NEW BLOG PAGE

To all my loyal readers....

After a lot of feedback and requests I have moved my blog to an official page, where you can easily access new and old articles.

I hope you enjoy the new site as much as I did creating it.

Feel free to drop me a line as I love reader feedback ;)


New blog is www.mondayinspiration.co.uk

Look Up!

A Primary School teacher asks her students to write an essay about what they would like God to do for them.

This is the essay one of them wrote:

'Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special: Make me into a Television. I want to be the TV in my house. Have my own special place, and have my family around me. To be taken seriously when I talk. I want to be the centre of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. I want my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me. And ... I want my brothers to fight to be with me ... I want the family to just leave everything aside, very now and then, to spend some time with me. And last but not least, ensure that I can make them all happy and entertain them. Lord I don't ask you for much. I just want to be like a TV.'

My Reflection:

In today's modern world it is less about the TV and more about our mobiles, tablets and computers. We have made these new age items the centre of our lives and we are all guilty of this - myself included. Yes it is true that technology is keeping us in touch with our friends all over the world, but at the same time it’s also isolating us from the ‘real’ world… We are always ‘connected’ but are completely ‘disconnected’ from the people right in front of us.

A study, at the Tel Aviv University, concluded that technology addiction should be regarded as a disorder on a par with gambling, sex addiction and kleptomania. The research showed users were addicted because they become irritable when away from technology. So from today, limit your time on the laptop and every now and again go out without your phone… This is an uncomfortable task as our mobile is attached to us a like a limb, but every now and again it can be quite liberating.

This video is what gave me a shock wake up call.
(I highly recommend you watch it too)

'Look Up' - A spoken word film for an online generation

"Look up from your phone, shut down that display, take in your surroundings, and make the most of today. Just one real connection is all it can take, to show you the difference that being there can make."

May you have an awesome week.
Darren Zwiers

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”― Henry David Thoreau

Burnt Biscuits

Authour Unkown

When I was a little child, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burnt biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologise to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said: “Baby, I love burnt biscuits.” Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides – a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!”

My Reflection:

I love this story because it illustrates how important it is to treat certain situations with a high level of sensitivity. You can be upset and eat burnt biscuits or you can be happy and eat burnt biscuits, either way you are eating burnt biscuits so you might as well be happy. We have to realise that the life we all live has imperfect moments and it is so important to know how to handle these moments and come to terms with them. Learning to accept each other’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is an extremely powerful tool in all relationships. Everyday you have the opportunity to cut yourself and others some slack. We have no clue the type of day people are having or what they are going through at that time - so it is always important to exercise a high level of sensitivity to the people around you. When someone drops the ball, instead of giving them a hard time about it, just reach down and pick it up for them.

May you have an awesome week.
Darren Zwiers

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes." -Mahatma Gandhi

The Final Exam

A professor stood before his class of 20 senior organic biology students, about to hand out the final exam. "I want to say that it's been a pleasure teaching you this semester. I know you've all worked extremely hard and many of you are off to medical school after summer. So that no one gets their GP messed up because they might have been celebrating a bit too much this week, anyone who would like to opt out of the final exam today will receive a "B" for the course." There was much rejoicing amongst the class as students got up, passed by the professor to thank him and sign out on his offer. As the last taker left the room, the professor looked out over the handful of remaining students and asked, "Any one else? This is your last chance." One final student rose up and took the offer. The professor closed the door and took attendance of those students remaining. "I'm glad to see you believe in yourself." he said. "You all have A's."

My Reflection:

I love this story because it reminds us of how quick we are to sell ourselves short when we have what it takes to become great individuals. It’s also frightening to see how so many of us will settle with second best just because its easy or requires less effort. We should always live our lives with champions attitude. If you want to truly believe in yourself and become a successful person then you are going to have to face your self-doubts and be ready to take care of it… This isn’t a simple task but a first step will be to adopt a positive attitude. Eg. if you start wondering, “What if I fail?” you can respond by saying, “Then I’ll just try again.” or Instead of telling yourself, “I could never do X,” say, “I can’t do X yet. But I’m working on it.” This simple mindset will transform a negative situation into an opportunity for personal growth and in turn will give yourself a fighting chance to reach high levels of personal satisfaction.

Never forget that you are always more capable and worthy than you give yourself credit for, so what are you waiting for… Go for gold!

May you have an awesome week.
Darren Zwiers

“Don't be afraid to be amazing.”- Andy Offutt Irwin

Smartest Man in the World

A doctor, a lawyer, a little boy and a priest were out for a Sunday afternoon flight on a small private plane. Suddenly, the plane developed engine trouble. In spite of the best efforts of the pilot, the plane started to go down. Finally, the pilot grabbed a parachute and yelled to the passengers that they better jump, and he himself bailed out. Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining. The doctor grabbed one and said “I’m a doctor, I save lives, so I must live,” and jumped out. The lawyer then said, “I’m a lawyer and lawyers are the smartest people in the world. I deserve to live.” He also grabbed a parachute and jumped. The priest looked at the little boy and said, “My son, I’ve lived a long and full life. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and live in peace.” The little boy handed the parachute back to the priest and said, “Not to worry Father. The smartest man in the world just took off with my back pack.”

My Reflection:

I always love it when you ask someone what they do and they immediately answer with their profession. We can learn from the above story that it’s never a good thing to tie your self-identity to your job. Anything that can be taken away from you is not a good thing to base your self-identity on because you once that's gone, what or who are you? Yes, your job does take up most of your adult life, but it shouldn’t define who you are as an individual. Remember your career isn’t your life - it is simply a tool for a successful life. Stop being your job and be you!

I wish you have an Awesome week :)
Darren Zwiers

“You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?” ― Dr. Seuss

The Two Lumberjacks

It was the annual lumberjack competition and the final was between an older, experienced lumberjack and a younger, stronger lumberjack. The rule of the competition was quite simply who could fell the most trees in 24hrs was the winner. The younger lumberjack was full of enthusiasm and went off into the wood and set to work straight away. He worked all through the day and all through the night. As he worked, he could hear the older lumberjack working in another part of the forest and he felt more and more confident with every tree he felled that he would win. At regular intervals throughout the day, the noise of trees being felled coming from the other part of the forest would stop. The younger lumberjack took heart from this, knowing that this meant the older lumberjack was taking a rest, whereas he could use his superior youth and strength and stamina to keep going.At the end of the competition, the younger lumberjack felt confident he had won. He looked in front of him at the piles of felled trees that were the result of his superhuman effort. At the medal ceremony, he stood on the podium confident and expecting to be awarded the prize of champion lumberjack. Next to him stood the older lumberjack who looked surprisingly less exhausted than he felt. When the results were read out, he was devastated to hear that the older lumberjack had chopped down significantly more trees than he had. He turned to the older lumber jack and said: “How can this be? I heard you take a rest every hour and I worked continuously through the night. What's more, I am stronger and fitter than you old man”.The older lumberjack turned to him and said: “Every hour, I took a break to rest and sharpen my saw.”

My Reflection:

After being on a rejuvenating holiday I thought it would be apt to share this story. In today’s age it's very easy to become a "workaholic," getting caught up, working long hours and taking few breaks. It’s fascinating that we naturally think the harder and longer we work, the more we can get done. This isn’t true at all… Resting correctly builds concentration, physical fitness and most importantly a positive mood. When it comes to work, you have two choices: you can rest and renew yourself everyday, or you can totally burn yourself out by overdoing everything. Every new day provides a fresh opportunity for renewal - an opportunity to recharge yourself instead of hitting the wall. There are many ways to relax in between work, you need to find what works best for you, but all it takes is for you to stop, take a break and sharpen your saw.

I wish you a new and refreshing week :)
Darren Zwiers

“Things are always better in the morning.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Walk In Freezer

Sammy Braun, the owner of a ritual slaughter plant in Argentina, was generally the last person to leave every night. The entire area was surrounded by a tall chain link fence and everyone entered through a wrought iron gate in the front, near the parking lot. The guard at the front gate, Domingo, knew that when Sammy left in the evening, he could lock the gate and go home.

One evening as Sammy was leaving, he called out to the guard, "Good night, Domingo, you can lock up and go." "No," Domingo called back, "not everyone has left yet."

"What are you talking about," Sammy said, "everyone left two hours ago!" "It is not so," Domingo said, "One of the shochtim (ritual slaughterers), Rabbi Berkowitz, hasn't left yet."

"But he goes home every day with his colleagues, maybe you just didn't see him," Sammy said.
"Believe me, I am positive he didn't leave yet," the guard insisted. "We better go look for him."

Sammy knew that Domingo was reliable. He decided not to argue, but instead got out of his car and rushed back to the office building with Domingo. They searched the dressing room for Rabbi Berkowitz. He wasn't there.

They ran to where the animals were slaughtered, but he wasn't there either. They searched the truck dock, then the packing house, going from room to room. Finally they came to the huge walk-in freezer where the large slabs of meat were kept frozen. They opened the door and to their shock and horror they saw Rabbi Berkowitz rolling on the floor, trying desperately to keep himself warm. They ran over to him, lifted him off the floor and helped him out of the freezer, past the thick heavy door that had locked behind him. They wrapped blankets around him and made sure he was warm and comfortable.

Sammy Braun was incredulous. "Domingo," he asked, "how did you know Rabbi Berkowitz hadn't left? There are over two hundred workers here every day. Don't tell me you know the comings and goings of every one of them?"

The guard's answer is worth remembering.

"Every morning when that Rabbi comes in, he greets me and says hello. He makes me feel like a person. And every single night when he leaves he tells me, 'Have a pleasant evening.' He never misses a night - and to tell you the truth, I wait for his kind words. Dozens and dozens of workers pass me every day - morning and night, and they don't say a word to me. To them I am a nothing. To him, I am a somebody.

"I knew he came in this morning and I was sure he hadn't left yet, because I was waiting for his friendly good-bye for the evening!"

It was Rabbi Berkowitz's genuine regard for another human being that literally saved his life.

My Reflection:

One of the best things you can do for other people is make yourself easy to remember and the ultimate way to be remembered is exactly like the above story. A simple friendly gesture to a stranger can go change and even save your life. This also raises a great question - what do you want to be remembered for? We don't ask ourselves this question enough, yet it should be a pivotal and motivating factor in our lives. Most if not all of us want to be remembered as good, compassionate and kind people.... yet at the best of times we don't display this behaviour. If you want to be remembered as a person who is friendly and greets people then DO IT everyday. If you want to be remembered as a humble person then be humble everyday. Yes we have our bad days and drop our guard, but it's these days that people will see your character shine and remember you... If you are consistent in your goodness people will truly remember you as a great person.

I wish you an awesome week :)

Darren Zwiers

Whether it's eight o'clock in the morning or eight o'clock at night, I always try to greet others before they have a chance to speak to me. - Zig Ziglar

Three Wishes

A sales rep, an administration clerk and the manager are walking to lunch when they found an antique oil lamp. They rubbed it and a Genie came out in a puff of smoke. The Genie said, "I usually only grant three wishes, so I'll give each of you just one." "Me first! Me first!" says the admin clerk. "I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world." Poof! She's gone. In astonishment, "Me next! Me next!" says the sales rep. "I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life." Poof! He's gone. "OK, you're up," the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, "I want those two back in the office after lunch."

My Reflection:

Growing up my dad always used to tell me to be careful what you set your heart upon as it will be yours. This sounds great because we all wish for big and mighty things, but sometimes the things we wish for aren’t good for our personal growth let alone our lifestyles and when we get it, it's not what we really expected. A good lesson is to stop wishing for specific things and rather wish for quality of life, like harmony, peace and stability. Wishing for meaning guarantees reward as you are pursuing a satisfying experience one that will enhance the quality of your life.

I wish you an awesome week :) A week where you can look at what you’re trying to manifest with fresh eyes – and yes, ‘be careful what you wish for’, as it may not be what it seems.

Darren Zwiers

“The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for the deliverance from fear.” — Emerson

Out Of Depth

A Boy was swimming in a river and got out of his depth, and was in great danger of being drowned. A man who was passing along a road heard his cries for help, and went to the riverside and began to scold him for being so careless as to get into deep water, but made no attempt to help him. "Oh, sir," cried the Boy, "please help me first and scold me afterwards."

My Reflection:

In times of crisis or difficulties it's always important to give assistance first and then advice. The quickest and most effective way to help someone out of a crisis requires immediate action. Unfortunately people are too quick to give advise when things are looking down and are too slow to really assist the person in need. It’s far better being a person of action rather than a person of words, as actions speak much louder than words them self. So the next time you see a friend, family member or colleague in need, try assist them practically before giving them advise.

I wish you an awesome week ahead.

Darren Zwiers

“You are what you do, not what you say you'll do.” ― C.G. Jung

Three Frogs

There were once three frogs on a log and on of them made a decision to jump in. How many were left? Answer: There are still three frogs on a log, he only made a decision, he took no action!

My Reflection:

The one element that makes us human is the ability to choose, to make a decision and act on it. It’s no good going through life making decisions but never really acting on them. You definitely don’t want to be the one who says “If only..” or “what if…”. It’s time to take action on your life, to fulfil all those dreams you have to make a decision and act on it. If things don't work out, it's always better to have made the effort than to have been lazy or scared. At least you can say that you did the best you could. Make your decision today and be ready to act on it.

I wish you a positive week ahead, where every situation presents itself optimistically in your mind!
Darren Zwiers

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through. - Zig Ziglar

Greatest Hitter

A little boy put on his baseball uniform and went outside to play, chanting "I'm the best baseball hitter in the world!" He throws the ball in the air, swings and misses. Strike one! He adjusts his hat and says, "I'm the greatest baseball hitter in the world!" He throws the ball in the air, swings and misses. Strike two! He adjusts his hat a little more, takes a couple of practice swings and says, "I'm the best baseball hitter in the world!" Once more, he throws the ball in the air, swings and misses again. Strike three! He puts his head down, thinks for a few moments about what just happened, then jumps and says, "I'm the best pitcher in the world!"

My Reflection: 

If we only focus on the the negative aspects of a situation we will certainly miss out on the opportunity that lies just beyond it. It’s time to stop thinking about what is happening to you and to start focusing on what you can achieve in any given situation. A negative outlook won’t get you anywhere. Being optimistic on the other hand will take you places you have dreamed about. Living life to the fullest involves taking risks every day, and while not all of them end the way you want them to, it is in your control to adjust your outlook on the end result… It's not about what happens to you, it's about how you react to what happens and having a clear optimistic mind, you will be the best at what ever you set out to achieve!

I wish you a positive week ahead, where every situation presents itself optimistically in your mind!
Darren Zwiers

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”  ― Dr. Seuss

A Pound Of Butter

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to the baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting a pound and he found that he was not. This angered him and he took the farmer to court. The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure. The farmer replied, "Your Honour, I am primitive. I don't have a proper measure, but I do have a scale." The judge asked, "Then how do you weigh the butter?" The farmer replied "Your Honour, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker."

My Reflection:

The message behind this story is simple… In life we get back what we give to others. Many people think that to in order to get what you want in life, you have to take. This isn’t the case - to truly get what you want out of life, you need to be ready to give. There is a universal truth that the more of a ‘giver’ you are then what you want comes more naturally. Now ‘giving’ does not only mean giving out money or material items. You give not because you have to, but rather because you have an inherent urge to give. Most famous and successful philanthropists did not start their charity work when they got rich. They were giving long before wealth and fortune was showered upon them…. this says something about the nature of giving. If you identify goals in the lives of those in need and do something to help them reach it, you will also find meaning in your own life. Remember, a life worth living, is a life worth giving…

Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

“You give but little when you give of your possessions.It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”– Kahlil Gibran

The Attenborough Family

By Lord Richard Attenborough

My parents were radicals, In the late 1930s, my father chaired a committee devoted to bringing Jewish refugees out of Hitler's Germany. In most of the cases, it meant housing them for a few days while their papers were put in order to go to relatives in the United States or Canada. One day my mother went up to London to fetch two German girls, Irene, aged 12, and Helga, 9. But while they were with us, war broke out, ending all transport to America. My brothers and I came back from school one day and were told to see our parents in father's study. My father explained that Irene and Helga were stranded and there was nowhere for them to go. Their mother was in a concentration camp, and their father likely to be. They were asking if we would agree to adopt the girls. "It would strain the family finances and holidays and other treats would have to be reduced. "My parents said, "This is what we would like, but we won't do it without the agreement of you boys, because they are going to become your sisters. Our mother said, "We absolutely love you boys, but we have to show even more love to these girls because they are here on their own and without their parents. Remember that doesn’t mean we love you less. It is entirely up to you, darlings, if they stay….

The girls moved into the Attenborough home and were loved as a family. After time moved to America in the 1950s to live with their uncle.

My Reflection:

Real compassion is not just an emotional response but a powerful commitment based on reason. A truly compassionate attitude towards others will never change even if they behave negatively. Having a deep sense of compassion for another human being irrespective of who it may be is not a theory but rather a real and practical act of love! Compassion like the Attenborough family displays above comes from a sense of power that a person really needs the attention and care that no one else can provide. The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence, it results from the relationships we all share with one another. When a person is sick, very young or very old, they must depend on the support of others. We are in this world together sharing the same existence and we all need each other, we all need to show compassion everyday. We all share an identical need for love, so it is possible to express a sense of sensitivity to everyone around us everyday. Stay humble and try to treat whoever you meet as an old friend in need of a little love.

Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

“One love, one heart, one destiny.” ― Bob Marley

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ― Mother Teresa

The Price of a Sundae

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” “50 cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. “How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient. “35 cents,” she said brusquely. The little boy again counted the coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed. When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were 15 cents – her tip. The boy had had enough for a sundae, but he had ordered plain ice cream so he could leave her a tip.

My Reflection:

This story is a great reminder to never forget those who serve you even if they don't remember you as it may just help remind them of their own value and there is nothing more rewarding than offering a silent reminder of ones greatness. We live in a world that continually tells us to “get all we can,” every so often it’s good to be reminded to “give something away.” Think of one small gesture that you can do this week that will encourage someone to believe in themselves!

Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Bath and The Bucket

A group of suppliers were being given a tour of a mental hospital. One of the visitors had made some very insulting remarks about the patients. After the tour the visitors were introduced to various members of staff in the canteen. The rude visitor chatted to one of the security staff, Bill, a kindly and wise ex-policeman. "Are they all raving loonies in here then?" said the rude man. "Only the ones who fail the test," said Bill. "What's the test?" said the man. "Well, we show them a bath full of water, a bucket, a jug and an egg-cup, and we ask them what's the quickest way to empty the bath," said Bill. "Oh I see, simple - the normal ones know it's the bucket, right?" "No actually," said Bill, "the normal ones say pull out the plug. Should I check when there's a bed free for you?"

My Reflection:

We can’t pretend that we don’t ever judge other people - it’s a combination of an 'innate setup’ that all humans posses, and something we develop overtime. We all judge people, there’s no escaping that! What’s really important is to know when you are judging someone and knowing that a bad judgement of someone can be harmful to both your perception of that person and what you tell others. Recognising your judgements can allow you to do it favourably. The judging itself isn’t bad, as you can always spin it to the positive. When you see someone less fortunate than you, or someone who is struggling with challenges, big or small, don’t start judging them as it’s impossible to genuinely help them from a place of judgment. Once you let you go of judgement you will arrive at a place of acceptance, curiosity and empathy and then you can you really help those in need. The added bonus is you’ll be a lot happier in the process too.


Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

“People hasten to judge in order not to be judged themselves.”  ― Albert Camus, The Fall

Mind At Ease

One day, a teacher was walking from one town to another with a few of his students. While they were traveling, they happened to pass by a lake. They stopped to rest there and the teacher asked one of his students to get him some water from the lake. A student walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed some people were washing clothes in the water and right at that moment, a horse and cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy. The student thought, ““How can I give this muddy water to my teacher to drink!”” So he came back and told his teacher, “The water in the lake is very muddy. I don’’t think it is suitable for you to drink.”” After a while, the teacher again asked the same student to go back to the lake and get him some water. The student obediently went back to the lake. This time he found that the mud had settled down and the water was clean so he collected some in a pot and brought it to his teacher. The teacher looked at the water then looked up at the student and said, ““See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be and the mud settled down on its own. It is also the same with your mind. When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time and it will settle down on its own.”

My Reflection:

How many times have you been overwhelmed by things in your life and react in a way you wish you never? The pace of our modern world tends to put our minds in a chaotic state. Sometimes it's easy to escape the ‘madness’ and other times it can be really difficult. How many times have you let your mind go wild, thinking about to-do-lists, what's happening later in the day, tomorrow’s events, reliving an experience which frustrated you the day before, panicking about work…. a tornado is brewing in your mind and you're getting real anxious because you can’t find the off button to the chaos in your mind. The truth is that you don’t need to turn off your mind, you never will be able to, but you can stop listening to the ‘noise’, stop allowing those thoughts orchestrate your feeling towards life and allow your mind to settle. Be patient with yourself. The quicker you can identify the noise in your mind, you will be able to settle it and bounce back to a state of peace. A peaceful mind is essential for our effectiveness in every day life. It keeps us calm no matter what the situation is. As the above story illustrates… when your mind is disturbed, it’s like mud in water, let it settle down and it will become pure once again.


Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

"When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there". - George Harrison

Deliver The Goods

By Elbert Hubbard

Author Elbert Hubbard told the story of an incident during the Spanish-American War. It was imperative that the president got a message to the leader of the insurgents. His name was Garcia and he was known to be fighting somewhere in the mountains of Cuba, but no mail or telegraph could reach him. Someone said, "There's a fellow by the name of Rowan who will find Garcia for you if anybody can." Rowan took the letter without hesitation. He sealed it in a leather pouch strapped over his chest. He landed in the dark of night off the coast of Cuba and made his way to the mountains, after much difficulty, found Garcia. He handed him the letter, turned around and headed home. Hubbard tells this story in "A Letter to Garcia." Rowan didn't ask, "Exactly where is he?" or "I doubt if I can do it." There was a job to be done and he did it.

My Reflection:

Sometimes we are guilty of automatically looking for excuses to get out of a little hard work or to relieve ourselves of responsibility. A little too often we rationalise why we can’t do certain things, making excuses to prevent ourselves from achieving greatness… Unfortunately this is the first step in personal sabotage. Get over your “excuse making” self, no one enjoys listening to an excuse maker! It’s time to seize each opportunity that is presented to you and immerse yourself fully. Forget the why and how... just do it! Making excuses will only hinder your own personal progress. If you want results you will have to work hard, that is the only way you will get ahead of the crowd. Instead of making a hundred and one excuses why you can't complete a task or you can’t take on a project, think about our hero Rowan and deliver the goods!


Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” – Benjamin Franklin

Be Like Water

By Bruce Lee

“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

My Reflection:

Water doesn’t stop at obstacles, it works its way around them. Flowing water always finds the path of least resistance and follows it without effort or hesitation. If there is the slightest gap or weakness, water will find its way through and keep flowing. We can apply this principle to our own lives… when faced with obstacles in your life be like water, find ways around it, don’t be rigid and focused on one aspect. Be open to new ideas and work your way around it. Sadly when we sometimes face life’s hurdles, we fight back or completely walk away quitting far too early. If an object is dropped into the water it doesn’t fight back, it just moves out of the way and swallows it up. So to, you should adopt the formless energy of water and swallow up life’s challenges with little resistance.

Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind." - Bruce Lee

The Bumblebee

According to scientists, the bumblebee's body is too heavy and its wing span too small. Aerodynamically, the bumblebee cannot fly. But the bumblebee doesn't know that and but it keeps flying anyway.

Reflection

Sometimes we are so quick in life to throw our hands up in the air and say “I can’t do this” or “I don’t have the intelligence, strength or capacity to do that”… The truth is you CAN. Unlike the bumblebee we tend to let the world convince us that we can’t do certain things. If you don’t know your limitations you will never become successful, so what if you sometimes you fail… that’s just the beginning of the journey. I can assure you that if you go out there and forget about the “I can’t”, you will really surprise yourself. The only limitations you have are the ones that are self-imposed! No person can succeed in this world if they stay in their comfort zone… imagine the bumblebee believed in the science of aerodynamics he would never take flight… Believe in yourself, listen to your heart, accept no one else’s definition of your own life and you too will all soar like our friend, the bumblebee.

Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

"There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee 

Glass and Silver

Author Unknown

A man once became rich and his lifestyle changed. He became hard-hearted and selfish. One day, he was visited by an old friend who had taught him about acts of kindness. The rich man showed off his beautiful home and boasted to his friend about his wealth. Noticing the change in him, his friend called him to the window. Pointing to the outside, he asked, "What do you see?" "I see poor people passing by trying to earn a living" he replied. Walking over to a large mirror the friend told the rich man to look in. "Now what do you see?"  "Myself, of course." "I don't understand," said the old friend. "Both the window and the mirror are made of glass. Yet when you look through the window, you see the poor people outside but when you look at the mirror, you see only yourself!" "The reason is simple!" said the rich man. "The mirror has a silver coating which prevents you from seeing through. However, the window has no silver coating, so you can see through."

Reflection

As we all progress and become successful in our careers and lives, our lifestyles change and so does our outlook on the rest of the world. Money is a very powerful force in our lives, it can make or break a person. As the story above points out… never let your moral compass become uncalibrated due to money. Sometimes our troubles begin when a bit of silver is added into our lives, and we start looking too much at ourselves and stop seeing other people. It’s important to always stay humble and to keep caring for the people around us as we journey through life. I read a great article about 15 successful billionaires who prove that “money doesn’t always change you“.
You can read it here (Business Insider  JAN. 16, 2013)

Remember always make sense with your cents :)

Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself – and be lenient to everybody else.” —Henry Ward Beecher

We All Hold The Key

Once upon a time, a village was occupied by invaders and all its people were imprisoned. They suffered for months in the cold, sleeping on rocks and hardly ate good food. On seeing the state of the people of their village, four philanthropists decided they would serve them. The first one decided he would offer warm clothes, shoes and socks to the people who were dying from the cold. So, he did! He thought he did the best deed and walked away happily! The second man decided he would provide blankets, a cozy bed and a pillow for all the prisoners to sleep, and so, he did! He thought he did the best deed and walked away happily. The third philanthropist watched the people crave good food; she decided to offer them a healthy meal and clean drinking water every day. So, she did! She thought she had done the best deed of all and she walked away happily! The fourth man wondered, "what am I to do for my people?" He woke up in the middle of the night, sneaked into the prison, stole the key from the guard and released all of them! And, the people walked away happily....

Reflection

I love this story because it’s a great reminder on how important it is to find lasting solutions and resolve within the cause of a situation. Giving money to charities and causes is important and very meaningful, but sometimes we are required to go beyond ourselves and find ways to resolve issues. Real, lasting kindness comes from careful consideration and creative thought processes which help to fix problems rather than keep applying plasters onto them. As we are at the beginning of the year, now is a good time to pick a cause that resonates with you and find ways to come up with solutions to make a change in peoples lives.
As our hero in the above story, we all hold the key to acts of kindness that will unlock the happiness for someone less fortunate...

Have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”  ― Mother Teresa

The Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us! My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, really friendly. So I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!” This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.” He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage (frustration, anger, disappointment, etc.). As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

Reflection

Successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. It’s really not worth experiencing life based on someone else’s bad mood and negativity. This is something we are all familiar with… It just takes one person’s negative attitude to ruin your day. Don’t let this happen - in fact you have the potential to turn that person's day around for the good. Just because someone seems to be in a bad mood, it doesn't mean they are constantly angry or depressed. They are just likely having a bad day and yes, we all have those days. Instead of allowing people to dump their mood on you, be extra patient with them and offer them a friendly smile and a liltle assistance.

Have a garbage free week ;)
Darren Zwiers

“Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.”  ~Unknown

Five More Minutes

While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. “That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide. “He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.” Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?” Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.” The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?” Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.” The man smiled and said, “OK.” “My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded. The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa. She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get five more minutes to watch her play.”

Reflection

We all know that we live in a world that is finite, it has a beginning and an end. We all know that there is no such thing as “all the time in the world,” yet we live our lives as if we have all the time in the world… We spend so much time waiting for the perfect moment to do something, but this perfect moment may never come and we land up putting things off forever, regretting it in the future. Life is all about making priorities and sticking to them. I would suggest you start at the top of the list with spending more time with your family and the people closest to you. Don’t underestimate how precious each minute spent with someone you love is. As the father in the above story… Give someone you love 5 more minutes of your time today, you won’t regret it!!

Wish you an awesome 2014!
Darren Zwiers

“Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today” - Benjamin Franklin.