Destiny Do-Overs

 Knowing Your Destiny

Part 8 of 30

This is by far my least favorite side of the whole scheme of Destiny, karma, and what have you; it's total icky poo poo. I just hate the thought of anyone suffering, except of course, understandably, outright wholly impure evildoers. And I even wonder about them. Were their crimes -- maybe lying about me in 8th grade -- really that serious? There’s certainly worse things. Some so bad they’re defined and judged the same around the world, with only minor differences, as real downers. And if you get on that slide of existence, it’s all downhill, one heck of a ride to the bottom. And when you get there -- ouch! It’s bumpy -- the ride’s just started and you haven’t yet reached the bottom, but down, down, down you plummet, and even then you're still plumbing the shallower depths, let us say.

If it were up to me, I’d have an inert eternity or milder cleansing eon to get everything squared away. Then you’re good to go, and hopefully -- as Deity I always keep my fingers crossed -- you’ll learn your lessons from the past and reenter the world with all the virtue befitting some of my older aunts. Who if they ever did a bad thing in their whole life, it was merely too much focus on their virtue, which was great and clearly a thing to be proud of. But that's also a slippery slope, which I’m glad I’ve never succumbed to, because that would be very very bad. Strictly off limits, a "don’t do it" kind of thing. Plus, don’t even think of it, or someone up-there or down-there or out-there is gonna get you...

In this scheme of things -- see the graphic -- those who suffer worst are the ones with the greater weight of karma. It's a point system, where for every good thing you do you get a plus point, and the opposite for the bad. Occasionally you hit one of the lesser jackpots -- sins of omission or commission -- and the bells ring and a more considerable payout gathers in the tray. “Look! 400 years of good! Let it ride!” Or “Damn! 200 years of flickering flames, darn the luck! Oh well, may as well get it over with.” Followed by a plunge into the dark depths and apparently rotting to death on the banks of the Styx. Not exactly ambrosia.

OK, who do we have in this unpleasant rogue’s gallery of Destiny? Yes, the usual suspects, Hunger, Disease, Crime, and Despair, reaching their nasty hands out to those nearly in their grasp. It’s all sad, I know, but it could be any of us, if karma, as sketched out above, is any consolation. And usually it’s not. But the good news -- it’s great news! -- is that you’ll be out of all that at some point and on your way to a brand new Destiny. Let’s say it takes 10,000 years till your next incarnation. Suffer that relatively brief time and you’ll be back in the saddle, riding high, with huge optimistic hopes, a positive outlook. But it might be only 5,000 years, or even split that in half! A penalty, yes, but next to nothing compared to 10,000 years. Which itself is a drop in the bucket if you figure the 10,000 could've been 20.

My advice, always do your best and you won’t be so worried about it. Anything less than 100 years of suffering and you’ve got something good enough to be proud of, of course without actually being proud of it.

Speed Reading Bixby

Wow! Even I can't believe the speed I'm attaining -- and the intellectual fruits of my labors -- when it comes to reading Bixby! It's awesome, good, and extremely decent. I'm so proud, I feel like polishing my fist and shining it on my sweater. And if I don't get a grip on myself, that's precisely what I might do. Ha ha, it's funny, every time I'm doing something proud like that, someone inevitably walks in on me and I'm embarrassed. She shows up at the door -- the lady across the hall -- and there I am, either rearranging myself after going to the bathroom or polishing my damned fist from some new accomplishment.

And I've actually been down in the dumps, too, you know, with all the personal commotion I've experienced in the never ending travails of Grandma's house needing major repairs. They literally put me out, physically picked me up and set me in the street, off my own property! You tell me, is that fair? Of course it's not fair. You think you own a property and that's when "The Man" shows you who's really boss. "You are officially evicted, get the hell off this land, get out of town, goodbye, good riddance, and if we never hear from you, so much the better." The bastards. Of course they want the quarterly property tax payment, pay up, pay up. But what would I be paying for? I can't live there. It's a mess. OK? So any little thing I can feel proud about, stand back and let me indulge myself...

Anyway, here I am in the Big City, and the lady across the hall is always showing up to make sure I haven't stolen something, I guess. I never steal anything, of course, but in these fleabag quarters the first thing they haven't got is trust. They don't trust nobody. If the Good Lord Himself showed up, they'd need to see the scars on His hands, His side, and if He ever had His appendix out, that scar too! Such bastards, treating the Lord and me like this. But what can I do? Life is one indignity after another, no delay, no slowdown, no dragging its feet, instant! Just like that...

So what am I so proud of today? A new speed reading technique I came up with for reading Bixby! You probably don't realize that an intrinsically smart dude like me is also a very slow reader. But it's true. I've started so many books, gotten to about page 3, then given up. Every book in my library's the same old story. If you ask me what happened in the first three pages, I'm a scholar. But you want a quick synopsis of page 5, you'll have to give me a few minutes. I just can't read fast, page 4, page 5, page 6, none of it, including Bixby! This is the truth, so help me.

My speed reading technique, then... Take a look at the pile of words in the next paragraph. Looks like nothing more than a jumble of letters at first glance. But once you know your goal, which is speed reading Bixby as fast as you can, you've got it. My eyes travel the page like a dog to hamburger, just faster than the speed of light. With barely room for improvement.

Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby Bixby

The technique is multi-faceted. Leave out all punctuation, first. Then pile the Bixbys in there good and thick, terribly thick, just as many as you feel like you can read. When you do it just right, you're not only reading them at lightning speed, your comprehension is through the roof. Like the chimney on my house used to be before they took out it and the roof. But that's sorrow for another day.

Because today I'm happy! I've finally discovered a technique that is all that and more, more than I could've dreamt of. Although, you never know, I might fall asleep and dream of something equally great. Don't put it past me. 'Cause those who doubt me, like this old shrew of a neighbor on my ass, are doomed to keep speed reading Bixby the old fashioned way, i.e., slooooooow as molasses.

Here's another paragraph to test out the technique. I have to admit, I'm not getting the same speed I got with Bixby, but it's still pretty darned good. But I keep stumbling over Walter; Walter seems to break my pace. Here's my solution: I speed read everything else first, then go back and pick up all the Walters in quick sequence.

Fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter fricassee shivaree curiositee chef boi ardee Walter.

Or you could just say Walter eight times fast, then speed read the rest, speed skipping the Walters. My comprehension increases something huge when I do it that way.

My Better Angels

There's a bitter struggle going on inside the soul of man, I'm told. Friends tell me how they're torn from two directions, good and evil. It sounds dreadful, frankly, and I guess one of my biggest fears is that something like that might someday happen to me. Hope not!

Even in my innocence, however, I have not been entirely clueless about these things. I too see multiple paths and choices, which, however good my own options are, are enough to make me understand that not everyone is as fortunate. I'm often torn -- riven -- between two very good choices. Do I do this, something good, or this other thing, also good? It gives me pause. Fortunately a flip of the coin resolves the question, which, for me, is divinely determined.

But for my friends--- It sounds hideous for them. They've told me things that have made my hair stand on end, and goosebumps have been another reaction. I've had to wonder at those moments if indeed I do have it somewhere within me, like them. I wonder, How do I understand these things, never having experienced them. I can only resolve it like this, I'm just smart, or, again, it's divinely determined. Whatever the truth, Saints Be Praised!

It could be the saints, or it could be the angels. We've all heard the line about having "better angels." But they're not always successful (in others), leaving the field wide open for "worse angels," who, although they're worse tend to best the better! Ironic and weird. Boggles the mind. Definitely something for further exploration, as long as the taint of evil doesn't get on me.

My own saints and angels are very good at all this stuff. This is all literally true, in case you're wondering. As I think back, they came to me at a very early age, and just stayed. I don't think I'm bragging by saying I made a good home for them. They found me in innocence and they never left! What a great job for them. If you're an angel, you don't want to be assigned to someone who's going to immediately fall. That's a good way to be called on the carpet, the Big Carpet! But if you can luck out and get a charge like me -- someone never falling -- imagine how that looks on an angel's record. Looks fantastic.

I should apply -- I really should! -- to have all angels removed and see if I could do it on my own. I bet I could. I've had enough experience by now, no matter what the temptation. Even if there was no angel to help, I'd avoid it, stand up to it, and prevail! No doubt. I really think I'd be OK.

But, and this is important, I'm listening to my better angels right now, and they're saying not to go for it. So at this point, I'm not doing it. They've never deceived me yet, that I know of, so I'm very sure they're telling the truth now. The clear message is that I might not actually be that strong on my own. And once I tasted sin, there's no telling what it might do for the future. I better keep my better angels, and stay pure. Great advice!

Stay true, OK? Yours for clean living, Dbkundalini out.

Enjoying the Thanksgiving Lights

It's been a great Thanksgiving so far. I just got up from a long nap after eating the big traditional meal. And now all that's left is to drive around town and see the Thanksgiving lights.

That's a lot of fun -- even though I don't personally decorate for it -- the way the neighbors and folks around town go all out, their houses decked out in lights, lawn ornaments, and the whole bit. They really get into it, outdoing one another if possible, with displays that are very elaborate.

Of course we have the poorer side of town, where they're lucky to have a small lit turkey. Those aren't really much fun, although I guess everyone has to start somewhere. You never know, you might hit the lottery and be able to step up your game. Certainly everyone's trying to hit it, those with an extra dollar every now and then. One family I know of has a little lame son, and that's his dream, to win the big prize, hopefully then to get his leg fixed, but more importantly to be able to get into the Thanksgiving spirit with the best of them. Until then, he and the others just stumble along.

My own neighborhood is between that and the others. We're not too poor but neither are we rolling in it. The decorations are nothing to get excited about but neither are they anything to be overly ashamed of. Any lame kids we happen to have are more or less secure, and more or less proud of what their family puts out. A decent medium-sized turkey, strings on the trees, an inflatable pilgrim, etc., they're doing OK.

Frankly, I like driving around neighborhoods like mine. I don't get angst pains, as you can readily imagine a sensitive guy like me gets when I know people want to do better but are frustrated and stumbling along. After all, it's meant to be a fun thing, not frustrating. Although I'm just as quick to throw out a word of encouragement: No matter how poor you are, there's always someone somewhere worse off. So be encouraged! However, and this is equally as important, you need to do your best, because they might catch up and leave you behind.

Then there's the real fun, the culmination of the whole thing, getting over to the rich side of town. Where they've got enormous turkeys, and every color of the rainbow for lights, and elaborate pilgrim scenes with moving parts. It's great, with the only downside being the traffic. The folks over there are playing for the crowds. And that really takes some effort, with a couple of families even putting out a short-range radio signal for passersby to hear the story of Thanksgiving and their good wishes.

With money comes great responsibility. Your town depends on you for the good stuff. And obviously some of them get an early start, probably sketching out their display as early as July, and getting the stuff up anytime throughout October. As for their lame kids, if they have any, they're waving from the windows, beaming with great pride, happy as clams.

I Pour Contempt On All My Pride

It's time for a whole new life, of course strictly applied first to myself. No more pride! Bring out the buckets of pride killer, that I may pour contempt on all my pride! From here on out, my richest gain I shall count but loss.

Realistically, I don't have that much to be proud of. And that's not the declaration, the bitter words of a guy down in the dumps, because I'm not. By any true measure, I'm on top of the world. It's just that I've suddenly realized -- call it a much needed awakening, a kick in the spiritual pants -- that pride is basically worthless. I'm saying it by proxy for everyone else, too. Forbid it, that any of us should boast!

Am I guilty of overweening pride? I sure am. Like I just said, I believe it applies to everyone but I start with myself. All the vain things truly have charmed me, along with everyone else. So much so that I was essentially blinded to it. That's a weird thing about pride. It gets hold of you and it becomes your nature, it seems natural. But then you suddenly wake up and go "Whoa!" This isn't how it should be.

At least that's what I'm discovering. I'm in the process of discovering how deep it goes. It appears to go very deep, right where you dwell, to the most central part of your being. You start struttin' like a peacock, and everyone else is gagging. So you start thinking, "Bring in the buckets!"

That's a very vivid way of putting it, "Bring in the buckets! Summon the Bucket Brigade! Fill 'em up to the very brim, the buckets! And not just the buckets, but pots and pans, too, anything that serves to hold pride killer and contempt!" This is great stuff. And how about this? Cook it, too! Cook it! Put it on the fire! Crank up the heat! Get it good and boiling! This is going to burn, it's going to scald! Sounds terrible, really, but that's what I need!

I'm making it a public thing, the rigorous dousing I'm taking. It's right here in public, something that anyone with internet access can witness. Please link to this blog post. Let me be the guy who put it out there. I might be able to inspire others to pour contempt on their pride. I'll take the first step. The pride killer and contempt is boiling hot; please, turn it up some more!

Yes, I know this is going to hurt like bloody heck. Because I have all the pans totally boiling, so they're even starting to melt a little around the edges. The handles are piping hot. You'll need two potholders to get a grasp on them. And now here goes nothing...

My pride is getting the biggest scalding of its pathetic life! The cure demands my soul, my life, my all!

The Superspine Blowback

The Superspine blowback on Twitter today came fast and furious. Out of all the projects -- all the self-help teachings -- that I've had, this was the one that encountered the most opposition. Venomous stuff, too, not just poo-poo'ing.

I believe the "BS" word was spelled out, as though the Superspine teaching was itself suspect, not just me, the one setting it forth. That hit my mind like a ton of bricks. But lucky for me I had on my Superspine mentality, all ready to face the day. It was a godsend, giving me the strength not only to withstand the blowback but to offer a little of my own:

Superspine is looking for no arguments. Superspine knows what is truth for Superspine. When Superspine knows, Superspine knows.

That came out automatically, with great indignation. Then there was nothing more to say. All became silent.

Yes, Superspine knows. That's why he or she is called Superspine. There's no second-guessing on the part of people, popes, or pundits. They may kick and squawk, but through it all it all there's one thing we know: Superspine Stands!

Still, upon reflection, how tough it was and how utterly dependent I was in this case on the Superspine mentality. Any other day, with any other teaching, I might have crumpled right there. And I have before, so I know what it's like. But today I thought "No, I will prove the teaching is true, a psychological concept worthy of my other teachings, including 'A Hedgerow of Warring Angels,' 'Gigantic Strides,' 'All Due Diligence,' and 'Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough,' just to name a few."

The powers that be, of course they would have it otherwise. The powers that be are afraid that any of us "mere peons" would rise above our station, not just to fight back and stand, but to prevail. They would have us "Eat Cake." Their days are numbered. Because the Superspine teaching is out of the bag!

Yes, I've thought about the blowback today. But did it discourage me? No, it made me double and redouble, triple my efforts to be Superspine. Everything I've done today -- offline -- and it's been plenty -- has been with the Superspine mentality. I have done literally twice as much stuff today, so far, as I usually do.

I think of my spine of steel and no one has been able to get me down. Superspine flies over the masses and the powers that be. It's in their face ... right where it belongs!

Fellow peons, get the Superspine mentality. We shall prevail!

Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough -- IV

This is my fourth and final post today on the theme of being "Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough."

It's been a pleasure to develop it as a theme, starting with the idea, then carrying it through to the finish at the close of the day.

Anything like this can potentially change your mind and life. Without much expense. No one's asking you to buy a shelf load of self-help books. Or go to an expensive conference.

Instead, life is free for the living. (That's also a theme we'll be developing in upcoming days.) You've got what you need to get the job done in a good way. Or certainly everything can be gotten quickly if you just know a little bit about it.

I myself, like I've said a couple times today, am not Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough. But I'm aimed that way. Anyway, whether it's a state of mind or a psychic condition that you'd want to be all the time, I can't see it. It'd be a lot better, in my opinion, to be Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough when you needed to be. And I actually can manage that for brief stretches of time.

Now that I've said that, I hasten to add that being Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough even for brief stretches is not a one dimensional thing. It'd be mindless at that point and get you in more trouble than you had before. It's not just standing Tough, let's say, but it has to be mixed in with a lot of good sense, such as yielding, bobbing, weaving, hewing a middle course, etc.

What it means, then, is to be Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough in all those (and other) pursuits which make up the overall pursuit.

Can you picture being Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough in yielding? Imagine that. It's like stepping aside for someone, honoring them perhaps, forgiving them perhaps, being a person of grace, yet doing it in a Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough way. That blows my mind, but really that's what I mean by the concept.

It's a concept that suggests strength, but strength in all its possible dimensions. Often surprising.

Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough

Be "Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough."

Or tougher than nails. I'm not looking for a fight with nails. But if it comes to a fight with nails I want to be tougher, so we're not just fighting to a standstill.

What makes nails so tough anyway? They have a spine made of pure steel. From the muladhara to the sahasrara, or in laymen terms, from top to bottom (not respectively), they're made of tough stuff. They're tough on the outside and their inner is like their outer. Remember, though, it's all in a manner of speaking.

Plus, they have a point and they have a head, and the two aren't the same. The point is where they take their stand and their head beams proudly from that place. They can be very driven -- in fact that's exactly what we call pounding them in, driving nails.

Nails are tough when they're together. They know there's power in numbers. Take a single nail and drop it on your foot. Didn't feel like much, did it? Now take a box of nails and do the same thing. Hurt, didn't it? You've always got the potential to be tougher than you think you are.

And one other thing, nails are faithful. Once a driven nail is in a board, holding something together, it will be faithful till you're dead. You'll come back 75 years later and it'll still be holding its own. It will not leave its post. It's toughness will not flag.

Friends, modesty prevents me from claiming to be Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough. Also truth prevents me from claiming that. Because (and I've poll tested this, that my readership says they appreciate vulnerability), in actual fact I am not Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough. But I'm working on it.

How am I working on it? Not by working out, let me say. I work out in a very mild way, although I need to kick it in gear so I don't suddenly get heart attacks. But I'm not talking about being physically tough as nails. If you come to my house in 75 years, I will be long dead. But the nails might still be there. I'm talking about being mentally, spiritually, psychically Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough.

It's a process that I'm in, mixed in with all the other ways I'm terming this personal development. It's self-help in the sense that I need the help, and I know I'm not going to get it anywhere but from within. Reading a book may give me pointers, but the the reality is always going to be inside me or it's not going to get done. And the same for you.

There are lots of situations that we're in where it pays to be Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough. Like with your employer, your family, politics, or religion. It pays because there are times where you either nail or get nailed. Sports would be another one. If you're a gymnast, that's exactly what they say, "She nailed it!"

Take sports. It's not just muscles, it's strategy, it's mental. To know the strategy in a flash involves study and it involves intuition. So on the field you've got it, and perhaps more importantly, off the field you've got it. You can visualize exactly how it's going to go, a glimpse here or there, then suddenly you've got the whole picture.

When I step into a situation there are a few things that guide me, and, remember, I am not Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough. But I want to be. 1) I do not want to say or do anything that I'm going to regret later. 2) I want to keep a cool head and play the angles. 3) I will not overtly play one side against the other; I will take the path through the middle and let them work on each other. 4) I will seek my advantage, but I will roll with punches, come what may. I've had much and I've had little. I've been happy with much and I've been happy with little.

Being Tough As Nails -- Nail Tough doesn't mean you always get your way. But it's a thing of percentages. To the one who is TAN -- NT there is the strategizing (not always something that has to be consciously done) and there is the confidence. The confidence remains confidence whether you got your way in the situation or not.

Look at being TAN -- NT in this way: There are so many people who have no idea of it. There are so many people who aren't trying it in the least. The one who has the idea and puts forth the slightest effort automatically has the advantage.

The Organism's Neutral Optimism

We're used to various mind tricks having to do with being optimistic or pessimistic. Such as, Is the glass half empty or half full? Or, Would you say your best days are ahead of you or behind you?

Let me say, if you're ever in for therapy, unless you're in hospice care, you'd better say "ahead of you" or they'll immediately lock you up and throw away the key. In which case you will have been right that your best days are definitely behind you. But who hasn't had pessimistic friends who haven't come back?

We tend to think optimism is good and pessimism is bad. Of course if we were being entirely honest we would have to say there are legitimate reasons for one or the other depending on the circumstances. Bad things do happen. But we don't want to mix up entirely the things of optimism and pessimism and realism. You can be optimistic and realistic at the same time, or pessimistic.

I'm going to apologize up front to any scientists who may think I haven't got it right. I'm confident in expressing potentially ignorant scientific theories, though, because I heard that science is never quite sure of anything. If it turns out that they're sure they're never quite sure of anything, I don't know what to do with that contradiction. But regardless of how that plays out I will use science's admitted ignorance to cover my own.

It's my theory that the organism -- whatever it is -- is neutrally optimistic. What that really means is it's right in the middle, meaning essentially it's not optimistic and it's not pessimistic. This is apart from higher consciousness that starts worrying about things. But I'm saying it's neutrally optimistic rather than pessimistic because if it goes any direction, that's it, toward the positive. Evolution, transformation, attainment...

Whether it's foraging for food or a place to stay, the presumption is that it's going to find what it needs. It is a part (perhaps at one) with its environment. There are reasons it could be pessimistic, of course, such as if we've damaged its ecological system such that there's no food. But even then it seems that without the higher consciousness worrying about it, it's going to remain neutrally optimistic until it eventually dies of starvation.

But we -- we have our worries. So we do a whole weird swing from optimistic to pessimistic, being more able to scope out the angles. We have a lot of experience and history that keeps us thinking of the odds. That helps us, obviously, in that if there's no food, we don't just stand there and die, if we're able to do otherwise. We press on and eventually find a McDonalds.

So having a higher consciousness helps us in many ways, but it also hinders us. Because of all the worries.

In my theories -- the whole self-esteem, confidence, and pride program I teach -- I try to get people to see that a lot of this psychic worry is unnecessary and a hindrance. Especially if you cross the line in the middle that goes from basic organism needs to the higher things, personal confidence, self-esteem, up through spirituality. There's no predator trying to get you at that point, except your own doubts or other distractions based in your motives.

The key, it appears, once you're past that middle line, is to somehow consciously allow yourself to go back into a more natural consciousness, which is true of the basic organism without the worries, that neutral optimism. How you do it, of course that's the main show.

Probably a summary statement of how you'd do it is simply to forget it and live. Not forget it as in giving it no thought, but not clamoring, demanding, fretting about it, or assailing the gates. It's like this, "He who climbs up some other way is the thief," instead of going through the door in a natural, unassuming way, with pure motives.

So be that! And by "be that," I guess I mean "be that" without really trying! Be neutrally optimistic today!

All Due Digiligence -- The Rage With Me

EVENING:

Due diligence is all the rage with me.

I'm up, I'm at 'em, I'm stoked, I'm prevailing, accomplishing, kicking booty left and right, swiftly and persistently.

Some may think it's a personality flaw but I see it as a strength. And if anyone wants to argue about it, I'll never give up till I win.

If you want to win, you have to aim high, for the top, then claw your way with all due diligence till you get there.

I'm well aware that not everyone is as diligent as I. It seems I'm a part of the elite, the diligentsia. We get together and grunt.

I'm in a race with myself, always wanting to give 150%. Someone pointed out to me that's just a figure of speech, making me try even harder.

Even now I'm bouncing in my chair, champing at the bit, eager for my next personal conquest, just begging for someone to challenge me.

I'm definitely taking care of business. Yeah! Yeah! Rrrrrrrr! USA! USA! USA!

Do Things With All Due Diligence

AFTERNOON:

With all due respect, you really ought to do things with all due diligence.

The house is on fire? Be calm and get everyone out. Maybe rescue your pets if it's not too much effort. But do it with all due diligence.

A car's coming at you head-on? Be calm. First, quit texting immediately. Second, with all due diligence, swerve.

Diligence. I bet I could look up the word and find it has an interesting root. Perhaps it's from the same root as DELicious or DILLY Bar.

It's a great characteristic for someone to have. The definition being something like an extraordinary effort at accomplishing something.

What's desirable, from my point of view, is to have diligence as an ordinary thing. To face every challenge -- big or small -- diligently.

Diligence implies you're scoping out all the angles, acting in a purposeful way toward a goal, believing in yourself, that it can be done.

There's an extra effort in it. Confidence calls forth from you what's extra, not only to get it done, but to do it in a terrific way.

I've had a few tasks today. I've stepped through them with all due diligence. This is done, that is done, and I'm working on the rest.

I recommend it to you. Take on your day, your tasks and challenges. See them accomplished in the best way, with a very confident diligence.

All Due Diligence Wins The Day

MORNING:

Having all due diligence in life, the resolve and strength to get your responsibilities and duties accomplished, is the way to go.

You want to be a strong person with achievements? Then BE a strong person with achievements. It all starts with your desire.

But desire alone doesn't do a thing. There's a whole mental framework standing behind desire. That's where our focus needs to be.

Each day if we set our mind, we're on the way. Set it for a number of purposes. These include not just doing our job, but our spirit in it.

It's easier to do a job when your heart's in it. But it's also good to let your heart know who's boss. Fulfill responsibilities and duties.

Mental strength is not just following your bliss (in that sense of somewhere else), but making the life I have now my bliss.

Yes, there are goals and dreams, but there's also all the unpaid bills from yesterday. These need to be honored as well.

To be truly happy, we take care of our business with all due diligence, like a man at an anvil, slugging it out every single day.

It's not drudgery -- it's life itself. It is easy to appreciate and treasure it when the mental framework is truly set in place.

Today, I will live my life with all due diligence. Nothing is going to sway me. I will accomplish, achieve, and probably be tired tonight.

My Mind Is Strictly Set

MORNING:

My mind is set today. The settings are in place. I expect good things as I do things in a good way.

My personal discipline today will be such that I will have very few regrets, perhaps none, when the day ends.

My mind is set in a strict way, but it's also set that the strictness will not be obvious to those I meet.

It is set to respond to every situation with calmness and perspective.

If my house is on fire, I will calmly explain to the fire department that I would appreciate a visit as soon as possible.

If I'm approached by an ax-wielding maniac in an alley, I will calmly use misdirection to divert his attention, then run like the devil.

Running like the devil may sound frantic and not calm, but it's always beneficial to set your mind in harmony with instinct. That IS calm.

When it comes to interpersonal relations, I will give everyone a kind look. I will silently be trying to understand them, their problems.

One thing I will know, their problem will probably come down to this -- Their minds aren't set. They didn't set them.

Like anyone, I'm looking for reasonable advantages for myself. I will not give up my advantages, but I won't exploit others to their harm.

One question for you today: Is YOUR mind set? Are you going to set it?

Set Your Mind And It's Done

This is definitely the way to live. Set your mind and it's done.

You can get on with your day quickly. The idea pops in your head, something affirmative, you say "Yes" and you're on your way.

There's way too many allowances for pit stops, laziness, mental junk food, and sass. This whole mental, physical, spiritual thing called me is designed to work in harmony with the constituent parts. To expect unhealthy relapses is no way to live.

I'm setting my mind today. I set it yesterday. It seems like it'd be great to be able to set it and not think about it. But what kind of fun would that be? If you consciously and purposefully set it, that's a good time to give yourself some positive strokes, backward and forward. You know, even Fixodent says Fixodent and forget it. But it's a daily process. You don't just put on an enormous layer the day you get your false teeth and forget it.

Let me see here. How am I going to set my mind? In a certain sense, I already have. Because I've already been up for about three hours doing things. But I can still set it for what looms ahead.

There may be chance meetings with people through the day. I'm setting my mind for a good, calm, friendly attitude toward them. I'm setting my mind to not show uncomfortable surprise or shock. In addition, I'm setting it to take everything in stride.

There may be opportunities for wit. This is a tricky subject. I'm setting my mind that it would be appropriate, in keeping with the tone of the moment. I will not thrust it upon anyone or unnecessarily prolong it. Both of these are a sure sign of an unset mind.

There will be completely unexpected things. Again, calmness is the default setting of choice.

Even now I'm imagining forward, thinking about what might happen. I'm going to recalibrate things here -- OK, done! -- not to get too specific in that. Because it's my intention to face what comes with freshness, genuine responses. For that, I will set my mind to automatically reset itself incrementally on the fly according to my general preferences, well known to it by experience. Anything major, check with Central Command. Anything typical but still needing a tweak, tweak it and we'll also evaluate it on the fly.

My personal theme today -- not an unusual one -- will be personal discipline. A mind that is free to engage in give and take but still tethered to good sense and reason.

Next, I'm setting my mind to smooth out any seams that might otherwise be visible to those I meet. This is a lot like the incremental resetting above. It will not appear that I am being calculating. Instinct is still my friend.

But I will be calculating to this extent: My attitudes and responses will be such that I will have few regrets. Anything that might otherwise get me down, I will have it so encompassed with mental forces, that I will come through in a cheerful way.

Lastly, for any mental alarms that may go off, right now I'm turning the volume off, setting it for vibrate only. So if you see a guy today who seems perplexed about something and his head is shaking like a hummingbird's wings, that'll be me.

Beyond The Old Grind

Put your nose to the grindstone.

That's the way to get things done. I think the old phrase means it may be painful but to get it accomplished you have to dive right in.

You might have just been innocently sniffing a grindstone and someone started it up. If anyone could be said to be "innocently" sniffing things. There has to be something devious about it.

As weird as the whole thing is, we has some idea what it means. Then it gets related to the whole reputation of hard work, that it's a grind.

Back to the old grind. Two weeks of vacation, then 50 weeks of the same old grind. Or you could switch it around for a more positive spin, 50 more weeks of the same old grind, then two weeks of happy vacation! Lounging on the beach while the kids beg for money and things.

The same old grind is a boring way to look at life. It's not cutting loose enough for my tastes. Instead, there's something to be said about embracing the old grind, even transcending the old grind. That would mean being so mindful and purposeful about your life that everything is fun, or if not fun, rewarding.

Like whatever I have to do today. I could look at it as drudgery. Getting in there and slogging it out. The various chores I have around the half acre and house. Or I can see it in more personal terms, like what they always say about a vocation, as my purpose, a calling.

But what kind of calling is it, what I do? For the average person looking at it, they might say it's no calling at all. It's just the random everyday duties of a guy who needs to scrape like the rest of us. Yes, I have an advantage, since I'm on disability (a game toe), but that doesn't mean I do nothing. I have plenty of responsibilities.

And, as you know, I've been spending a lot of my time (informally) in the teaching field (self-certified), leading people (strangers on the internet mostly) in some of the pointers that relate to self-esteem, confidence, and personal pride. I could consider that a grind, but I don't. It's very rewarding to know that many of my readers (no doubt) are transcending their circumstances this very second, thanks to what I've been able to share.

Today's pointer is just that, to transcend our circumstances, as they relate to the daily grind, the old grind. And to see it in more purposeful terms. There's no telling what greater things you can accomplish just by a few mind tweaks as to how you see things. Instead of drudgery, everyday is the opportunity of a lifetime! To do good work, to touch and bless those around you for good.

I've got my nose to the grindstone and it's a great thing! Now I'm cranking it so it won't wear down. And letting the sparks fly where they will!

Inner Beauty -- You're Unique

AFTERNOON:

Minutes. Just minutes. That's all I have for my self-esteem, confidence, and pride pointers. Today on the secrets of inner beauty.

A lot of our pride and confidence, rightly or wrongly, is impacted by our appearance, which most typically takes a very unhealthy path.

We think our worth and value are to be measured by what's on the outside, if it matches up with our ideas of beauty.

Of course it's a positive thing to look our best. If we can avoid looking slovenly, unkempt, disheveled, run down, that's good.

Anything can be spruced up. A rickety old barn about to collapse doesn't look so terrible with a fresh coat of paint.

But once you've done what you can do, then forget it, unless something else occurs to you that maybe you'd forgotten.

If you forgot, then remembered, do it, then forget it again now that it's done.

At this point you're going to be looking for your inner beauty. Note well, I said your inner beauty, which you DO have.

What kind of character do you have? Are you pleasant to others? Can you manage a friendly smile? Do dogs growl when you pass?

What are you telling yourself? If you're telling yourself you're a person of real worth, true value, that means something.

Always affirm yourself. You're a part of this whole scene we call existence. It's true nothing would be the same without you.

There's only one of you. There may be others who look like you, have the same body type, etc. But truly you are unique.

Live with that sense, that you're unique from the inside out, and that what you have to offer will be something very special.

Inner Beauty Is Also Sexy

MORNING:

Here's one that everyone has an opinion on, what beauty is and how we recognize it.

It turns out it depends on a lot of cultural things, including the time you live, what era in history you're from.

As I understand it, years ago the larger woman, seen in old artwork, was the ideal.

These days if the head is bigger than the pelvis, that's supposed to be good. According to the one fashion guy, Ralph somebody.

But Ralphie-boy needed to apologize, because he's just putting forth a bad image for women to try to emulate. An unhealthy image.

I've got the September issue of InStyle right here, and there's some stunning fashions throughout. Definitely Lady Gaga isn't alone.

Plus it's over 500 pages, so it's jam packed with models. Each one heard someone say, "You should be a model," and now they are!

Maybe they thought, "No, the field is too competitive." But if they use a ream of paper for each magazine, there's room for everyone.

There's beauty -- and I hate to be cliche about it -- and there's inner beauty. I know, that sounds like a ho-hum topic.

It's like transitioning from Pastor Durward's object lesson tadpole to a boring application on how we can change to something better.

But inner beauty is also a knockout, also sexy -- if that word is allowed on Twitter and Blogger.

And there are secrets of inner beauty just as there are secrets of physical beauty. They're not near as exciting perhaps, but still true.

It's a matter of putting your character through a kind of boot camp, making it submit to the formative process....

...And cutting out the junk calories of a badly oriented psychology...

The Secrets of Inner Beauty

I heard something about the way our eyes follow a layout, in an inverted S path, meaning we start at the top left corner and work our way across. But I'm stuck at the woman with the pink gloves. I can't see anything else. That's stunning! That's beauty!

But I must ... force ... myself to look across and take in the whole vista of this beautiful collage of beautiful people. Of course we have the pink gloves lady -- remarkable in every way, and we haven't even got the rest of her face, hair, and body. But she has to be a looker. I know I would definitely look twice.

Going across, we have her, then I'm just going to take in the females. There's some gorgeous ladies here, in my opinion. I like the quirky one in the middle -- she's throwing in some personality. The two plain janes side by side are showing the natural look, natural beauty, showing they don't need to spice it up to look ravishing. Then below there's just the nose and mouth and some of the face of one whose other looks are unknown in this cropping. I cropped it myself and it's half ambiguous, but really there's enough to go on with which to draw certain conclusions and say, Yeah!

The woman in the top left corner, with the gloves, must know by now that she didn't have to take it off to be a beauty, but occasionally that's a nice touch as well. And in this case, it goes beyond nice to being an absolute knock out. You have to say, and I don't think I have any reason to be fearful of contradiction, she is definitely gorgeous. And she has really nice gloves too.

The man I've chosen to represent the entire gender of men is definitely the most beautiful man I've seen this side of Elvis. And that's Adam Lambert. You take one look at him and you know men aren't as ugly as everyone says. He's got it going on as far as the hair, eyes, smile, whole face, voice, and so forth. To me, he has a good fashion sense. Or at least the people who dress him do, but I'd guess he has it too.

I'm thinking today of the secrets of inner beauty. And whether Adam Lambert has it or not is still an open question. I hope he does. Some of the interviews I'm seeing by him suggest he needs to work on it. I don't have any quotes at hand, but a little more reserve and modesty, even if feigned, would no doubt help. It's great to be glam, great to be flashy -- and I love him for it -- but really, pull in the pronouncements against religion, for example. Good grief, that's not going to do you a bit of good. You don't need to say everything you think. Get a personal coach to help you set some reasonable limits.

Inner beauty is a lot like outer beauty. Sometimes less is more. Like the stunning woman in the pink gloves. She could do the entire spread eagle and it'd be less beautiful. Or put her hands behind her neck like a self-inflicted full nelson, with her bountiful attributes on full display, and it might look great -- I'm sure it would -- but we wouldn't linger as long. The modest covering is best.

With inner beauty that is inner beauty indeed, and not just faking it, it's something you have or you don't. But there's no need to despair, because it's like other inner things, you can grow in it. By being reasonable, figuring out the kinds of attitudes people like, then pulling in and directing yourself in showing that.

The secrets aren't secret really, except that they're often lost on us.

The rest of us see inner beauty on the outside, because it's an expression of someone's character, what they're becoming as they put the good things of life together on the inside and express that. Cheerfulness, pleasantness, helpfulness, kindness, sympathy, etc.

If you've got it, keep going. If not, get it.

Warring Angels At The Fitness Center

IT'S THE BLACK OF THE NIGHT:

There are different ways to picture a hedgerow of warring angels, which to me is an endlessly fascinating subject.

The general way of course is to have them surrounding you, alternately looking toward you, then out as a matter of vigilance.

But it could be you're sitting on a couch and the only access to the room is a door. They could be in a phalanx facing the door.

Or they could become extremely small -- the way you visualize them -- and sitting on a bookshelf, legs hanging over the edge.

I don't want anyone to think you're the boss of a hedgerow of warring angels. Because they answer to a higher power.

But as the person they're guarding and helping, it could disturb you to think of them surrounding you, say, if you're seated.

If I pull my chair out to face someone facing me, I don't want anything (or anyone) between us, so they would be at my side.

Maybe a few would be at the door, in case the person facing me tries something. Then it'd be like Maxwell's Silver Hammer.

The key thing to know about a hedgerow of warring angels is you don't really have to worry about them. They worry about YOU.

They're sent more or less to protect, but also to give you the confidence that no matter what happens, you're completely OK.

Goodnight everyone. I'm taking my hedgerow of warring angels to Goodwill to look at records, then to the fitness center.

When we're at Goodwill it's their job to nudge anyone out of the way who's hogging the place I stand, a quick invisible sword to the butt.

Then if you see a guy at the fitness center whose heavenly entourage is using every piece of equipment in the place, that's me!

Say hi to me. But don't get too close or make any sudden moves. Please.

Warring Angels -- They That Be With Me

EVENING:

I've been very conscious today of my hedgerow of warring angels, since that's been my theme. By conscious I mean I depended on them.

The situations I was in today weren't threatening in the least, but there are those times I don't want to put forth a huge effort.

So I just silently thought of the phrase "Hedgerow of Warring Angels" and it made me feel better. Assuring myself they were there.

You can picture them anywhere -- above your head, at your feet, around your belt area, all these areas combined, guarding your whole being.

2 Kings 6:17: "Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." A hedgerow on the mountain! Wow!

And I love this thrilling statement, back in verse 16: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."

That's what I'm depending on for my unfailing confidence, that they that be with me are more than they that be with them. So beware!

I don't know what you'll do with this knowledge. It might be dangerous. So let me say this is "For entertainment purposes only."

That's my disclaimer, so that if you're injured or psychologically damaged in the summoning of your own hedgerow, I won't be liable.

But I don't think you'll be too psychologically damaged, more like enhanced. You're psychologically damaged NOW. That's the problem.

So sue whoever it was who damaged you in the first time, if you're that upset about it.

As for me, it's a great feeling, one of confidence, to have a hedgerow of warring angels. It's even better than being Zestfully clean.