Never tell me I can't

Well Memorial day came and went once more. It was great seeing such a wonderful turnout and I was proud to be able to hold the American flag in our local parade. As I was sitting here today I was thinking about my past and what I had gone through in life and where I learned the who, what, where, why and how's. A couple of life experiences came to mind where my future was compromised and I was scared of the outcome. First, while serving in the Marines I sustained an injury to my leg. The Navy doctors didn't think I would be able to walk again. I'll never forget that day. I really wish I could say I injured myself in the line of duty but I can't. I got hurt while playing football. Our CO said instead of training we could play. So while going out for a pass someone stuck their leg out and hit me in the right thigh. I went down like a ton of bricks. My thigh blew up with blood (Six inches bigger than my other thigh). I'll never forget that pain. My doctor said he was afraid that I would never be able to use my leg again. So much for Navy doctors. I went through 6 months of PT and got myself back to work. This Marine would not and could not accept defeat. It's not what I was trained for or taught. My second thought was of a recent injury I sustained. I blew out a disk in my neck between C6 & C7. Doing what I'm not sure. It could have been at work or it could have been while working in my yard. I'm really not sure. I needed surgery and quickly. The pain was a 12 in a scale of 1 - 10. 10 being the worst pain I have every felt. While at the doctors office my doctor walked in, saw me for about 2 minutes, walked out and within 5 minutes he came back in and said I was a lucky man. My surgery that was scheduled for Friday, it was now Monday, was moved up to tomorrow (Tuesday). I'm not sure and I can't prove it but I'm pretty sure he bumped someone for me. That's how much pain I was in. Surgery went well and I was home on Wednesday. I had a couple of weeks off and then started physical therapy. I asked my doctor when I would be able to go back to work. It was now December and he said I said I should be able to go back to work by mid March. I said ok. What else was I going to say. So I went off to PT and I asked my therapist when he thought I could go back to work. I told him what my doctor had said and he said no way would I be able to go back to work by mid March. I asked when and he said not til at least April. No way! I can't and wont be out that long. I can't do it. I need to get back to work. I was afraid I would run out of sick time (I did). I was afraid I would loose my job and have to go out on a disability. No way on God's green Earth was that going to happen nor would I allow it to happen. This is what I did. I called work and got permission to take my turnout gear to use during PT. I'm a firefighter (so much for Navy doctors). My turnout gear consists of pants, jacket, helmet, boots and mask. I would bring my gear to PT with me twice a week and wear it on the treadmill. While I was at home I would wear it on our treadmill and elliptical the rest of the week. I was up to 4 1/2 miles a day. I would not and will not be defeated. It's not in my blood. Long story short...I was back to work by the end of February and by April I had received a commendation for saving a life. So I answered most of my questions. The only one I left out was 'where'. Where did I learn to survive? It wasn't the Marines nor was it the fire department. Where I learned how to fight was my dad. He's always been a great role model for me. He's always taught me to 'suck it up' and 'move on'. He hasn't lived a great life. He's struggled as we all do today. But he made it his life's work to teach my brothers and I to survive. I'm the black sheep of our family. I never got away with anything. I was always the one who got caught doing something stupid. I was always the one who would cost my parents an arm and leg to get me out of trouble. Thanks dad for being a great dad. I love you. With out you and mom I don't know where I'd be.

2nd Anniversary

2nd anniversary 

If you had asked me 7 years ago if I knew that I would marry my girlfriend, I would have said yes. Yesterday was our 2nd wedding anniversary. Two years ago we got married at the light house in my home town then came back to our house for a wonderful reception with our families and close friends who are also family to us.

There’s not a day in my life that has gone by since we first started dating that I don’t thank God for my wife Beth. We were made in Heaven and brought up on Earth to be together. This is my true belief. Ever since I’ve met Beth my life has turned for the better.

We’ve become best friends over the last 7 years. She is my shoe in shine. Ok that was stupid but you get the point ;) .

So last night she came home from work. I was sitting outside looking at some pictures and Beth came over and gave me a hug and kiss then went inside to get changed. To her surprise, she walked into 2 dozen long stem red roses in a glass vase with a little card from me. She came out with a big smile and glowing eyes. She was surprised that I bought a card. I never buy cards. They mostly always end up in the trash. She was a little bummed because we agreed not to buy each other anything. Too bad baby J.

We had a nice evening together. We went to the Cheese Cake Factory for dinner. It was nice to be able to just sit and talk. We don’t get that much alone time due to work and the kids. The food was great and the company was to die for. We came home after and started watching a movie and both of us just crashed laying in bed. Go figure. Just my luck passing out on our anniversary night. No worries. There’s always tonight ;).

Strong and Weak

Sometimes even the strong are weak. Everyone has a breaking point and everyone has one way or another of dealing with it and getting threw their day. Some days are wonderful and some feel like the worst day of their lives. Today I don't know where I am.

I try and try each and every day to be positive and bring a smile to someones face. Most of the time it works. But today I had to put a mask on. I had to be strong and not show my emotions. Right now I feel like crying. Ya see, last night I was informed that a friend of mine had passed away. It was and still is a shock. This is the 3rd person I know and have grown up with most of my life that has passed away with in the last 6 months.

I am feeling that I truly have to believe in my faith in God. No one knows why He takes people from us. My belief is when God says it's time to come home, you go. You go for reasons that only God can answer.

I'm a firefighter/EMT. I've held so many in my arms who have passed on. People ask me all the time, 'how do you get used to it?' My answer is simple; you don't. You just learn to deal with it.

So when I'm holding someone, trying to save their life, I say a little prayer asking God not to take this person. And when He does take them while they're in my care, I also look up and pray not only for the person that He has taken, but also for the family and friends that are left behind.

No one knows when or how they will move on to the next life. So don't you think that we should make the most of every day of our lives? Life is short and it goes by in a blink of an eye. My advice...make up with the people that have angered you or you have had a disagreement with. Fighting is just plan dumb. What are we fighting about? Is it really all that important what we fight about? When my wife and I fight, which isn't that often, I get more upset over the fact that we are fighting.

In today's world we find ourselves getting more agree due to the economy and our government. We are stressed beyond belief. We don't know where to turn. I've seen more and more people getting frustrated and flipping out over the stupidest things and it all narrows down to money and the above mentioned.

Take time to share love. Take time to hold your hand out and help someone in need. Remember that love IS the answer. Love not only others but love yourself and believe in your faith whatever that my be. If someone is freaking out on you, instead of yelling back, think to yourself why is this person so angry. Did they have a bad day? Did something happen to make they lash out at me because I'm the only one in the room? Just think about it before you react.

Peace is in your heart. Feel it. Embrace it. Have faith and try to be positive in everything you do.

Peace, it's a wonderful thing. Spread it.

Peace and love always,
Rick

Some Days

Some days are better than others. Some days you can't see through the woods. But my belief is there is light at the end of every tunnel. Everything happens for a reason. In the world today, as we know it, it's not easy to get through every day with a smile. You have to keep positive and look on the bright side of EVERYTHING. Everything happens for a reason.

Some people think I have it all together. I don't but I try my hardest. I live by saying what would Jesus do (thanks mom). It's a curse I tell ya but it works for me. I have to be positive on everything I do. I tell myself this every time a crisis occurs, which has been a little too frequent for my liking lately.

Being positive, for me, comes from my faith; my faith in God and my faith in the human race. Some days I feel like I want to give it all up and just run away...sound familiar? But I can't. Other days I'm on top of the world. Some days I have to count my blessing and other days...well you get the point.

Yesterday a friend of mine who I haven't seen in a while said she loved my work (photography) and loved my little happy posting of facebook. We sat and talked about life and the world and one thing that stuck out in my mind was something I always try to remember and that is if people were more kind to each other on a daily basis, life would seem so difficult. If everyone reached out a helping hand, life would be less stressful. I know it's hard to believe. I know it's hard to do. But you have to take a deep breathe (breathing is always a good thing) and compose yourself. After all, proactive is always better than reactive.

I hope this helps you get threw your day. Remember to never go to bed angry and tell the people that mean the most to you that you love them. Say it often and mean it. Have patience when times get tough and smile as much as possible.

Peace and love to all.

This

THIS

Sometimes I can’t find the words in my head to describe what I’m thinking or feeling. Even the best of us loose it. We feel beaten and depressed. We feel old and sheltered. But this only lasts for a moment in time and then we move on. Even though while we are going through troubled times and it seems like it lasts forever, we need to focus on the real problem at hand. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed we can’t see through the woods or even see straight for that matter.

How do we overcome these times? Everyone is different when it comes to letting everything go and dealing with life. For some it may be writing, reading or going for a walk. Others work out or do errands to get their mind off what ever is troubling them. Meditation is another release which I will do from time to time.

When life is troubling me, for what ever reason it is, I sit in a quiet room, listen to some earth music and gather my thoughts. I’ll close my eyes, breathe deeply (exhaling is highly recommended) and I’ll see all the beauty that has been promised to me from a higher power. I’ll see that life here on Earth is only the beginning for me. I’ll realize that every single thing that is bothering me is just a little thing. I’ll understand what ever is bothering me is not worth getting all upset over because in the end, it really doesn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter that my kid drove the car threw the garage door. It doesn’t matter that my other son got suspended from school. It doesn’t matter that I lost someone at work today. What matters is that I have a loving family and friends who mean ever thing to me. What matters is that I’ve touched someone’s soul today. It matters that I helped someone feel good about themselves. If I’ve reached out and touched you in some way that made a difference in a positive manner than I’ve done my job for the day. This is what my ‘higher power’ has taught me.

Like a lot of you, this has been a very trying week for me. I’ve busted my ass all week and got some terrible news and the only thing I can do is pray because it‘s all in God‘s hands and I can do nothing to prevent or cure it. I’ve been the subject of jokes and made fun of (all in good humor. No worries) and today I let it all get to me. I was quiet all day and when I finally got some free time to myself , I started to write this. ‘This’, is my escape. ‘This’, is what helps me recover. ‘This’, is what is right for me. If you haven’t guessed yet and are asking yourself what ’this’ is, ’this’ is writing. I have a lot of different ’This’s’.
‘This’ helps me to focus on what my life will be tomorrow. What ever your ’this’ is, do it and do it now and often because no one likes a grouch first thing in the morning.

Have faith. Love much and often. Try to lend a helping hand. Be kind to others even if they are not kind to you.

Peace to you and all you touch.

Rick

Being Positive

I did not write this but it is worth sharing. It might just help with your day. Peace. It's a wonderful thing. Share it.

Read this�LET IT REALLY SINK IN...THEN CHOOSE

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, 'I don't get it!'

'You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?'

He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or...you can choose to be in a bad mood - I choose to be in a good mood.'

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it..

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or...I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.

'Yes, it is,' he said. 'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life.'

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident..

When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?'

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied. 'Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live.'

'Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?' I asked.

He continued, '...the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action.'

'What did you do?' I asked.

'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John. 'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity''

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude...I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' Matthew 6:34.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Show Me The Way

I see faces in the clouds and hear whispers in the wind.

I’ve reached out to hold you but can’t touch a thing.

You are within me yet I don’t know how to open up.

You stand beside me and I know you are there

It started long ago when I was just a child

An infant in your arms I am helpless without you

Bring me the strength to bring love to this world

Show me the way so that I may bring joy.

Come to me and take my hand

Walk with me as you always have

Let me see your shining face.

Let me fly with you to ever lasting peace