted great power for change. While it makes sense right now to take a position of caution managing our personal finances, we must resist the temptation to stop giving.

The power I'm speaking of has more to do with your own ability to influence the life of someone who is in need of your wealth. One measure of tested insight can cause ripples of growth and change for someone who lacks your super powers. You possess a unique wealth of knowledge, experience and influence that to others is like gold. Your wisdom can be a game changer to the less fortunate.

When I look at my experience working as a creative director or with raising two teenagers, I see no end to the wealth of knowledge I have within reach. I have an abundance to give, even if it's as simple as encouraging someone by taking a call or answering an email that would otherwise be easier to ignore living in this age of instant communication.

I encourage you to open up your life today and give a portion of your wealth. Give something that's meaningful, a part of you that will multiply through the lives of others. Don't hold back. You have so much more to offer than what you're electronically pushing to the bank. When we measure our ability to give by our bank statements, our true wealth and value is ignored.

How much do you really have to give?

 Photo by Ulrich Mueller

You Might Be Saying Way Too Much

I love text messaging on my iPhone. Having to type every word letter by tedious letter makes me cut to the essentials only. No fluff or filler words, it's all about economy.

"You wannt to eaf ouf toniife?" does not require a financial review. "Runnimg late" needs no long explanation. "Can I burrow somme money?" is easier to ask when you text it. There's no arguing with the kids over curfew when you can just text, "Gert home now!!", then ignore their response when they start pushing back. LOL!

If you're not using text messaging you're either too old or too lazy to learn. :) Possibly both. (hehe!)  The real truth is, if you're not texting you might be saying way too much.

The Footprints We Leave Behind

It's difficult to truly measure how much of a difference I'm making in the lives of those around me. At home, at work, with close friends or extended family. I'm a famous self doubter. We all want to know that we'll be missed if for some reason we should fly away. The only way to find out is to simply disappear and then I'd never know anyhow.

I've realized the best way to understand how much of a difference I'm making in the world of those that orbit around my gravity, is to ask. If you're perceptive enough you can probably guess at the footprints you'll leave behind, but it's not wrong to ask. So I did.

It was a little awkward at first, but the conversation that followed quickly became a meaningful dialog that felt like it granted me the courage to stick around a whole lot longer than I intended to (I don't mean that literally). The answers became like the free prize inside a box of cereal when I was a kid.

My wife Terri said; "Without you in my life, I would never laugh as much as I do." On my scale of personal measurement that's a fantastic start. I never knew she felt that way until she said it. I'm so glad I asked.

photo by Imagem Compartilhada [link]

 

Carried In The Arms of A Giant

My Aunt Josephine was a giant. She was a tall woman. That's not what made her a giant. Aunt Jo was my Dad's favorite sister and from my earliest memories she called me and my two brothers her boys. Aunt Jo had two beautiful girls of her own but never any boys, so fortunately we were it.

My Aunt was always like a second Mom to me growing up. She constantly worried about me from long distances, making sure I always had cash in pocket. Aunt Jo was the greatest cook when it came to Italian food. I've never recovered from her amazing raviolis. Need I say more? No matter how hard things were in my turbulent home, she was like a giant always there to pick me up. I took great comfort knowing that I was one of Aunt Jo's boys.

To Be Or Not To Be

A woman heard an inspiring message from a life coach that asked the question, "Are you a human being or a human doing?" The speaker encouraged the audience to rethink their frantic pace of 'doing' in life and choose to live healthier by 'being' in the moment. He laid out a compelling argument for everyone to just 'be' and learn how to become present without distraction. It turns out that many people feel trapped in the doing and are desperately aching to be.

His message was a bit lost in translation as the woman heard, "Are you a human B or a human doing?" She chose to make the right choice and started living as a human B which gained her little more than people starring. Sometimes we hear what we want to hear and miss the real message, sending us off in the wrong direction because of our own limitations. We're simply not going to learn what we don't want to know.

Is that any way to be?

Once Upon A Time In My American Dream

1 Once upon a time, computers were really large, had very little memory and were extremely expensive. Now computers are really cheap, compact and have tons of memory. They've become an addictive obsession, stealing the time we used to spend together just hanging out.

2 Once upon time, there was no way to call or text someone from a crowded movie theater, a bathroom stall or a baseball game. Those events were considered sacred. Now with cell phones no event is considered sacred, not even a funeral.

The Thing About Dad

After visiting my Father in the hospital on July 18, 2004 it was less than a month before he passed away. I wasn't present when he passed but I heard his family was right there by his side. I'll never forget that last visit we had together. When Dad heard that my older brother Carl and I had arrived he had tears in his eyes, we held his hands and we both told him how much we loved him and assured him we were there. He was happy we made the trip to Rochester and I realized quickly that this would be our last time together.

The Price of Free At Starbucks

Starbucks gave me a free grande latte today for the right reason. It was free but it still cost me. Since Howard Schultz has recaptured the helm at Starbucks a lot of sweeping changes have been put into effect. Here's the deal. If you use a registered Starbucks card like I do, you gain a few extra privileges. One privilege that I benefit from is free soy milk that typically costs me forty cents extra per cup. That's a great deal since everyone seems to charge extra when choosing soy milk.

Saying The Right Things To Depressed People

I must admit, it's very difficult to know exactly the right things to say when you're talking to people who are depressed. Especially if they're your close friends living in the Northwest. Non-psychologist Steven Blum, a Seattle blogger in residence compiled an insightful list of tips on "How To Talk To Depressed People" lumping them into a kind of subculture. I instantly recognized that I could not have written a better list myself. One of my favorites is;

"Don't tell them to write on a blog. Depression blogs are depressing and cause more people to suffer from depression blogging." - Steven Blum

I realize that depression is not a subject to joke about. A few friends of my own recently contacted me and asked if I've been depressed, citing that they found many of my recent posts totally depressing. Nice! They're now off my friends list for at least two weeks until I fully recover from depression caused by their honest and refreshingly candid banter. Read Steven's entire post and prepare to laugh out loud. He's good! 

When We Dare To Dream

“If you make the world a little better, then you have accomplished a great deal.”

When our deepest desire is to leave the world something that makes it a better place than when we found it, the possibilities are endless. It's these kinds of dreams that come true everyday. You'll be surprised how often the resources reveal themselves when the goal is aimed outward. John Kanzius set out to cure cancer in his garage using hot dogs, his knowledge of radio waves and his wife's pie tins. John is not a doctor of medicine but he is turning the medical world upside down with his discovery. Funding is coming in from places John never imagined possible.

Turning Hindsight Into Foresight

It's always in times of personal struggle and pain that I look back and long for those moments when I was most content    but failed to realize it.

Hindsight is a reliable teacher but an unforgiving friend. The trick is turning hindsight into foresight without allowing fear to be our rudder.

Photo by Christopher Drost

Why Choose If You Can Combine?

According to a new Gallup poll 55 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents surveyed think Obama should offer running mate Hillary Clinton a spot on his ticket. CNN

Why can't they both win? It's only fair since they've both worked so hard. We're a country obsessed with being fair. Maybe Clinton and Obama would be two great tastes that taste great together, just like a Reese's peanut butter cup. A little tired old school politics mixed in with the new.

No true Obamaist would ever approve such a vile idea. Though some Democratic leaders would be shrieking like Dr. Frankenstein if they could successfully sew together such a monster. It's Alive! Stop it... you're scaring the kids. The popular vote confirms it's an Obama-nation.

A Unity Ticket Mistake

The Fragile Bonds of Forever

When we wield the powerful sword of "I'm leaving you" the fragile bonds of forever are tested. Sometimes beyond repair. Those words cut, creating distrust, anger, and vulnerability. That's not fighting fair.

What happened to the sacred oath that included 'til death do us part? Commitment is sacrifice over convenience and true love's secret code.

"I wanted to see you walking away from me without the sensation of you leaving me alone."  Counting Crows song - Time And Time Again

Who On Earth Is Phil Tramdack?

A photographer named Joey Kennedy immortalized Philip Tramdack in the striking portrait seen above describing Phil as; "A great man with unique vision". I have no clue who mister Tramdack is. Joey's caption said that Phil loves his couch and fought hard to preserve it, which appears to be inspiration for the portrait. There's a whole lot of couch and very little Phil.

Free From Living The Good Life

There is no greater darkness than that which causes us to go numb, stop giving of ourselves and cease caring. There is no greater death than living with apathy, a choice that has rendered many of us dead already.

When we can give away more than we take and strip ourselves from the pursuit of wealth, we become alive with endless potential to make a difference. Filled with compassion we become free and fearless, no longer content with being reckless in our quest for living the good life. Are you willing to take that leap?

“He who gives when he is asked has waited too long.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca 

Photo by Zach Anderson

Children's Story of Marijuana Teaches "It's Just A Plant"

A new children's book authored by Ricardo Cortes teaches kids all about marijuana conveying that "It's Just a Plant". The book chronicles a child's path to learning about marijuana from a host of colorful characters including a group of street thugs, a farmer and an unfortunately timed cameo appearance by Bill "I never inhaled" Clinton as himself.

"It's Just A Plant" (a children's story of marijuana) could possibly be the modern hippie version of "Are You My Mother?" Cortes may be an undiscovered literary genius of a different kind destined for his rightful place atop Oprah's Book Club.