Last post we discussed what I had learned from the dishwasher at the homeless shelter I volunteered at. One of the things that impressed me the most was the care and respect he took for his “customers” as he referred to them. As he explained to me “this may be the only meal these folks eat all week, i am going to make damn sure it is a good one” i learned from him how to make sure the dishes were spotless, but I wondered what more I could do. The answer was surprisingly simple. I was going to do what I do best and what now has become my life’s mission. Help them see the beauty and positivity in themselves and the world around them. How? How can you help someone with no job, often no home see the beauty in their world? The answer is simple if you understand two principles 1) there is something beautiful about everyone. So I began to look. Was it ask article of clothing they had? A piece of jewelry? Even if it was their smile, or just the energy they brought. A genuine, sincere compliment is one of the greatest gifts you can give whether the person is rich or poor. 2) everyone deserves respect. I didn’t know, nor care what lead these people to the trying situation they were in. I did know one thing, we are all one event from it ourselves. So i made sure to address everyone as I do my postal customers and bar patrons. “sir” or “my good man” “my friend” a lot of them looked confused some even felt uncomfortable at first. Truth is when you are down on your luck not a lot of people respect you, so it is often hard to have Self-respect.  Without self-respect it can be hard to turn things around. Reminding these wonderful people how truly important they were was my way of helping them have a damn good meal as my dishwasher friend put it. The power of respect can truly turn a life around. Remember all of our brothers and sisters deserve respect

Here is a great lessons i learned in the art of humility. A few posts ago I wrote about a time in my life when my job was cut to nothing, i was living in a bad part of town, my girl just left me and my life resembled a bad country song. After living in that mood for a while I needed to get out. My mother and I helped every month at a meal program for the homeless once a month and that always tended to help me put things in perspective and realize all i had to be grateful for. So even though it wasn’t the day I normally helped I decided to go down and see if I could. Normally I served food when I went down there(more about that next post)  but this day all they need was help washing dishes.  That was one of the first jobs I ever held so I thought “i got this” and stumbled into the kitchen. The gentleman running the dishwasher was named donny i believe. He was in his late 40’s and looked like he had lived a rough life. Here is where I want you to stop and think. What would your opinion of a Middle-aged man whose only job was washing dishes at a homeless shelter be? Not to smart? Maybe not to driven? Not educated? I can honestly say I didn’t have time to take stock and think of that, but I imagine if I did that may have been the thoughts.
So I started to load the dishwasher in what seemed to be a sensible way and this man came over in a hurry to explain to me the “right way” to load it. When he explained by placing certain dishes certain ways the water jets cleaned better it really made sense.  He also made sure all of us rinsed the dishes thoroughly so they would come out clean. Why? So his “customers” would have the best dining experience they could. He told me this might be the only meal these folks are and he was going to make damn sure it was a good one.
The take away in all of this? He was one of the most driven, caring and knowledgeable men in that room. Also, i learned every job has an art and a skill to it. Just because some jobs may seem to be on the lower end of the social scale let me assure you they are very important and there is an art to doing them great. More on what I took away from this experience in tomorrow’s post.

Let me share with you a personal story. People often ask me “Neil how did you get so motivated” “Neil how do you look at life in such a positive way” well it wasn’t always that way and I learned a lot of hard lessons along the road. Here is a story about one of them.
If you follow my blog or YouTube videos you know there was a point in time when I faced some serious challenges. My job at the post office had went from 45-50 hours a week to 10 due to downsizing. The lady in my life had walked out because of the person I was at the time. So there i sat, no money, no person to share life with and nobody to blame but myself. So I sulked and bitched for several weeks. Something i no longer do. Then I looked in the mirror and realized something. I was to blame. Sure the post office was downsizing, but I should have been better prepared. Yes my lady left, but I was not a great man to be with at the time. It all boiled down to me not taking responsibility for my own life.
A lot of people will begin to point fingers as soon as things in their life begin to fall apart, but the truth is that only gives control to outside circumstances. The only one that owes you anything is you. So every morning look in the mirror and ask yourself are you giving your best? Are you giving 120%? If not, you owe you an explanation. You need to take responsibility for you.
The result of me doing that? In short, you’re reading it. I began to pursue outside self-employment,  I began to work on myself. How did taking responsibility for my own life work out?  I am set to leave the post office by the end of 2017, my relationship was too late to save, but I have improved myself to a point that I attracted a beautiful and amazing woman I can treat right and be the man she needs. All this because i took charge of me. So I urge you to take a look in the mirror and realize that you owe you!

A quick reminder as to why the time to act is now

Sorry for my appearance in this photo.c it was a very rough night. In the darkness, however, the stars really came to shine. First the 911 responders Jason,  Tyson and Chris could not have been better. Their skill, humor and genuine concern kept me calm and got me to the hospital in short order. Nurse Jacque and Dr Andy worked together flawlessly.  Their smiles made the pain easier to bare. Even Linda who had the task of my xrays was very professional. 
Then having great friends like Terri and Nathaniel to help get me home safe was so kind.  All this happened while the love of my life held my hand and kept her sweet little cute face in mine. It’s strange, in the worst of situations you can find the most reasons to be grateful.  I thank and love you all!