The Revitalization of my Life-Day 90-The CHANGE-19

Didn't sleep to well last night. I had a lot on my mind. Been doing a lot of thinking lately. Most of it has been about life and just everyday living. Sometime my thoughts wear me out. I don't feel like doing some of the things that I usually love doing like writing and designing websites. I had an episode about a few weeks ago where I sleep almost all day. I went to the doctor and he did some test and told me that everything came back fine and then he asked if I were depressed or stressed. I told him that I had never been depressed or stressed before so I didn't know. How could I be depressed or stressed when I don't know of anything that is causing either of them.

I have always been the person who uplifts everyone. Always finding the good in all situations. There is no way I am going to believe this. So what have I been doing to overcome this feeling. I just keep pushing. If I don't feel like writing, I sit down and make myself write. Even if it doesn't make sense, eventually something will come together. When I don't feel like designing web pages, I do it any way. Eventually, I will get into it and make something happen.

What I have learned is that you have to find your motivation. Find that something that gives you that extra push to make you do when you don't want to do. My motivation use to be music. No matter how I was feeling, if I would put on some music, i would immediately feel good. Well, times have changed and I guess my hard times are immune to music so i had to upgrade my motivation. My new motivation is my wife. I think about how it will make her feel if I get whatever it is I don't want to do done. Every time I see her smile in my head, it gives me energy that I didn't know I had and I get it done. Just this pass weekend, I had to work and I get off late. Well, our grass needed cutting and I just didn't feel like cutting it because i had just got off work. I walked in the house and as soon as I saw her face, I immediately changed clothes and went and cut it. I didn't get a chance to finish because it got dark. Well, I didn't have to be to work the next morning until 11:30am. So I got up finished the yard and ironed her clothes for work for the next week. Then I went to work. That's motivation....find yours and you will be amazed at what you can do!

"Motivation is not something that finds you, you find it"-K.J Swint

The Revitalization of my Life-Day 89-The CHANGE-18

This morning I woke up with the word Happiness on my mind. For quite some time now, I have been astonished by this word. It's defined as a state of being happy, which is defined as delightful or pleased over a particular thing. The reason why I am so astonished by this word is because within the definition it never states anything about happiness being dependent upon someone else. I took this definition to mean that being happy is not dependent upon no one providing anything for it to exist but rather just being in this state because of something that you can find joy in. Meaning that your happiness is solely dependent upon you. The only thing other people should be able to do is add to your happiness. There is no way someone can come along and make you completely happy. You can not make a person completely happy if they are not happy with themselves. If you do, it's only temporary, just like a high from a drug. You feel good for the time being, while the drugs are in your system. But when the drug has left your system, your back at square one. Back to being sad and gloomy.

Take the time to become happy about you. Stop sitting around waiting on someone or something to make you happy. Remember happiness is defined as a state of being happy which means being delightful or pleased OVER a particular thing. That particular thing should be YOU! Be happy that you are who you are and God created you the way that he did for a reason. Now don't take this as if you can't change some of your ways that you know aren't the best. All I am saying is that you should be happy that you exist. Be happy that God has blessed you with what you have. Now take what he has given you and make more of it. Make more of yourself. Make more of your family. Make more of your friends. Make more of your life. He only gave you one life, but he also gave you this thing called choice and chance. This gives you the ability to live your life as many times as you want to before he comes and take it back and check to see if you treated the life that he gave you the way it was suppose to be treated. If you have, he will then give it to you FOREVER and let you reside in a place called HEAVEN!


"You can not make a person completely happy if they are not happy with themselves"-K.J Swint

The Revitalization of my Life-Day 88-The CHANGE-17

So today started off a little weird. I got up this morning and just couldn't get my thoughts together. It was like someone put me on auto pilot and I was just going. I stop for a second to try and get my mind to working properly, but I just couldn't do it. It took me a longer time to get myself out of the house than usual. I made sure I had the basic and I left. I figured that I would come to when I got on the road, but it was still happening. I was driving and completely zoned out. By the time I reached Starbucks, I was trying to come around. My thoughts started developing and I felt a little more like normal again. Once I got inside and started completing some of my task that I had to do, I sat back to think about what had just happened. It wasn't bad, it was just that I wasn't thinking a million thoughts per second like I usually do. Then it hit me.


My mind was blank and I wasn't thinking about anything negative. Even though I was thinking about much of anything, at least there were no negative thoughts. I wasn't thinking about nothing but what I had to do within the next few moments. I must admit it did freak me out a little because I felt like I wasn't in control of my thoughts, but then it made me realize a few things. One, it's ok to just be blanked minded for a while. That's the main reason for meditation. Two, it's a relief of some the negative thoughts that you have. And finally, it gives your mind a moment to just relax and focus on what's going on right then and there. It's like sitting at home with nothing on and just staring out the window and enjoying the beautiful scene. Then as you turn around to make another cup of coffee, you realize the blessings that you have by looking at everything in your house.

We tend to forget about the MEANINGFUL blessings because we seed them so often. We forget about them because we see them as small. I am talking about the cooking that our spouse does for us. The cleaning that they provide for our home. The friendly phone call that someone gives you everyday. The phrase "I Love You" that is said everyday before you leave the house. The taking of your clothes to the cleaners without you telling them to. All of these things we take for granted because they are so routine. But sometimes, we need to be ZONED out so that we can realize and show that we appreciate these small things. Tell that person that does the little things in your life that are MEANINGFUL, that you appreciate them. You don't have to do it everyday, but just make sure that they know that not a day goes by that you don't appreciate the little things they do. If you are not good at verbally saying it, do something special that they really like and write it in a card. ANYTHING will be acceptable when your showing your appreciation. I show my wife that I appreciate her, by doing everything that she says that she is going to do. I do it before she can get a chance to. Take the time today to show your appreciation...it just might change your life!.....TW:)

"Appreciate the appreciative appreciations of that appreciated person"-K.J Swint

The Revitalization of my Life-Day 87-The CHANGE-16

So after I finished posting to my blog on yesterday, I got hungry. I had a taste for some real food. Some of that-right of the skillet cooking that only your mother can fix. Well, I starting thinking of several places that I could get that kind of eating and then it hit me. I thought about a good friend of mine who just opened his own BBQ smokehouse. Now I had his cooking way before he opened this spot so I knew he could through down on the pit. I drove from Homewood to Margaret (two exits down from the Trussville exit off of I-59). I passed by several places that served the same food that he served, but I knew that his food would hit the spot. When I got there, he greeted me at the door with a smile. It was an amazing moment for me and I know it was for him as well.

The reason why the moments was so amazing is because me and this guy just two years prior were talking about our dreams and how to accomplish them. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was New years Eve 2009. We were at a mutual friends New Years Eve party. We were sitting on the sofa and he was telling me about how I should just put my work (writings) out there. He told me to just go and leave it at different places and eventually someone will notice and that's all I would need...is for one person to notice it. He could really be a motivational speaker because everything he tells you, sounds GREAT and he makes you feel like you can go and do it right then and there. Well, low and behold two months later, I had a book signing. And guess who was right there to shake my hand and tell me "I told you you could do it." The turn that I had was wonderful. It was better than I had imagined. He told me that night, that he enjoyed seeing people succeed. He also said that was the reason why he gives the advice. Well, there was something going on behind the scenes. While he was giving all of this advice to everyone else, he wasn't taking it.

He always wanted to get his own restaurant but never hand the means to do so, so he thought. Here he was telling others how to overcome there obstacles and he couldn't overcome his own. Finally one day, he had a dream. During this dream, he was having a talk with God and while he was talking to God telling him what he was going to do, he said God stopped him and asked him, "You mean you're telling me what you are going to do?" Then God started laughing at him. He said he woke up laughing uncontrollably and he knew what he had to do. He prayed his prayers different from that moment on. Instead of praying telling God what he was doing, he would ask God to do it for him and if it was OK for him to do. At this point, he didn't have a job nor did he have the money to start a restaurant. All he had was his faith in God and that's all he needed. He tried to get loans and was turned down many of times. He tried everything there was to get some funds to start up the BBQ Smokehouse. Then he sat back and told God, I'm stepping out on faith here.

He was sitting at home one day and he received a phone call. The person on the other end told him, "you don't know me, but I heard about what you were trying to do and I want to help out." All I can say now is that Talk of the Town Smokehouse is up and running! I get chills every time I talk about this story because I saw it happen. I was there talking to this guy and saw him go from nothing to where he is now. As I was sitting and chatting with him yesterday, he told me that he gets emotional every time he talks about his story.

Don't ever say that there is something that you can't do because you don't have everything you need. You have everything you need to make any of your dreams come true. And if you don't have it, I suggest you get it...it's called FAITH and it doesn't cost anything except the belief that God will see you through all that you can't see. Get it, step out on it and watch what it will do for you!

"True faith is believing what you can't see not seeing what you can't believe"-K.J Swint

The Revitalization of my Life-Day 86-The CHANGE-15

Today has an interesting feel to it. I have been sitting here at Starbucks since 7am and I am now just getting around to posting to my blog (it's 11am just in case you don't pay attention to the time of my post). I must admit, I didn't have anything to post because my mind went blank. Then after a phone call from my aunt (which lasted for about an hour), my creative juices begin to flow.

Last week I set a goal of reading 3 books a week. Yes, I do know this is a lot to do, but I think it can be done. I must say that it has been a challenge and I am oh so close. I have manages to finish 2 and I am working on the 3rd now. What made me come up with this goal? Well, it's quite interesting. A good friend of mine called me up one day to tell me what was going on in her office. She said that two people were doing a small book signing in the office and off-site somewhere. I was intrigued that she was calling me informing of this information, but I was curious as to why. And this was her reply-"If these people can put out a book and have a book signing and have people buying it, surely you should be a step ahead of them...and what are you waiting on. Your writing skills supersedes there's in my opinion, so get off your a** and make it happen." This really got me to thinking because this friend of mine is not the type of person to "sugar coat" anything. If she says my work is ready for the mass market, it's ready. This made me really think simply because the phone call was specifically about that and nothing else.

So I made up in my mind that I would do something with this talent that everyone keeps saying that I have. In order to fulfill my destiny, I have to be equipped and my equipment is knowledge and words. I've had a hard time writing because my vocabulary only expands so far and I get stuck with either not having the right words to complete my thoughts or not having enough information to expound on my ideas. Now, I shouldn't have a problem with that if I can read 3 books a week. This should give my mind a jolt and my writing should take off and I should be able to finish this book that I have started over 20 times. I must say that more reading has helped with my thoughts. I am able to make a little more sense out of my sentences and ideas. And it also gives me a chance to notate any ideas I have while I read. It's a wonderful thing. I must thank my friend for not only believing in me, but for having the courage to call me up and tell me to get off of my lazy a** and get to work because I don't have any excuse as to why I shouldn't be on the NY Times Best Sellers list...none at all!

"Real friends are scared to hurt your feelings"-K.J Swint

The Revitalization of my Life-Day 85-The CHANGE-14

Well, its been a while, but I am back on track. My birthday was April 14th and I have been celebrating for the past few days. I turned 32 and I am proud of it. Getting older for most is usually a big deal, but for me it's not a big deal at all. When you have been through a few things in your life, you learn to appreciate life as it goes on and not worry about it getting older. It's amazing to me how people complain about getting older and worry about dieing. This I don't understand. Reality hits me whenever I hear people talk about this. How can you complain about something that is going to happen and then worry about it's opposite because you are afraid of it?

My great grandmother use to tell me, "you're afraid of living and scared to die." I didn't really get it because I was young and my mind wasn't ready for figuring out life lessons yet. Now I get it. When you look at it, it's one and the same. It's basically telling you that you are afraid either way it goes. When I realized this what this metaphor was saying, I made a promise to myself to live everyday to the fullest. The metaphor really had a major impact on me when my great grandmother passed away. It made me cherish life as she did. She didn't let all of the unnecessary things worry her. She would do what she could and then let God do the rest.

I read an excerpt that Oprah wrote in her magazine for this months issue. She was talking about getting older and the things that women do to try and keep their youth. She mentioned that every woman should know that things are going to fall and get wrinkled, that's juts a part of getting old. She said people who lie about their age are denying the truth and contributing to a sickness pervading our society-the sickness of wanting to be what you're not. STOP being afraid of living and scared to die. Take on a new method and be proud of your age. Create a new metaphor-Fearless of age and assured of life.

"Fearless of age and assured of life"-K.J Swint

The Revitalization of my Life-Day 84-The CHANGE-13

I have been sitting at Starbucks since 7:30am. It's taken me that long to begin to post to this blog. Here recently I haven't been in the mood to write anything. It's like I have to dig really deep to write anything. I use to have so much to write about that I didn't have enough time to get it done. I don't know what's going on, but I am not going to let it keep me from writings something. I have a couple of projects to do and I am not giving them my A effort. I have a poem that's due in May that I am just not into writing. It's for a wedding. Usually whenever someone wanted me to write something about love, I would get excited and come up with some great lines. the lines I have come up with so far have not been good. It's like I need an energy drink for my feelings. If there is one out there please let me know so I can get it. I have been listening to my music and that's just not getting it. Usually I can listen to Maxwell and that's all it takes. Well, i have listened to a few Maxwell tracks and NOTHING. Singing the songs sometimes help, but I don't even want to sing them (and no, I can't sing at ALL I just like doing it). I refuse to be in this rut!

These are the times where you have to remain calm and stay focused. When you don't feel like doing anything, you have to push yourself to do it. You have to make it happen. If you can move, get up and get it done. This is where most people fall off when it comes to working out or accomplishing that goal that they had set. Days like this get to them and they just give up. I refuse to be like that. I am not going to let a bad feeling get the best of me. You shouldn't either. Take that bad feeling and let it go. Pull out all of the stops. Play your favorite song and if you can't play it, sing it. If you can't sing it, hum it. If you can make it pass this phase, you know that you reaching your goal is right around the corner. You have come to far to let this stop you. R.E.F.U.S.E-Replenishing Effort From Utilizing Self Empowerment. I just took my own advice and now I have written in this blog and I have a little more energy now. I am about to work on my project now. If I can surpass it, so can you REFUSE-Replenishing Effort From Utilizing Self Empowerment