A Life of Thanksgiving

 by Pettis Perry

Thanksgiving is Life Giving

According to History.com "in 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn't until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November."

Whether you believe this day is a day of celebration or a day of mourning it has come to symbolize family get-togethers, kindness to others who are less fortunate than we are, and giving thanks for what we have. If nothing else it has come to represent abundance through the amount of food that is prepared and consumed. In fact, in the perponderance of dinners I've attended there's generally so much food left over that everyone who attended the feast is also able to take leftovers home to be consumed the next day.

When I think about Thanksgiving I am reminded of the feasts my mom used to prepare, the contributions my parents made to who I am today, how my son Matthew changed my life when he was born and how wonderful our father-son relationship has been throughout his lifetime, my relationships with my family members and friends, and for the evolution of my deepest spiritual Self connecting me to all things in the Universe. 

My life has been filled with abundance even during times of substantial material scarcity. What I have learned through reflection about this phenomenon, is that my dark nights of the soul have illuminated my life in immeasurable ways once I understood their roles in causing my greatest periods of growth. As I've emerged from my dark nights I've learned that my happiness comes from within and as long as I am true to my Life path the abundance in my life will continue unabated. On a daily basis, I give thanks for how I've grown into the kind of adult who me as a child would be proud to grow up to become. 

This is not some narcissistic statement of self-aggrandizement but rather a recognition of the many blessings that have come my way over the length and breadth of  my life experience. I am thankful that whenever I begin to feel sorry for myself I am reminded by Life's circumstances that But, for the grace of God, there go I. It can always get worse! Therefore, my thanks are unending and my faith is unwavering.

Through my own process of reflection, what I have come to know is that I have no other choice but to live as I do. Like all people, it is through the Life path journey that we become illuminated in the secrets of the Universe which from my perspective is the reason we as mortals exist. So, as I contemplate my own life it has certainly been a Life of  giving thanks for all of the many gifts I receive on a daily basis.

To all of you who have impacted my life in one way or another, thank you for being my teachers. Each of you has taught me something about myself and about life. Whether you have harmed me or helped me what you all have in common is that you have taught me to live a life of thanksgiving. So, on this very special day of the year, thank you for coming into my life and helping to shape me into the person that I as a child could be proud of Becoming. 

(2011) Lake Nacimiento, CA

 Thank You!

Reference

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving

Destiny By Design

 by Pettis Perry

Living Life On Purpose

Do you live your life by accident or on purpose? I choose living life on purpose and with intention because it is so rewarding to live this way. Why waste a moment of time doing nothing when doing something brings so much richness to the life experience? Even when I choose to do nothing I am doing nothing with intention. I use the nothing time to charge my batteries, to relax my mind in order to allow my creative processes to work unmolested by distracting thoughts, or to enjoy the beauty of the moment. What I try to minimize is procrastination, because procrastination is the enemy of long term success; and I relish long term success.

(2011) Cabo San Lucas

One of my basic beliefs is that our destiny is the sum total of all life experiences. As such, to a great extent I get to control the outcome of my destiny by the choices I make throughout my lifetime. I may not be able to select the terminal point when my life will end (unless I commit suicide), but I can certainly influence the direction my life takes and therefore my likely destiny. Obviously, what makes life exciting is that there are random events occurring through nature's influences that, in turn, also influence my life experiences. I cannot account for all of these influences but I can try to make myself flexible and agile when it comes to responding to life events: Learning to roll with the punches so to speak.

To live Life on purpose means approaching life with courage by making choices and living with the consequences of those choices. It means leaving your past behind, focusing on the present moment, and looking to the future for inspiration because each new opportunity presents itself as a doorway to open and walk through. Applying these ideas to my own life means that my job is to construct my life with intention by figuring out what it is I want out of my life and what I want to do with my life.  As part of this exploration there are two fundamental questions. The first is, "Which direction do I want to set for my life course?" The second is, "What strategy will I deploy to get from Point A where I am now to Point B where I want to go?"

(2011) Cabo San Lucas Arch

Like most things in life there is both an art and a science to choosing a course of action. The art of choosing a course of action is by first understanding which things I control and which things I cannot control. For example, I can make sure that I am fully prepared for a job opportunity but I cannot determine whether the hiring decision will favor me or not. By focusing on my own preparation and development I increase my value as opportunities arise. In my own case having careers as a senior executive, consultant/trainer, and now  teacher significantly increases my capacity as a skilled professional in any of those same career areas. In a highly competitive environment my breadth of expertise expands the number of opportunities available to me.  

The science is in my specific preparation to be able to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. By knowing which course my life will take enables me to create a strategy to train myself  in order to master my craft. Mastering my craft enables me to go a step farther by applying to my life making activities what I know about leadership and what I have practiced while leading organizations. What I have come to know unequivocally, through study and practice, is that monumental changes are possible by taking decisive action based upon good data and solid decision-making practices. My training goal then becomes learning how to find the data I need and then using it to inform decision practices.

A wonderful consequence of my ability to take control of my life means that I have the ability to change my life in whatever ways I like. This does not mean that the entire change will occur in an instant, but it most certainly means that complete transformation can occur with enough directed effort over time. In this case, patience is a virtue. 

In thinking about the kind of advice I would offer my son I've captured 7 jewels from my own life experiences that are helping me create my destiny by design. In passing these jewels onto my son they are offered here to you as though you are one of my family members--which in effect you are.

Tips For Creating Your Destiny By Design

 1. Own the problem. In this case, own your own life. Commit to taking charge of your life and making your own decisions. If you are a minor then work with your parent(s) to make decisions about what you want to do with your life. In the end though, the decision has to be yours because you have to walk your path alone even when in the company of others.

2. Prepare yourself for the life you want. The younger you are the more lead time you have to create your future. The older you are the greater number of life experiences you have which in-and-of-itself is a strength. Do your homework by starting to learn about the types of things you want to do with your life in terms of career, family, self-development, etc. For example, if you are undecided about a career then contact the career center at your local community college and ask them how you can have a career assessment performed.

 3. Be willing to take small steps and to exercise patience, but keep the forward movement. If you find yourself waiting long periods of time while trying to select the right degree or training program to enter then take a course in the meantime at a community college or apprentice through one of your local unions. If you are having trouble getting started, whatever you do take a deep breath,trust your heart to pick your direction, and begin taking steps towards where you want to go. Travel with confidence knowing that what is uncertain today about tomorrow, will be revealed when the appropriate time comes.

4. Be kind to yourself. Failure will occur and you have to forgive yourself. We learn more from our failures then we do from our successes. As mom used to say "There is always a silver lining in every cloud." Listen to mom, find the silver lining no matter how bad things appear to be.

(2011) Land's End, Cabo San Lucas

5. Evaluate yourself and your circumstances honestly. Be true to yourself. Be open to feedback.

6. Believe in yourself. What you do not know you can learn. Others may try to convince you that you are on the wrong path so believe in yourself and believe in your path.

7. Follow your heart but have the courage to act. Your heart knows the answer even when your mind doesn't. Your body is like an antenna and your heart is like a receiver analyzing the electromagnetic signals it encounters. Your intuition feeds your heart and confirms what the heart-mind knows as truth.

No matter how hard we try to take the right path we sometimes find ourselves at land's end with hard choices to make: The proverbial fork in the road accompanied by times of uncertainty.It is at this time when your faith will be tested most stringently. Do you have the courage to take a leap of faith with the knowing you will be okay when you land? In my case, when my time came I refused to forsake my faith. It proved to be the right choice for me. You will have to decide for yourself when your time comes whether you truly have faith. Of this I am certain--be open to what comes and you will be surprised at what manifests as a result--it is part of the design.

What advice do you have for others? What strategies seem to work for you?

Making the Best of Your Day

by Pettis Perry

 Frame of reference: Life is a Journey and Not a Destination

(2011) San Francisco Bay

As cliche as it might sound, life truly is a journey and not a destination. While, it is filled with moment-to-moment occurrences that could cause your destiny to turn on a dime, it is also intended to be lived fully and abundantly with the opportunity for wonderful experiences to occur frequently throughout the lifetime. 

Metaphorically speaking, hindsight is always 20-20 and we have to live in the present moment; yet, living life with an openness to future experiences and whatever comes your way, offers richness of opportunities and aligns your psychological framework to make the most of each day. After all, isn't that what life is about--making the most of each day?

Here is an example of what I mean. Today, while shopping for groceries at my local Raley's store here in Vallejo, CA I had a chance encounter with the store manager, Ben Diaz, who happened to be relocating his palletized inventory items by negotiating his pallet  jack down the isle I was in. As he approached me he asked "How are you doing sir?" I looked up a bit surprised, but appreciated his reaching out to me and responded with, "I'm good. No, actually I am excellent!" Without stopping his backward movement away from me or skipping a beat with his thinking he inquired, "So, what makes your day so excellent?" As I searched for my answer I began with "I'm vertical (code for I'm alive). I've got my health. I have a great son and a great life. I love what I do." As I ticked off each item he started counting them using his fingers with his hand raised, like my mom used to do when she wanted an accounting of the list of chores I had completed. 

When I was done, I inquired of him, "What about you?" He thought for a brief moment and said, "I'm thankful!" Pausing for a second, he pointed to the sky with his index finger and said, "I'm thankful to Him." I responded with, "That goes without saying." We smiled and went our separate ways.  I was immediately struck by what had just happened. My response to him was so complex: But, his response to me was so simplistic, so beautiful, and so profound that I recognized him as a sage and teacher. (Our teachers come from everywhere.)

(2011) San Rafael-Richmound Bridge

 Flip the Mental Switch

The encounter caused me to continue thinking about our conversation for the duration of my shopping spree and it helped to bridge my feelings between frustration and enjoyment. I took note that one of the things the encounter did for me was to reduce my frustration level with not  understanding the logic of the store layout that was forcing me to walk down the isles multiple times searching for my grocery items. Rather, than allowing my frustration to mount I decided to find the items I could successfully locate and then to seek  assistance from a clerk for the remaining items. The thought of a guy asking for help might run contrary to the logic most men maintain but I keep my ego in check and it was my choice to make: Besides I am fully in touch with my feminine side! 

When I approached the cashier to ask for assistance she said, "Sure!" and directed Billy (one of the bagging clerks) to help me find the remaining items. Billy was also kind enough to provide an overview of how the store is organized so the next time I come into the store I will be able to find things more easily. By the time I got to the check-stand to pay for my groceries the store manager was standing adjacent to me a few feet away. The cashier greeted me with smiles and introduced herself as did the clerk who bagged my groceries. My cart was filled to the brim so it took the cashier time to offload and scan the groceries. 

In the meantime, I approached the store manager and expressed my appreciation for his short response earlier while in the isle, and its resulting personal revelation for me about its meaning. I told him that I was going to share my story as part of my blog as an example of how small events can have big impacts when searching for and creating meaning through life's experiences. Before leaving the conversation to return to pay for my groceries, the store manager asked whether I had a card for my blog site. I indicated "No, but that is a good idea!" I told him that I would write my site information down although I was experiencing visual problems from eye fatigue so he gave me his email information instead. He asked me to send him the blog site link, which I promised to do.  

 It's Your Day. So Own It!

The point of this story is that we each get to control how we are going to engage the world every moment of every day. Since attitude determines behavior, if we are having a bad day we get to choose how bad or good that day will ultimately become by the attitude we apply to the situation. My frustrations in the shopping example were thwarted by my willingness to embrace what was happening to me in that moment while shopping--an activity I honestly dislike. However, because I chose to change my attitude, my frustration which had been increasing each time I couldn't find what I was searching for, waned and my meaningful day (which for me is feeling centered and allowing my heart to smile) returned to shape the remaining part of my day. In the end, I chose happiness over a negative attitude and, as a result, created a meaningful and wonderful day for my Self. 

What I have learned over the course of my lifetime is that I may not have control over the absolute circumstances that occur during each day, but I always have control over how I choose to respond to those very circumstances. Herein lies the great human capacity: Unlike other species in the animal world, as humans we have the ability, by changing our frames of reference, to create for ourselves that which we experience.  By changing the psychological positions we take based upon our respective views of the world we alter that which we experience. In other words, when we change our attitudes, we change our behaviors. By changing our behaviors the world responds to us differently and therefore we have a different experience. The lesson here for each of us is that if you want to create a meaningful life for yourself then take control of your life beginning with your attitude. 

What have you done today to create a meaningful life day for yourself? 

Please feel free to share one of your stories by making a comment.

Finding Meaning In Life

by Pettis Perry

How Wonderful You Are

Bringing greater meaning into your life by living the life you sing about in your song doesn't require magic tricks or special talents. It only requires a frame of reference in which you believe that you have the capacity within your Self  to bring significant meaning into your life simply by reshaping your own thinking and beliefs. 

Michael F. Lange

After more than 40 years of working with people of all ages, I can tell you that each of us (almost without regard to age) has the capacity to dramatically alter our lives if we are willing to put in the time and make the effort. This is because, generally speaking, we all have the same 24 hour clock and the same compass; and we all have the ability to think in unique and creative ways. The thing that differentiates us is how well we use them and whether we have the courage and personal will to go after and actualize what we want.

Let me introduce you to Michael, my long time friend and Brother member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Michael is one of the most creative people I know. We have a long history together. Our families know each other. We have lived together, played together, worked together, traveled together, and even cried together. Michael spent most of his career as the Director of the Feather River Children's, Family, and specialty  Camps operated at the time by Oakland Parks and Recreation. He currently teaches for the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at San Jose State University. In addition to being a gifted teacher, he is an artist, musician, singer, lyricist, playwright, and actor. 

If you met Michael you would likely  say he is humble, compassionate, spiritual, unpretentious, and an all-around nice guy. (I call him Ghandi-esque.) You might very well not notice anything special about him other than how truly nice he is as a human being. Yet, he has chosen to live a meaningful life for himself by cultivating his various talents over a lifetime of practice. For as long as Ive known him rather than saying, I can't. He says, I can. 

One day, while grading papers, Michael was listening to some music composed by Canadian composer Andre Gagnon. The music made its way from Japan to the US as the result of a gift that was given to his mom, who then gave it to Michael because it was such beautiful music. He tells the story of how he was multitasking while grading papers by also thinking about a play that he was asked to direct and about a close friend for whom he holds special affection. In an inspired moment fueled by a confluence of his activities the lyrics to a song that he titled How Wonderful You Are was given life. He has given me permission to share his song publicly so it is being shared for the first time with you as part of my Life blog. 

 How wonderful you are (click here to listen to song)

You can truly say that Michael lives the life he sings about in his song. 

Live the Life You Sing About in Your Song

Michael is such a beautiful example of what can happen to bring meaning into your life at an unexpected moment in time when you pursue your passions.In so doing you never know how much of what you create or do in this process of creating meaning for yourself  will affect others who might then be inspired by what you have accomplished, to do the same.

While Michael may have cultivated a wide range of his deeply held creative and artistic capabilities, the rest of us have the same capacity: We just make different choices about where to spend our time (our clock) and what directions to go (compass). 

Find and Exercise Your  Creative Self

Like Michael, each of us has our own set of gifts that we can cultivate to bring greater meaning into our lives. For me, having the freedom to travel is the way that I bring meaning into my life now that my son has left home to pursue his dreams. I also love to train people in areas of my interests, practicing as an amateur photographer, satiating a voracious appetite for reading as part of my lifelong learning commitment, and writing about things of interest like this blog. I also often provide Pro Bono consultancy expertise to organizations that could not otherwise afford to hire someone with my knowledge, skills, and abilities. In this way, I get to experience on a daily basis the things I love to do most by the simple actions I take as I proceed through each day.

The importance of finding our passions cannot be overstated for those us who are serious about creating the most wonderful lives for ourselves. Our passion is what drives us to seek answers to great questions, to love those around us, and to find joy in the smallest of accomplishments. 

In my case, I am extremely lucky to have had a mother who frequently reminded me that "there is a silver lining in every cloud." She believed this so fervently that as she was slowly dying of cancer she was able to keep her sense of humor, wit, and unending desire to continue learning. She personified what it means to pursue a meaningful life by seeking happiness with every breath she took. As a result, she taught me to always seek the positive aspects of a situation regardless of how dark things appeared. Thanks to her, I do my best to always try to find the hope in hopeless and the possible in the impossible. Let me stress that this is not wishful thinking, but a way of learning how to Become actualized more fully. 

She was so good at maintaining her positive attitude that if you did not know she was ill you would think that she was the healthiest person in the world. She was a truly remarkable woman; not simply because she was my mother, but because she was always looking for some good thing to do for other people and found wonderful meaning for herself in the smallest of acts of kindness and observations. She was also never one to blame others for her plight regardless of how difficult things were for her or for us as a family. Her spirit greatly influenced me by her way of Being as she taught me to soak up every second of life and to maximize what I do with my time on Earth. Moreover, she taught me to serve humanity and as a result I find regular opportunities to actualize a truly wonderful and meaningful life for myself by helping others. 

Every Problem is a New Opportunity

However, in my work as a consultant/trainer, I listen to people who speak about being unhappy. I often hear them blame the world for everything that is going wrong in their lives. They spend so much time blaming others that they fail to see that they created the very thing they are complaining about. They are so blinded by their own lack of accepting responsibility for what is happening to themselves that they make themselves powerless by giving away all of their power to those they are blaming. 

As someone who studies leadership as a disciplinary field of study, it becomes apparent that the way to solve problems is to first ask ourselves what part of the problem am I? By seeking the answer from within ourselves we can begin to take ownership for what we manifest outwardly in our lives. Herein lies the key to living the life you are singing about in your song.

For many of us this is a very scary prospect because it is so easy for us to blame others in order to protect ourselves while it's much more difficult to pony up to the table and admit that we made a mistake. Think about this for a moment. How often have you become angry at someone for something that truthfully was your fault? Nonetheless, accepting responsibility for the consequences of our own actions is precisely what is required to change our frames of reference so that we can take control of our own lives. To that end, we have to own the fact that ultimately we are responsible for creating whatever happens in our lives. We are responsible and accountable for our own actions; all of the good and the bad things that occur. Once that ownership occurs then it becomes much easier to shift our thinking to pursue that which is truly our passion. 

Find Your Passion

But what is passion? The on line Merriam-Webster Dictionary (n.d.) defines passion as ". . .a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something." As you contemplate your passions, how often have you thought about something you were passionate about and then in the next moment told yourself that you could not do it for whatever reason you could conger up in your mind? For example, "I want to go out but I have to take care of my kids. I want to go to school but I have to spend too many hours at work. I want to go on a trip but I do not have enough money. I want to stop smoking but I'm under too much stress." We consistently talk ourselves out of doing the very things we've identified as our passions and then we feel terrible about it and short changed in the end when they do not manifest in our lives. By the time we know it, a lifetime of waiting for things to happen has passed by us.

The question for each of us is, how do you want to use your clock and compass? My belief is that we do not have to wait to find some magic moment to exercise our passions; but we do have to exercise the courage to take the first step in the direction of the change we want to see. Ghandi offered sage advice when he reportedly said "Be the change you want to see." So, if you want a change in your life then make it. If you want to learn how to swim then do it. If there are places you want to go then find a way to make it happen. 

One of the truisms I have found in my own life is that, in the end, what you need will be provided for if you're fully committed to an action. You have to have the thought before it can happen. So, rather than telling yourself you can't do something develop the belief that you can do it and more importantly that it will happen if you are serious about making it happen.

How do you create meaning in your life?

References

Merriam-Webster (n.d.). Online Dictionary. retrieved on November 10, 2011 from http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/passion

The Importance of Stories

by Pettis Perry

Creating a meaningful life through our stories about Life

Everything in the universe that has ever or ever will exist has a story. How grand is that? Isn’t it wonderful to know that we are part of something much larger than our minds can truly comprehend? Think of it for a moment. Close your eyes and visualize what that means. Every atom, molecule, particle, grain of sand; every planet, meteor, and thought has a story. 

So, what do stories have to do with a meaningful life? The short answer is, “everything!” One such memorable story that frequently emerges in my mind comes from my childhood. For example, yesterday, I was telling my sister-in-law about one of my childhood stories and it reminded me of just how much impact this story has had on my life; and the lives of two other people as well. It was one short period of time in my life that had a profound enough impact on me (and them) for me to remember.

When I was in the 7^th grade, like other industrious boys, I had a newspaper route to earn spending money for myself. Since we lived in the foothills of the Angeles Crest Mountain Range in southern California, at the end of my route I generally had extra newspapers that I threw in the garbage so that I would not have to carry them back uphill on my bicycle while riding home. One day, I was thirsty and decided to stop at a neighborhood store to see whether the owner would exchange something to drink for the extra newspapers. I felt this was a win-win situation and there was nothing to lose.

I walked into the store and spoke to the owner about the proposition and then awaited his answer. He looked at me and smiled and said “sure.” I handed him my stack of newspapers and asked whether I could have some orange juice. He said “yes, that’s fine!” I can remember as I write this story walking over to the cooler to select the juice. I picked up a quart of the juice and proceeded to the counter. I was so thirsty that I opened the juice and began to drink the cool sweet liquid.  I remarked about how good the juice was and we spoke for a few minutes before I left to return home. 

Well, that first stop led to more stops and it became a ritual for the length of time I maintained the paper route. Even after I stopped my route, I made my way back to the store to buy orange juice from the store and to say hello to the storekeeper. Our ritual continued until I moved to northern California several years later.

More importantly, some three decades later while visiting my old neighborhood I decided to stop to see whether the owner was still in business. When I walked through the door the storekeeper welcomed me as was his custom. I approached him and told my story about my childhood experiences. He smiled as tears began to well in his eyes. He said, “I am really overwhelmed by your coming back to see me because I have wondered for many years whether to sell my store because the community is changing so much and I do not know what to buy anymore to meet their needs. I’ve been wondering whether or not it matters and whether I am making a difference.” I said, “I cannot speak for anyone else but you have made a major difference in my life. You did not need my newspapers yet you were kind enough to allow me to exchange my papers for something to drink when I was thirsty. In fact, today I still drink that same brand of juice as my favorite juice.” He said, “Ironically a young lady brought me some flowers a couple of weeks ago to say thank you for helping her when she was a child. She wanted to tell me that she was now a doctor.” I respond with, "Well, you have helped two children that grew up to become doctors because I too have earned my doctorate!” At that moment, his tears became even more pronounced.

As I’ve contemplated what I would have missed had I not stopped to see whether the storekeeper was still in business, I am reminded that closing the loop to tell people “thank you” for what they have contributed to my life is a very powerful way to repay them for that kindness. I made a difference to that storekeeper as did the other doctor who stopped by to say thank you. Three people created a meaningful life experience for the other with simple acts of kindness that had truly exponential effects that in turn benefited many thousands (if not millions) of other people. 

I am so grateful that I followed my intuition to return to the store that day.  I have to think the same is true for the other doctor who came back to see the storekeeper. Three people, one store in a small town resulted in thousands of positive impacts, and in the end, millions of people have likely benefited from the actions of this one storekeeper who simply showed his kindness with two children, who in turn are doing the same for many more people. And, at least some of those people will in turn pay it forward.

This is the power of stories. They help us to connect the dots in our lives so that we can see the entire picture rather than focusing on a single incident or event. Stories are also how we embed our societal values in the lessons we have for ourselves, our children, and others. One of the most important lessons in my life occurred in that neighborhood store demonstrating how a simple act of kindness can have profound impacts. If you are as lucky as the storekeeper you will be blessed one day to learn just how much of a difference you made by simply being kind.

The moral of the story is that we never know how much of an impact we might have on others simply by being kind. Stopping to hold the door open for a child, lending a hand to help an elderly stranger down the stairs, or loaning a toy to crying child on an airplane might be insignificant acts of kindness to you, but might make all of the difference in the world to someone else. So, if you think that your stories don't matter, think again because they do! 

This story reflects a meaningful life event precisely because it was important enough for me to remember and to use whenever I am working with others as an example of the kindness that people can demonstrate towards each other; and the resulting projection the inherent power of the act has well into the future.  

What is one of your meaningful life stories? I hope you are encouraged to share a story that has brought meaning into your life.

The Birth of Life

by Pettis Perry

Welcome to Life!
 
This blog has been created as a forum for talking about life and life issues. The subject matter will change depending upon life, as "life happens" in unexpected ways. Your questions, comments, and expert knowledge in whatever area that might be for you is most graciously welcomed as part of our community's co-created process.

Our hope is that Life will become a primary forum for people to share life stories. If you are interested in the good and wonderful gifts that life has to offer we hope you'll participate. We do not discriminate for any reason other than to ensure the collective good is sustained. Your views are welcomed and encouraged.

We hope that you will gladly "give" to this community at whatever level you choose to do so. We give of ourselves freely and ask for nothing in return. If there is anything we can do to support you in making your life as meaningful as it can be, given all of the potential you have as a human being, we gladly do so because we believe that your greatest capacity fulfilled improves the collective good.

As one of the primary contributors to Life, from time-to-time I will post Pettis Principles taken from some of my life's lessons. In fact, let's begin with the first one today.

Pettis Principle # 1

He (or she) who fails to listen to his (or her) own advice fails to benefit from his (or her) own great wisdom.

If you have any life lessons that you would like to share with us we encourage you to share them so that we can all learn from your life experiences too!