Friends....No Matter What

As many of you may know my Mom has been battling Alzheimer's for the past several years. Alzheimer's is a horrible, horrible disease for which there is no current cure. It has completely robbed my mom of her ability to really communicate and care for herself and these past few years have been a struggle for her. My Dad is her primary caregiver and despite them both being in their early seventies, he faces obstacles in her care that no one should ever have to face. But you know what? It's the love that drives him and to know him and my Mom, it is truly, truly inspirational.

Dad lives for those special moments when Mom will look up at him with those still sparkling eyes and give him a smile. Those moments happen less and less frequently but they are what I know truly drives Dad. Anyone who is around him can see the love and it still apparent to me that she is still his best friend in the whole wide world.

Last night on the CBS Evening News, Steve Hartman had a story about true friendship on his segment Assignment America (something I tune into every week and never miss). It was a story about a couple of friends who have been getting together to play cards every week for over 50 years. The story was both heart-tugging and inspirational as it showed what life-long friendship really means.

One of the players a man named Charlie suffers from a form of Alzheimer's. They still include him and live for those same special moments that I know my Dad searches for every single day. The story had me in absolute tears as it made me miss my Mom more than you could ever know.

I wanted to share the link to this special video with you all for two reasons:

First, thank you Steve Hartman for reminding me just why I do what I do and why the concept of creating Ripples every day is so important. These guys truly "got it" and stand as an example of being Ripples in each other's lives every day. We could all be so lucky to have friends like this when we reach their age. The Ripples we create today may very help us do that.

Lastly, I share this because of my Dad. Thank you Dad for never giving up on her and for keeping steady watch out for those fabulous smiles that no doubt, only happen because you are still by her side. I love and miss you both and please give Mom a special hug and kiss from me.

Please watch the video by clicking on the link below and let me know what you think.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2533057n

Ripple On!!!

Steve

Create The LIfe You Want By Rippling - Lesson Nine

All I can say is WOW! I have received so many positive emails and phone calls about this series and I just want to say thank you. As we draw near to finishing this short series I just want to say thank you for reading! My BLOG only is what my BLOG is because of people just like you so thank you!!!

So lesson nine is another one of those tough ones but so essential if you truly want to create the life you want. So with no further adieu.....

Run with the right dogs and leave the other dogs on the porch.

This is a difficult lesson to adhere to but an important one. In order to create the life you want you must surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed and spend less time, or preferably no time, with those who do not fully support you.

I can not tell you how many people I have encountered or now coached that have goals, dreams and palatable aspirations only to be surrounded by a colleague, friend or social network that seems to enjoy telling them what can't be accomplished. I call these people the lazy dogs. Lazy dogs are those dogs that like doing nothing all day but sitting on the porch and waiting for life to give them their next meal. They grow uncomfortable and often downright mean when someone actually wants to get up and stretch their legs a bit and explore the yard and possibly someone else's lawn. Their favorite words are can't, don't and forget trying...grrooowwwll!

Do you have lazy dogs running your pack? Perhaps running your pack? Maybe it is time to find another pack or start your own.

There will always be those who say you can't accomplish that which you are destined to do. For me, when I first suggested to my lazy dogs I wanted to write a book they laughed. When I actually shared what I had written they said, "you're never going to be a Bill Shakespeare." When I actually published and had the shiny new book in my hand they criticized my cover. When I did my first big speech they said I didn't do that well.

It hurt. Criticism always hurts. It's also eay to fall into the trap of listening to it and believing it. DON'T DO IT! Or at Lease quit doing it!!!

Lazy dogs don't want you to accomplish anything because when you do it makes them self-realize how pathetic and unrewarding their own lives are. The best way to make themselves feel better is to put you down and tell you what you can't do. Life is too hard so why try. Especially you right? I mean if I can't accomplish it why should you?

Guess what....leave those dogs on the porch! Their bark and growl of ridiculous criticism won't ring in your ears if you actually leave the porch, their yard and never come down their street again. Simple as that.

Hard? Yes! Necessary? Absolutely!

Bottom line folks....if you remove those people who say you can't accomplish whatever it is you are here to accomplish (and yes you know what that is don't you?), you only make room for a whole new legion of people who will be there to support, encourage and actually help you. Funny how life works that way but it is absolutely true.

Today my life is so much more rewarding because I have left those mean-spirited dogs back on the porch and found a whole new pack of supportive, encouraging and amazingly inspiring people to run with. I have surrounded myself with people that challenge me and totally want to play a role in my success and I expect to do the very same for them.

Every once in a while one of those lazy dogs wanders over to my new block and tries to pee on my new greener grass and you know what....the electric fence works well!

Find the pack of people who focus on telling you what you CAN DO and what you WILL DO!


Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Create The Life You Want By Rippling - Lesson Eight

So yesterday we talked about not judging a book by its cover right? Well lesson number eight is a perfect motivator to put that lesson into practice:

Talk To Everyone...Even Strangers

One of the sure-fire ways to start creating the life you want is to recognize nothing, and I do mean nothing, happens in a vacuum. You need people. They need you. It is simple, straightforward but so true.

The quickest way to begin creating something amazing is to reach outside of your box and start making an effort to connect with those who cross your path in life. Remember the treasure chest lesson? Everyone and I do mean everyone you meet has the potential to add value to your life. You simply have to take the time and set aside your pre-judgment to get the ball rolling.

Maybe that is someone in line at Starbucks. Maybe it's the person who always shows up at the gym about the same time as you. Perhaps it's a complete stranger you meet at a cocktail party, in the elevator or sitting on the park bench.

I know I have said it before but it is so foundationally important that I am going to say it again....people are put in our path for a reason. If you don't stretch your legs to explore why, one thing is for certain....you will never know. What might you be missing?

Take the time today and begin exploring. Take a chance. Say hello to a perfect stranger and just start talking. It may feel strange at first but trust me it becomes easier with practice. You don't have to have an agenda, just be yourself. What is on your mind today? What would you most like to know about someone? For me....I am always fascinated how many people live in Austin that aren't from Austin and that is one of the ways I bridge connection to someone I don't know.

If you have no idea how to get the ball rolling or where to find the stones to start creating the conversation Ripples, look back through my BLOG at some of the Ripple Connection questions or email me and let me help you get started.

steve@ripplecentral.com

The person who you are meant to meet is going to appear today. You aren't going to let fear or those nasty pre-judgments and limiting filters hold you back from saying hello. When you do the clouds in your world of opportunity are going to clear.

Take a chance and make something happen today.....and as always.....

Ripple On!

Steve Harper

Create The Life You Want By Rippling - Lesson Seven

I have to admit that this next lesson is one that I still have trouble with and time and time again it always has something to teach me. The difference between where I am now in my life, versus where I might have been just a few years ago is important to note. I can now finally learn something when life offers up these little morsels because I am more aware and present where I can assure you it wasn't always like that. This is so true when it comes to people and trust me when you adhere to this lesson you will find an abundance of Ripples just waiting to happen for you.

So....lesson number seven is:

Don't judge a book by its cover.

How many people have entered your life for a specific purpose but you, like me, were too blinded to see it? Perhaps we were too busy to slow down and take notice or unwilling to take the time to care. Perhaps we saw someone who on the surface didn't appear to be able to help us because of the way they looked, they way they acted or because of their perceived experience.

We talk a whole lot about the filters and the walls that we have put up in our life that on the surface protect us right? But are they really protecting us or perhaps preventing us from experiencing that which is truly intended for us. Like I said, a few years ago I might not have agreed with that statement but today, the Ripples that have happened for me simply don't lie.

Yesterday was a perfect example of how judging a book by its cover can really cost you, or in this case, almost cost me!

A few weeks ago I had someone contact me about connecting to "just talk." He caught me a particularly difficult time schedule wise and I prejudged his purpose for wanting to meet with me. Because some people have abused my time and taken advantage of my advice I have become somewhat sensitive to people who "just want to talk." I must admit I pre-judged his intentions without really know what they were. What a mistake that would have been!

I was busy and sort of made this man jump through hoops to get on my schedule and yet he persisted. We did finally end up meeting and any reservations, pre-judgments, filters or walls simply melted away after meeting this delightful, energetic and incredibly engaging man for just a few short minutes. He was incredibly intelligent and very knowledgeable about what he wanted in life; he simply was seeking a mentor. I must admit I was flattered and after engaging with him a few times since, believe I likely have more to learn from him then he could learn from me. Regardless he has decided that my book, The Ripple Effect, is going to be the way he builds his new company and I swell with pride to know that my work has touched him on such a deep level.

Cut to yesterday when someone whom I originally wasn't willing to giving any time to because I was breaking rule number seven introduced me to someone whom I never would have met in a million years. The man I met yesterday because of my new friend happens to be one of the most connected and wealthiest men in Austin and someone I have admired for a long time.

So you see, breaking rule number seven would have cost me on multiple levels.

There is a line from one of my favorite movies "Good Will Hunting" where Robin Williams says, "I teach this s**t, I didn't say I know how to do it." that fits me sometimes.

These lessons are hard. They take time, they take effort and they take you to be actively engaged and present to make them work. It takes practice and every once in a while you will slip or almost slip like I almost did. But let me ask you this: What might not following these lessons be costing you?

In my case, my life has been enriched by the power of two! What might following lesson seven do for you today?

Ripple On My Friends!

Steve