Tracks In The Dust

A Father's Advice About Learning the Mission of Life

Archive for the tag “Self-Awareness”

08 Jan 2013
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Tending to Your Convictions

Be Yourself

There are things that you want because you believe in them, and then there are those things you need driven because of your conviction.

Your convictions include your  personal commitments, the core values you live by, or the things that truly motivate you. It’s more than what you simply believe ..I recently read this…“A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for!”  – Howard Hendrick

I find that sometimes it is hard to center those convictions in your life. You know that they are there, you even have a past list of core things that you have fought for. But still there will be times when there are doldrums, sort of floating time like treading water it seems.

In those times it is good to turn back to the things you know about yourself. Those reasons that you have persevered to this moment. Pull up your spiritual bootstraps and point in a positive direction. It is just as simple to turn your back on that spiritual compass and let others tell you what you will believe. It is simple to become dependent on someone, or something. To get comfortable in the routine of familiar surroundings or patterns, making it easy to wait for another day…

But those things that motivate you that involve the genuine love, the core values of your being and spirit will allow you to chart a course ahead in a positive way – based on your convictions.

So now in the new year, reflect on your convictions (not just your beliefs) and know that you can make a difference in your own life, and in-turn make a difference in others. Don’t stand still and feel “done”, because you will never be done until your last days. Don’t let fear and uncertainty manage your convictions, you got to “let love in”.

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged , , , , , , , ,
18 Dec 2012

Soundtrack of Your Life

Hey- I got stuck on this the other day. So many of my friends (both bloggy and non-bloggy) talk about how music is such a part of their lives.

I think music draws a lot into the motions of life, surrounding you with feelings and memories that are indelible.

 

Heart Music 2

Liberally borrowing from a recent Entertainment Weekly magazine I challenge each of you (if music is part of your life at all like it is for me ) to answer the following & post it back on comments or on your site and “share”.

What are the songs that make up the Soundtrack of Your Life?

  1. The first song I was ever obsessed with:
  2. The first album I ever bought with my own money:
  3. The song that reminds me of my first love:
  4. The first song I ever sang in front of people:
  5. The artist people don’t know I am a fan of:
  6. My go-to karaoke jam:
  7. The album that reminds me of home:
  8. The album that I will never get tired of, no matter how often I hear it:
  9. The song(s) I listen to to get pumped up:
  10. The song that I wish I had written (and would have been famous for):
  11. The album I want played at my funeral:
  12. My #1 favorite holiday song:

You can explain yourself if you want to as to why you chose it. Just play along!  Their are NO wrong answers. 

Go ahead.  But be sure to share on your site or in the comments for others to see… and provide a LINK.

 

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
05 Nov 2012
5 Comments

The Deserted Island Question

So here’s the challenge that a few my friends and I started around the bar stools the other day.

These are pretty common questions, but there is always interesting answers.

1) What are the 5 musical artists (complete works) you would want while stranded on a deserted island? ( Yes you would have some way to listen to them)

2) What are the 5 books you would want to while stranded on a deserted island?

3) What are the 5 movies you would want to have to watch while stranded on a deserted island? (Yes you would have a way to watch them too)

And yes you have all the other key stuff to survive. No you don’t have any idea when or if you would be rescued so these have to last for potentially the rest of your life.

I know it is standard issue kind of question. But waiting for your answers, then I can share mine too I guess. Just wondering what others would say.

Posted in Doing Things That Will Change Your Life, Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged , , , , , , , ,
31 Oct 2012
1 Comment

Imperfection is Perfect

As the song goes “that’s the way God planned it”.

It seems that perfection (like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder. Imperfection is what makes things so right. Nothing is perfect- there are blemishes in nature, and humankind is far from it.  So many strive for it, but the harder they work toward it the farther it seems.

So what about this imperfect life we live? Some of the rough parts are hidden, some of them are there for all to see. Some things are ugly, others are beautiful. There is not going to be a way to be perfect in everything. Only one man on Earth was and He died on the cross.

Today in the media, it seems there is always some story about a gaffe or mistake that fromcelebrity or politician doing or saying something. People put under the microscope of public media. Scrutinized for any mistake, or unexpected action not commonly fitting the in the “perfect form” we think we want. Awk! Like pictures of celebrities in regular every day circumstances, women celeb’s without their make up on (really?) or politicians making comments that don’t fit what we think they should be saying (especially for the opposition during election).

All this just appears to reinforce our expectations for  what the media or some portion of the community  wants to paint as “the standard” of perfection . It feels like a bad trend. It makes others feel inferior when they shouldn’t  It sets the bar so high that others feel they cannot ever reach it.

Sadly, so many continue to live up to expectations of perfection they will be hard-pressed to ever achieve. They look for approval that never comes, and in their frustration they get angry or sad. Sometimes the emotion leads to violence or suicide. Other times it leads to depression and hopelessness.

We have to accept imperfection. God embraces it. We have to understand that in itself there is the beauty of uniqueness ( is that a word?). There is something that makes everyone and every thing worthwhile. If we put that under the microscope instead and rejoiced in it… relished its imperfection. Celebrate the exceptions.

So what can we look for in our striving for perfection?  What do you believe? Do you believe?

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
18 Oct 2012
2 Comments

Paint It Black

I see a red door and I want it painted black.

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and I must have it painted black
Maybe then I’ll fade away and not have to face the facts
It’s not easy facing up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

(Thanks Mick and Keith)

Black and Red. Kind of like there are those contrasting days, those moments that we come up against when things change. I think they are my favorite colors (is black a color anyway?)

It reminds me of  the song in Les Misarables ( the great musical)  Red and Black.

Red – the blood of angry men!
Black – the dark of ages past!
Red – a world about to dawn!
Black – the night that ends at last!

Change happens, sometimes for change-sake, sometimes because it has to. But it is.

You can change things from red to black. You may end up changing it back.

There may be times  you just feel like painting it black – but red will have to do.

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

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