NOEL NEUROSIS
Having written musicals and television specials celebrating Christmas you probably assume that I welcome the season with mistletoe and holly flavored “Ho Ho Ho’s!” After all, I’m the guy that wrote the songs for “Emmet Otter’s Jug band Christmas” and “The Muppet Christmas Carol. “A Muppet Christmas, Letters to Santa” was my idea. I co-wrote the story, teleplay and wrote the songs. In the early eighties I played Santa’s chief elf Ed in “The Night They Saved Christmas.” Not my… Read More
GRA – ATTITUDE
Okay, so I added the extra T, but right off the bat you get the idea. Gratitude at its core is having a great attitude. I think conceptually this makes gratitude easier to achieve, certainly in the face of adversity. I read the other day (I don’t know where) “You don’t have to like everything, but you need to stay positive.” That in a nutshell is gra- attitude. It means that no matter what you face you can somehow, some… Read More
Change, Gratitude, Living Fully, Love
GRATITUDE IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER
The secret to creating the feeling of gratitude is to be consistent in keeping an open and receptive mind, a believing heart, and a natural, sane and expectant nature. This is what creates confidence and the kind of strength measured in your connection with the Divine and your feeling of oneness with the world in which you live. Some people posses this type of consistence; most do not. Overwhelmed with fear, many live in a very noisy mind, dominated… Read More
HEAR AND NOW
A few years ago I was invited to a great golfing event in St. Paul Minnesota. It was part of an annual gala presented by the Starkey Hearing Foundation. They’re a marvelous organization that provides hearing tests and aids for people all over the world. Their annual missions of mercy are major affairs with thousands of hearing impaired people showing up for the opportunity to receive help. Watching a child as he hears his mothers voice for the first… Read More
SHAME vs GRATITUDE
Shame is a powerful thing. It locks things up inside of you that, if released, could free others of their own. It hides you away from the things that truly matter. Nothing has ever changed quite so much for me as it has in 2013. And that’s saying something, because I’ve seen a lot of change. I spent my childhood on television sets and my adolescence in lockdown treatment centers. I’ve bounced around from state to state, never quite… Read More
GRASPING FOR GRATEFUL STRAWS
There are days when gratitude comes easily. You wake up in that warm, fuzzy state of bliss, where everything from your coffee to your toothpaste gives you delight. You are grateful the seasons are changing. You are grateful for the job you have. The sidewalk beneath your feet, your dogs drool. Then there are days when gratitude is hiding under the bed. It’s totally concealed by dark cloud. It feels like life and events are conspiring against you. And… Read More
Moving Forward, The Right Stuff
NOT A GIFT
THIS POST WAS WRTTEN BY SETH GODIN ON HIS BLOG YESTERDAY We felt it was worth not just linking but sending out in it’s entirety. Have a great weekend. Paul and Tracey Here are attributes many of us value in co-workers, bosses, employees, friends and vendors: Honest Punctual Curious Proactive Flexible Thoughtful Generous Fun Committed Respectful Organized Interested Creative Likable Positive you get the idea. These are things that turn someone from ordinary into a star. They are even attributes… Read More
Mistakes, Moving Forward, Patience, The Right Stuff
LESSONS FROM A HALF FORGOTTEN SONG
I played Vegas last weekend. Two shows, nice sized houses and friendly crowds. There was a large gathering of family and friends in the audience, including my daughter Sarah. So much to be grateful for. The South Point has a terrific showroom and is known for drawing locals. The hotel is located off the strip and houses a full sized rodeo arena. Saturday when I arrived at the hotel I noticed I was one of three entertainment options, including… Read More
Bravery, Freedom, Guides, Hanging In There, Happiness, Living Fully, Mindfulness, Patience
LET IT BE or SOMETIMES DOWN DOG IS ENOUGH
Sometimes in life you just have to let things be. Now, this is not always easy for me and for many it’s often easier said than done. It’s a topic we address here are at Gratitude and Trust from time to time. But last week I was blown away by an example that I just had to share. I tend to be a serious type A. I worry when I’m not accomplishing and doing, and I have the not so… Read More
Addictions, Forgiveness, Happiness, Kindness, Living Fully, The Right Stuff
ON FRIENDSHIP
After all this reflection, I came to the conclusion that I am lacking the gratitude and trust that friendships require. I am taking my friends and friendships for granted. I am expecting way too much from those around me and possibly not enough from myself. I believe I need to change my perspective on what it means to be a friend. Right now, my expectations within friendships are somewhat unrealistic. This includes holding friends up to standards of inclusion and sharing… Read More