A Letter To A New Friend...The Story Of My Love Stone

During the last couple of months I have been going through many changes for the better. Through the last few years I had lost my way just so that I could return. I have found sooo many lovely people through my journey and this journey has just began. In this journey I am going to show and give love to not only everybody, but also everything that I cross paths with. This is a letter written to one friend, but it is a story written for everyone. (:I hope you enjoy:)

Hey Cade,

I just wanted to tell you again Thank You for all of your help. This truly is a big step for me and I know that this opportunity, that you have helped me get started in, is going to lead me towards changing some of my normal habits and accomplishing the goals that I have set for myself.

I live my life in a feeling of consistant gratitude. I am very thankful for all the opportunities that are handed to me in life. It seems like as long as I am focusing on my goals, helping others, feeling truly grateful, and keeping sight of all of this, then Life really is more simple and brighter.

Cade, your job is kind of like this, if you look at it with the grateful eyes. You get the chance to help many people through your occupation. By accomplishing this, your job is not the only thing great, this makes you great too!

I wanted to share something with you that helps me think about love everyday, from my first waking moment, instead of the all the dislikes that use to plague my thoughts. It may seem like a silly thing, believe me - I have received many funny looks from my friends when I tell them that I have done this, but this object and act has helped me change my focus to a more positive, bright side.

Ok Cade, I have built me a "Love Stone". I know it sounds strange, but hear me out. I enjoy walking more than I enjoy driving. I know there are times when I have to drive, but if it just a 45 min walk then I would rather walk. Walking gives me time to think without having to be preoccupied with all the steps, signs, lights, and other drivers involved with driving. Well anyway, back to my stone...

One day I was walking to the work and I found a rock about the size of a baseball. It was wasn't completely round like a baseball, almost like an egg that had been flattened a little. It didn't look like any other rock you find here in Arkansas. There are a lot of rocks in Arkansas. This one looked like it was made to be purchased and placed in a fish tank.

It was a twenty minute walk to work and I had found this stone four blocks into my walk. For some reason that I am not sure of, I started thinking of this rocks purpose of being created. I was not sure but I was convienced that this rock was man made. Some person or machine had built this rock with the purpose of it being sold to someone for their aquarium.

Now I had found this stone in the street and I know that man made rocks just do not naturally land on the land. This meaning that someone had bought the rock and it had been lost or discarded after it's purchase. It's first step and second step in it's inanimate existance had been accomplished, it had been made and sold.

Cade, I have a wonderful imagination that took these thoughts on a entire journey of their own. I gave life to the stone. I started thinking about when the rock first woke in life and how young it had been. Who knows what it's goals were, but it was created for one purpose and grew up in this environment. Everyday it may have been reminded of what it's purpose was and it received the training needed to fullfill this purpose by whoever trains rocks for their life in the big world:)

All of a sudden many more comical thoughts sprang through my mind that made me smile. I thought about it growing up with other rocks. The many friends it had. The birthdays that were celebrated. Growing up as a rebellious teenager. And then finally leaving the nest to try to make it on it's own, fullfilling it's purpose of a man made aquarium rock.(These happy thoughts made me laugh out loud, Cade. Heck man, it's my imagination and I can do what ever I want with it:))

When I arrived at work I set the stone on the desk. Every time I looked at it, the thoughts that I had while on my walk with that stone ran back through my mind. Anytime something that tried to bring me down occured, I would just look at that stone, think about the life it had lived, and just smiled.

On my way home a thought occured that probably tipped me a little more towards the crazy side of the scale. I thought about after it fullfilled it's purpose, it had been discarded and ended up in the gutter of the street. I don't know where this thought came from, but it was there. I felt pity for the rock.

My pity was soon comforted with happiness when I realized that this rock, since I had personified it, felt that it had accomplished all that it was meant to be and was satisified and content. I laughed to myself about this and once again wore a smile the rest of my walk home. But the story doesn't end here. Remember I said I built me a "Love Stone", Cade.

Now, I am not sure who found who. Did I find the rock or did the rock find me. That doesn't matter. All that matters is that we both were found. Maybe this rock did have life and wanted more from it. Maybe it was my life that wanted more. Maybe it was both. I like to think we both received something from meeting.

When I made it home I collected up some paint markers and started painting my new stone. I painted it in a rainbow pattern that I broke up with white paint into a brick pattern. I normally use black to make the morter around bricks in paintings, but this one I wanted to show more purity and openness so I used white. Yes Cade, I painted a rock like some kids paint a turtle.

As I painted the stone I thought about all the things I was grateful for and loved in my life. My family, my friends, the material things, the steps that had brought me where I was, and all the love that I had received from all of these things and more. Everything Cade, I mean everything that I could be and was grateful for, I put these thoughts into the stone as I painted it. That's why I broke the color up with white instead of black. I didn't want any darkness in this rock.

I put this rock on the table next to my bed. Everyday when I wake, the first thing I see is this rock. Everynight before I go to sleep I look at this rock. And everytime I think about something new that has happened to be grateful for, this I think about while looking at this rock.. I am always adding more love to the stone. When I look at the stone I think about all the great things in my life and how grateful I am that I was able to experience them. Ever since the adoption of this stone, now I think more about the things I like than the things I don't like.

I smile even more when I wonder if this stone knows that it is accomplishing more than just being an aquairum rock. I wonder if it is aware that it has graduated to the title of a "Love Stone" in my eyes. It's creator probably didn't even have a clue that this life was possible for a stone that he had created just to sell and make a profit from. Who knows? Maybe it is my imagination that wrote a story for the life of this stone. Maybe the stone was telling me it's story and my imagination heard it. Who Knows? All I know is that I am glad I picked up that rock.

Cade, I'm not asking for you to respond to this email. I just wanted to share this story with you. Sometimes I wonder if I am the rock and maybe someday I'll be picked up out of the gutter to be filled with love. Maybe it already has happened and I was just paying it forward. I have had some low times but some how I have always been lifted up out of them.

I do know one thing Cade. Once I realized that the things I have to be happy for out weighed the little temporary things that made me worry, then I was able to see the silver lining in every worry. This silver lining even gave the doubts I had less mass and shrunk them down to their true little size.

Don't get so caught up in the things you want and just choose from the things that are offered to you, Cade. Quickly, and with hindsight, you'll soon discover that you have been on the right path the entire time no matter how dark it gets sometimes. Once this happens...(this is my favorite part)...You will see that you have been working your way towards the things you wanted the entire time without even realizing it:)

I know this is a long email and I thank you for your time. You have helped me out with accomplishing a goal of a business degree and I apprieciate it. I hope this short story helps you out. It's what I have to give in return right now. I am so excited about learning. It's what I do best.

Find you something that helps you remember all the things in life that give you unconditional love, family, pets, and true friends. Remember these things because they are all that really matters. Everything else is just a cherry on top.
Talk with you later,
Greg





Here We Go Again! Achieving Success One Step At A Time.

Rogers Cronies And More Take Kyles Place By Storm

Where were you on Aug. 14 2010?

 You better believe me. I know this is going to be hard, but on Aug. 14, 2010, a small group of Rogers Cronies had a little reunion that partied with a smile non-stop. I wish you could have seen all the action:)

 Now, I'm not going to name any names but the dance floor was covered in an assortment of people. And they were all doing the same thing. They were having fun and partying like someone had told them they had only one day left to have a great time and they were getting their moneys worth.

It might sound like I am exaggerating but I'm getting ready to explain to you how I am understating and not giving the true power to this night that deserves so much more credit.

  Now let me tell you that Kyles Place is a kareokee bar. Ya, I wasn't sure if I could go listen to a bunch of crying country loving stuper stars either. Boy, was I wrong to jump to conclusions.

  I don't know how the nights normally go at this place. I couldn't believe my eyes. There were so many people there celebrating different things. There was an hour wait to get to sing a song. And the cherry on top is that everyone was enbraced in talent. These people could really sing!

Now I know that your probably thinking that everyone sounds better once you had a few beers, but I was drinking Mountian Dew all night long.

  I'm still not sure that the bar was ready for a good ole Rogers Cronies party though. I could see the bouncers sweating a little as they took turns parading around our group of tables. I think they were some what frightened of the energy that our group and the many others were radiating. (: Makes Me Giggle Really:)

  Now let me speak again about the dance floor. I didn't know white people could move like that. Especially ones from Texas. Now no offense to Texans or anything, but you white ones are reeeaaalllyy white and I thought it was impossible for any white person to shake their things like these people.

  There was country dancing, a lot, and in my personal opinion, not too much dirty dancing. Ok, in health class they called it dry petting, I believe. If Patrick Swayze would have seen these people then he would have been embarresed to call his  little ballet dancing with Baby, Dirty. And the dance wasn't limited to couples of the different sex. I mean everyone was dancing with each other. I even got to see a few girls dancing seductivly together and the only time their lips stop touching was to move down on each other;)

  I know this is a happy memory I going to hold on too. I wanna say too bad you missed it, but then again maybe it's a good thing for a few of you all:)

  I am sure that some of you might be thinking that this is no big thing. You might be thinking that this type of thing happens all the time(:Thank you Snoop Dog:)

But This Was Rogers, Arkansas!!

 Many people never realized how much fun Rogers, Arkansas could be. But of course, these people didn't know how to have fun anyway. Aug. 14 was a great example of how Rogers Cronies use to take the town by storm every weekend. Heck during the time when the Rogers Cronies was in Jr and High School, even the police wanted to know were the parties were just so they could come hang out. See, No one could show up at one of our parties without losing track of time, forgeting what you came for, and leaving with a smile on your face.

Funny thing is, my memories of those times are so clouded, but all of the fun still shines through. Do you unserstand what I am saying:? If you were there then I know you do:)

 Now if you are just dying to know who this small group of people is then I reccomend looking out for new photos to hit Facebook pretty soon. I don't know if some people feel the same as me when I say this was a night to remember, but I know that this was night that no one is going to forget.

 I want to thank the awesome couple that came all the way from Texas to remind us still-here Rogers Cronies what it was like to party. I had a Great Time with all of you:) Cheers and many blessings to all:)



Here We Go Again! Achieving Success One Step At A Time.

Do Not Fall For Going Green Myths. Things For You To Know

Going Green has received a lot of talk in the last few years.

Searching through what is true and what is false can leave many people fooled and I am sick of all of the misuses of the "Going Green Movement".

Truthfully this misuse is helping to consume unrenewable resources and even worse eliminating jobs. The depressing part is it has been going on for decades.

There are many companies out there stating that they are recommending services in the name of going green when in all actuality they are just saving themselves money and even work.

For example, your bank or utility companies possibly has lured you into switching your account statements into emails instead of using the U.S. Postal Service. They claim that it saves trees and landfills by minimizing the use of paper.

If someone was to take the time to think about this, they could find that the only thing it truly saves is money for the bank.

See paper is made from a renewable resource, TREES!

Trees can be farmed and replanted. Pine trees grow rather quickly and are grown on tree farms throughout our country. Paper can also be recycled, saving it from taking up space in landfills.

The banks may not even recognize this. They may have been sold on this false "going green" idea also. I really doubt it, but who knows.

The truth is that they save money from not printing the statements, putting them in an envelope, and paying for postage to mail them.

Do you spot the jobs that are suffering by them theoretically going green? Tree farms, paper mills, envelope makers, and the U.S. postal service is suffering from these banks trying to save a few pennies and covering it by pretending to be going green.

Another illustration that helps me tie this in to another true point is those little hand dryers in public restrooms. The little metal plate put on them declares that those electric hand dryers are far better for the environment because they cut down in paper cost and landfill space.

Now I'm not going to fire off on the absurb claims about saving trees again. No, now I am going to mention the use of electricity.

Many power plants across the U.S. use coal to produce the
power needed to work those little electric hand dryers. Can it really be "better" for the environment to pump the emissions out of a coal burning power plant to operate these hand dryers. The crazy part is it does not work on the first push of the botton inspite of it?

Is it really more fitting to use a non-renewable resource like coal instead of paper that can be made from farmed trees?

I truly can not believe the wool that is being pulled of everybodys eyes. No, what those little dryers do is save money for the individuals who try to make you believe these things are better and they help keep those public restrooms free of litter that someone has to clean up.

My final example is the one that chaps my hide the most and terrifies me of the future. This is the one that has been ocurring since the industrial revolution. Automated workers.

Automated workers... Those robots and computer programs that take up working class jobs for the sake of saving industries long term money. They save on wages and even retirement plans that the working class use to try to endure on.

Now before I go off on a babble about how the industries needed to focus on making jobs safer without firing the employees and putting in robots, I will move on and save that thought for you the reader to think about.

Instead let me bring up the power needed to run these electronic robots and the amount of coal powered electric plants spread out across the United States.

Who are these electric workers truly helping?

It's not me or the other out of work Americans. No, it's those top executives that think only of themselves, their money, and do not really think about the people at the real heart of their business.

I think the American people need to have their eyes opened through these times of going green because if the truth is seen then this can be a beautiful, environmentally friendly movement.

Supporters of the Green Movement everywhere need to realize that when we as Americans say "No" to using our natural resources and still go about useing them, then the laws of supply and demand is going to make these resources cost more when we do get these resources. In the end we are sending a depressing message all over the world.

That idea is "We Save Our Resources So That We Can Deplete Yours". This is really sad and I do not like how it feels in my gut. We as Americans need to step back and stop thinking about the "Going Green Movement" as a way to save money and ponder what it actually stands for, Saving The Environment.

Going green doesn't symbolize making a new light bulb that cost much less to energize or turning off the water when we brush our teeth. We can not waste water. Water will make it back into the water cycle. All of this is Just Saving Money! And Going Green absolutely doesn't mean saving money by no longer working with renewable resources, exactly the opposite really.

Going Green stands for discovering new alternative ways to power our lives with natural resources supplied by our planet and the universe.

One way I am going to initiate helping the environment is by looking at alternative power sources to power some of the appliances within my home.

I am learning how to build my own solar panels for less than a hundred dollars and in the near future I am going to invest in installing bladeless wind turbines that are now being introduced in the United States.

I have put together some reviews for many of the best do-it-yourself (DIY) guides and products along with the help of some friends and you can find out our top choices on our website.

Join us in a true "Going Green Revolution" and begin thinking about the true impact and reasons of going green. You can examine our reviews at http://www.eddie23gproductreviews.com/goinggreen/ and start making your own positive impact in the journey to "Going Green"




Here We Go Again! Achieving Success One Step At A Time.