Tag: blog

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE HERE!🥳

This really is a thing!

Today is National Author’s Day. I was not even aware this was a thing. (It really is. Feel free to Google it) Seeing that I have just published my third book, The Beat Goes On, I am doing my best to convince my lovely lady she should take her author boyfriend out for some tasty Italian dinner.

Here are some great ideas

In all seriousness, when I think about that fact that I have published 3 books, and am working on number 4, it seems surreal. Most of you know the story of my high school English teacher. If not, let me give you the very abridged version. On the very last day of school my senior year, she stared me straight in the eyes and told me, “I pray to God you will never have a career in writing.” To her defense, at that time I was likely to agree with her.

This was a fact that escaped my memory until after my first book, A Happy Life for Busy People, was published. It is just as well I forgot or it might have put even more doubt in my mind. My point is never let anyone tell you what you can’t do. Even if the facts seem to back them up at the time. A rebellious kid who tended bar and sang in a rock band is now the author of 3 books and counting!

Another important theme on National Author Day, is to share your story. It doesn’t even have to be a book. Although, I must confess it is a great way to leave a legacy. You can start a blog, a YouTube channel, or a podcast! If you are crazy like me, you can do all four! Just get your story out there! You will entertain many and inspire those who need it.

Today, show some love for your favorite author. Trust me when I tell you there is a lot more to writing a book than you may think. It takes a daily battle to slay the dragon of self-doubt. The more you write, you just add the thought of “Will this one be as good as the last one?”

Support your local author today! Leave a positive review on their social media, post about them on yours, let them know what you thought of their work. Buy a book for you or as a gift for a friend. If you are interested in checking out my work, I will leave a link to my Amazon page below. Click it and read some reviews, leave one of your own, pick up a copy of any or all of my books and see a picture of myself and my lovely lady! Thank you all for your support of not only myself, but authors everywhere!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY WORK AS AN AUTHOR

30 DAYS OF GRATITUDE (DAY #17)

Welcome back to our celebration of 30 days of gratitude. Each day we will focus on one area of our life to be grateful for. If this is your first day doing this I invite you to go back and do the days before this. You can do them in your head, write them down and home, but it is my hope you decide to share what you are grateful for with our community here on Secret2anamazinglife.com. There are no rules. Do one day or do all 30. Let us now look at today’s area of gratitude.

Bill Gates was once asked what super power he would like. After some thought he chose one. It was not x-ray vision or to be invisible. The super power the richest man in the world would like was to be able to read books faster. Knowledge is great potential power. If we put into use what we have learned that makes it valuable. Knowledge without action is of little use. Using our example of Bill Gates, I would have to say the knowledge I am most grateful for is the ability to read. Why? If you can read, you can accomplish anything! Want to learn a new language? There is a book for that. Want to learn how to repair cars? There is a book for that. As with anything, these areas are learned even more if you put them into practice, but the basics can be learned by reading about them.

These days you can learn almost anything using a YouTube video as well. In order to look up the correct YouTube video…yep…you have to be able to read. Reading has allowed me to learn how to formulate this blog, how to be better in my jobs, how to be the best man I can be in my relationship with Margie and how to give as much to the world as I can. Without a doubt, knowing how to read is one of the best bits of knowledge I am gratfeful for.

How about you? What knowledge are you grateful for? Is it something you learned recently? Maybe it is something you were taught when you were very young? I would love to know what bit of knowledge has changed your life and why.

CLICK HERE TO GET NEIL’S BOOK FILLED WITH IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE AMAZING!!

ARE YOU THE CANDLE OR THE MIRROR?

It took me a while to truly grasp the power of this quote. The candle represents sources of light in the world. It could be good-looking and charming authors who double as postal workers, social workers, emergency workers, great parents and teachers, religious and spiritual leaders or anyone else who inspires us or makes the world a better place. In some ways I think we are all candles, or at least have the ability to be so. In being the best at whatever we do we set an example for the world to follow. Even the shyest and most reserved of us have opportunities to be kind to others.

The mirror represents those who promote those who are candles. This can range from sharing a motivational website that inspires you with others, to showing appreciation to wonderful people who make a difference in your life. Did a teacher or coach push you to be the best you can be? By telling others that story you bring to light how special they are. This holds true for talking good about anyone. Did your spouse do something thoughtful for you? By sharing the joy they gave to you it brings more light and positivity to the world. This is a double-edged sword. Imagine what we do when we complain and share with others the terrible things people do?

I find by both being a candle to inspire others as well as a mirror to reflect the flame of the fabulous people I come across is the way that I can bring the most light into the world. Starting today, do your best to not only be an inspiration to others, but to recognize and help share those that inspire you as well.