Tag: Relationships

HEADING INTO MONDAY 🤨

Monday can be one of the toughest days of the week for many of us. That is one of the reasons we exist. Here at Secret2anamazinglife, we supply motivation and inspiration you can use to get you through, not only Monday, but the rest of the week as well. Today we are giving you this little bit of wisdom to ponder as you start the weekly grind.

What can make Monday tough for some of us is our coworkers. We all have one that can get under our skin. It might not even be coworkers, but people we encounter throughout the day. Customers, the inconsiderate person on the road in front of us, or a million other souls in which we share this planet with. They often provide us with plenty of opportunities to practice our character building skills. This is great and is certainly something we should be grateful for. Unfortunately, this is not easy to remember early in the morning before the coffee has kicked in.

Just remember two words – react or respond. One gives the control of your emotional well-being, your life and your day to the knuckleheads we were discussing earlier. When we react to what others do, we let them determine how we will feel and how our day will go. If, however, we decide to intelligently respond to their actions, we say something entirely different. We are saying, albeit in our head most of the time, “Despite your foolish manner of acting, I am not going to let it disrupt my rockstar flow.” In slightly cruder terms, it is like giving them half a peace sign, or maybe a whole one if we are really in self-control, to those who could ruin our day with their thoughtless actions.

Two words to remember for the week ahead – react or respond. One gives control of your life away. The other keeps control right where it belongs, with us. Who do you want to control your life? You or someone else?

YOU ARE NEVER TOO IMPORTANT 🤔

Many things confuse my simple brain. For example, why do people so often trash public restrooms? Do they suddenly fly into a fit of rage when relieving themselves? Personally, that is when I tend to be the happiest. Maybe it is because there is no cameras in restrooms so they feel they can commit their crime without consequence? Anyone who understands the laws of the universe will realize how foolish that line of thinking is.

The other great question I have is why some people begin to treat others harshly when given a position of power? This really should be the opposite of what happens. With great reward comes great responsibility. Whether influence or power, we should use it for good. The more you have of either of those, the greater the opportunity you have to use them for good. There is never a time that you become important enough that kindness ceases to be a requirement. Quite the opposite is true. When you become more famous, or powerful, you have others looking up to you. It is then that your kindness can be appreciated by others.

When I become a famous best-selling author, I look forward to being able to help and inspire many others to do the same. I am doing that on a smaller scale now. That is another important fact that I do not happen to have a sign for. It is never too early to start practicing kindness. If you want to be charitable and think you have to wait until you win the lottery, that is simply not so. Donating a dime out of a dollar can be even more meaningful than a million out of ten million.

The takeaway today is this – it is never too early, and you are never too important to be kind. Be kind to everyone and everything you meet today. It will not only make the world a better place, especially for those you are kind too, but it will make your own heart a little happier and your own spirit a little brighter.

YOU MIGHT NOT SEE IT TOMORROW 👀🙈

This may sound like a fatalistic post for uplifting Wednesdays, but it really is not. In fact, I debated titling this post “Everything is special” but decided on the one I did because it has a sense of urgency. Last week, we discussed how quickly things change and how the not so distant past can seem like a lifetime ago. Isn’t that true to some extent in your own life? I know it is in mine. Places you used to go are no longer there. Businesses you used to frequent have ceased operations. People sadly pass on. Animals become extinct.

Again, this is a little depressing, but it also provides us a sense of urgency. My friend Curtis gave me a great reminder about the power of being present. All too often we busy ourselves reliving memories and fail to pay attention to the ones we should be creating. Then, without a warning it seems, they too become memories. Consider this – each second of time is unique and will never occur again. The beautiful sunrise you are witnessing? Yes, the sun will rise again tomorrow, but it will look different than what you are seeing right now. That bouquet of flowers you received will be different than any you will get in the future.

One of the interesting things that I reflect on in life is how seemingly tragic world events change the way things are done. I recall what travel was like before September 11 of 2001. Recently, we all saw the effects Covid had on the way we socialize and do business. Life can change in an instant. Change is actually the only thing we can count on. That is why each moment is so precious. War has broken out in many places in the world and the lives of millions were upended in a heartbeat. The reverberations of that situation can be felt across the globe. Very few us could have predicted that was going to happen.

It doesn’t even have to be on a global scale. Think of all the people in your life. Above is a picture of my lovely lady and I. It was taken at my work’s holiday party. It was also a retirement party for one of my coworkers. That means it will be the last time he will be there as my coworker. Who knows if my work will have another holiday party or if this was the last one I will attend? A few years back during my open-heart surgery, it was almost the last time I spent with my lovely Margie. That story is shared in great detail in my book, The Beat Goes On, available on Amazon.

Challenges provide us great opportunity to see everything for the miracle it is. Recently, I shared the story about how my car was having trouble and my mother was giving me a ride to work. Although this proved to be far more stressful than we first thought, who knows when I will be able to share the ride and great conversation with my mother at 430am. Looking back, we had fun on my way to work. Who knows if those moments will ever happen again. I would much rather have a working vehicle, but the ride with my mom was a good memory.

Everything, and everyone, in life is fleeting. It may not seem like it, but as we discussed earlier, it can all change in an instant. Health is precious. Love is precious. So many things we can fail to appreciate until they are gone. Take a second an be present and grateful for everything in your life. Everything is a miracle. Everything is precious.

BUSY YOURSELF WITH THIS! 📇

I once heard someone ask the question, “Do you think Michael Jordan would have let comments on Twitter?” The point being that people like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant in the sports world, and investors like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates in the business world, are too busy working on their own lives to concern themselves much with the opinions of others. If you have time to be upset for hours, maybe even days or longer, with what someone else is doing, or maybe even said, your life could use some more attention.

When I am in the middle of constructing my next book, which I am about 2 weeks overdue starting, I seldom have time for much else. When I am working on putting together a seminar, or what I am going to say on a television appearance, like I will be shortly, it does not bother me what Bob or Betty are doing with their lives. Why should it bother me anyway? My life has so much opportunity for growth and improvement, every second I do not spend doing that, is one more mine of gold I am not tapping. I am not so much worrying about Bob and Betty as I am not worrying about Neil. That is far more costly.

This week as we go forth into our working world, let us keep the focus where it should remain, on our world and improving our lives. It is only then that we will discover the secrets to an amazing life.

USE SUNDAY FOR THIS PURPOSE ☕️

There is so much going on in this picture that gives clues to living an amazing life. At first glance, it may not seem so. Let us take a dive in to discover the secrets that are in this picture. Starting with the obvious – the saying in the picture. “Use Sunday to reconnect with a place from your past.” What a great idea! My mother and I often discuss things that we did that seem like a different lifetime ago. We used to go to a great encampment they held at the local VA grounds. That no longer occurs. We talk about restaurants we used to frequent that have went out of business. Then, after a few more sips of coffee, we talk about places we just haven’t visited in a long time for various reasons.

Reconnecting with some of these places could bring back some really interesting memories. It also helps you stay grounded. Connecting your present with your past can help us be both nostalgic as well as present. Reflecting on memories of the past and noting how life has changed can be insightful. Looking around to see how the place has changed can have us living in the present. When we reflect on memories there is one thing I find interesting. At the time they were being created, we usually never know they will become memories. We are just enjoying the moment. This is a reason why it is helpful to take pictures, especially now that they can be stored digitally. I find it also helps to use as many of our senses as we can. Soak up every moment of our lives. We never know which ones will become our favorite memories.

The other item is what the saying is printed on. It is a day-by-day motivational calendar. I purchased it while visiting the mall to see my friend Nick, who manages the coffee shop there. Every day it supplies an inspirational thought for me. That is one source of positive inspiration added to my life and all I have to do is tear off that day. Considering how many negative influences come into our lives, without any effort on our part, it benefits us greatly to add as many positive ones that do the same. There are apps that send motivational messages to your phone. There are affirmations you can listen to on YouTube. There are so many influences that we can add. This leads us to the final thing we will mention in this picture.

The last thing you might not have noticed in the first picture, is the hand that is holding the calendar. That hand belongs to my lovely lady, Margie. Recently, I saw a meme about how picking the right woman makes a big difference. I would like to change ‘woman’ to ‘partner’ as this holds true across gender. Margie was kind enough to take this picture because mine had a big shadow in it. Much like adding as many positive influences in your life, the same can be said for positive people. I enjoy hanging out with my mother and going for coffee. Speaking of which, my friend Nick and I are long overdue for getting together. Even at my day job, where people can be ‘sunshine challenged’ I seek out those who do have a brighter outlook. I feel we support each other. How about your life? Adding, and spending time with, as many positive people as you can will fill your life with more joy than you can do on your own. As a bonus, the more time you spend around positive people, the less time you have for those ’emotional vampires’ that suck the life out of your soul.

In this one picture, there are 3 ideas I put into action that helps me to live an amazing life. It was a powerful reminder. How about you? Share a picture of things that bring joy into your life and help you live an amazing life. When we share, we all benefit!

REFLECTING WHILE LOOKING FORWARD 🫡

A great 2023!

End of the first week of the New Year! What a wild ride it has been. As we jump into our goals for the coming year, we are going to take a few moments to look back at how we did in 2023. Above is a map featuring all of the countries that we were viewed in within the past year. We appeared on 6 of the 7 continents and in 148 countries. That blows my mind. I still recall writing my first blog 12 years ago and wondering if anyone at all would read it. I was one person who was struggling to learn the lessons of living a rewarding and fulfilling life. Using my passion for helping others, I continued to write. We are now have over 2100 posts on this site and have been viewed by almost 200,000 people!

Being able to reach so many people in so many places is such a rewarding experience. There are so many negative news outlets, that we want to continue to serve as a beacon of hope, motivation and inspiration. 2023 was great, but we are looking to do even better in 2024. We are going to reach even more people and bring the light of hope and positivity to even more corners of the world. If you like what you read here, feel free to share this site with your friends and neighbors. Print out posts you like and hang them up in the office. Share links on your social media timeline. The more souls we can reach, the brighter we can make the world.

Secret2anamazinglife wishes to thank all of our contributors, followers and even our passing viewers. You make all of this possible and worth it. We look forward to finding new and exciting ways to serve you in the future. Do not forget to check out the Living the Dream with Neil Panosian podcast wherever you stream your content. It is free and brings you the same great tools and strategies in audio form!

LOVE… TIMES 12! ❤️🔥

Here is a picture of the calendar that I have hanging at work. As you can see it adds a little splash of color to an otherwise dull space. There is much more to this story than meets the eye. The calendar in question was purchased for me by the love of my life. She bought it for me at a bird show at the Wisconsin State Fair. The profits went to support the animals in the show. They are presented by the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. They have an array of products for sale, the profits going to support the animals that are found at their center.

Sure, a button would have been cool, maybe a t-shirt. Why did my lady choose a calendar? Besides the fact that I have no need for another t-shirt, no matter how cool, it is a gift that keeps on giving. Each month they feature a picture of an exciting bird of prey. In addition to some quick learning, I am reminded of the amazing show we were at, the fun we had and the fact that the lady in my life loves me enough to surprise me with this calendar.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, and the fact that you should always be thinking about great gifts that help keep the love and passion in your relationship, a calendar is a rather cool gift. They have fancy day by day ones, you can even have personal ones made! The price point is not that much, but it serves as a reminder all year long. Already have a calendar? A daily journal could be fun. Anything that can be used daily, or at least on a regular basis makes a great gift to remind someone you care. This year, I have a calendar of tropical locations that I got while shopping with my lady. We are going to take a trip to the Bahamas this year and it will serve as a great reminder of that and other fun we have had, and will have. How about you? Is there an item you have that reinforces positive thoughts and memories?

WE DID IT!!!🍾🥂

Today we are celebrating! It is the first time in this site’s 11 year history that we have had a post every day for an entire year. It was a goal of mine to bring more inspiration and motivation to all who read this. As many of us look to create our own resolutions for the New Year, we should take a look at why and how we were successful in having a post daily for a year.

First, start where you are with what you have. Although we have been talking about having a post every day for a year, this is actually the 546 straight day we have had a post. When I decided that was my goal for the coming year, it was sometime in mid summer of last year. Why should I wait for the first of the year to start? Part of the reason I was successful was I had a strong enough ‘why’. In having a post daily, I knew the audience for this site would grow. We are now over 100,000 views in over 200 countries. I also knew I would reach and engage with more people the more content I would put out. The more people reached, the more people could get an assist in living an amazing life. The more people living amazing lives, the better our planet would be.

Were there days I struggled with posting? You bet. Being an author, speaker, DJ and full-time day job as well, time is crazy. Another one of my goals was to improve the quality and depth of my relationship with my lovely lady. That takes time and dedication. All of these things could have been legitimate reasons not to have a blog. Then, I needed to use negative motivation for my goals. What is negative motivation? I needed to consider what would happen if we did not have a post here. There may be someone who was in a dark emotional place that was looking forward to reading what we have to say here. What would happen if they came to discover there was nothing to read? Hearing all of the negativity that the world seems to bring to our attention daily, I knew that this site needed to be a balance to that. If people were not given another source for knowledge and inspiration, I was not doing my part to leave the world a better place than I found it. This is, after all, my life’s mission, or at least part of it.

In closing, this accomplishment leaves me feeling just one way…grateful. I consider it a blessing to be able to share with you everything I learn along my journey of life. I am thankful for all of the souls who join me on this journey. There is nothing but gratitude for the friends I have made and the input they have given. I look forward to hearing from more of you in the year to come. 2024 will bring you my fourth book, as well as many other surprises including new episodes of the Living the Dream with Neil Panosian podcast. In addition, we will continue to have great and valuable content here to share with you. We always welcome your feedback and look forward to living an amazing life with you in 2024.

AN ARMENIAN PRIEST AND AN ARMENIAN AUTHOR WALK INTO STARBUCKS…☕️🇦🇲

While the title of this post may sound like the opening to a joke, it is actually what happened to me last Friday. In this story, I, quite obviously, play the role of the author. Although Armenian in nationality, I must confess to knowing very little about this country, its culture and its wonderful people. Growing up, there was not any of this knowledge conferred onto me. Being the knowledge-hungry and curious fellow that I am, learning this knowledge became one of my many goals.

To gain more knowledge on the subject, I did what many of us would. I looked up and watched documentaries. I also read books and listened to interviews. One of the most enlightening ways to learn about a country’s culture is to attend an ethnic festival. One great thing about where I live, is that they seem to have many of those. My lovely lady Margie and I always enjoy attending ‘Armenian Fest’ which is held at St. John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church. Here we find ethnic Armenian music, artifacts, delicious food, and most importantly, a vibrant and giving community.

 

Enter Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan. He is the leader of this amazing community. That is him in the photo above. I was introduced by a fellow author at the festival this past summer. Fr. Guregh seemed quite kind and we exchanged numbers. This past Friday we met at a local Starbucks for a cup of coffee. If I am filled with little knowledge when it comes to Armenian culture, I must confess to being just this side of completely ignorant when it comes to the Armenian Orthodox Church and their beliefs. Fr. Guregh not only was born and grew up in Armenia, but has lived in Israel and traveled many places. He was generous in sharing both his knowledge of the Armenian culture as well. He is a man of great faith and has a passion for sharing that faith with others.

I cannot confess my gratitude enough to Fr. Guregh for taking time out of his busy schedule to sit down and help me get a better understanding about the great people of Armenia and their faith. I walked away with not only a greater appreciation for both of them, but for the man who was sharing the knowledge with me. It can be intimidating to meet such pious people, but this was not the case. I feel it can be so beneficial to learn all you can about not only your nationality, but about as many people and their cultures and faith as you can. It is only in this manner can we hope to bring about a peaceful world.

If you wish to do your part to bring about peace, do your best to learn and understand those you share the planet with. Once again, I wish to thank Fr. Guregh for taking the time to enlighten this author on so many different topics. I am very grateful to have had the chance to meet and talk with you. If you find yourself in the city of Greenfield Wisconsin in mid to late July, definitely check out Armenian Fest at St John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church. You will leave with a stomach full of good food and a spirit full of great joy from the community there. If you desire, you will also leave with a greater knowledge of the country, people and faith of Armenia.

GIVE THE GIFT, BE THE GIFT 🎁

This holiday season, the best gift you can give is to be the best gift! As we talked about last post, by expressing gratitude and genuine appreciation? Who would not want to hear why people think they are an awesome part of their life? The true gifts of the holiday are the times we share and the people we spend them with. Another great idea is to share happy memories you have while you are creating new ones. Maybe start a new enjoyable holiday tradition that will bring joy to all of those attending?

These are ways in which we can bring amazing gifts while being the best gift at the party. Make this holiday the best by giving others inner joy to carry with them not only during the holiday season, but all year long! This is what holidays should be all about. If you have any suggestions for adding joy and happiness to our holiday season, or fun holiday traditions you celebrate, please share them with us in the comments. In this way, you will be adding joy to those who read this blog in over 200 countries, celebrating a wide array of holidays. Here at secret2anamazinglife, we wish you and yours a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.