BLOG.STONEYRICHARDS.NET
Back and Active
Is there a saying that goes, "Life intrudes"?....<< MORE >>
Just...you know the rest.
We've all heard the phrase, "Just Do It." It really says it all in making your dreams come true. I can't talk about this enough because we all do it...uh before we get to doing it.
You know the scenario;
We have a dream. Ah, this is what I'll do.
Then the mental bargaining begins. Let's do something basic. I'm going to get a new car.
Okay, having said that, then, well, "I really can't afford a new car. Maybe an inexpensive new car. Actually my old one is still pretty good. What if something happens and i can't pay for it? Maybe a used car. Well that's a great car but this one will be good enough."
Don't do that. DON'T DO THAT!
Be responsible. Figure out your budget. Will you have to save to get a new car? Yes, probably but it can be done. Maybe a new Kia but not a Ferrari. Now if you want the Ferrari, you are going to have to figure out how to have a couple hundred thousand dollars of disposable income. Maybe another dream to support that dream. Or maybe a lease. Maybe there is a dealer willing to trade services to allow you to drive the Ferrari on a limited basis. I'm going off on a tangent here but you see, you have to be a little creative but permissive. YOU have to be the one to allow yourself to follow your dream. Really, there are no roadblocks in the way. The blocks are all created by you and can just as easily be overcome by...YOU.
You know the scenario;
We have a dream. Ah, this is what I'll do.
Then the mental bargaining begins. Let's do something basic. I'm going to get a new car.
Okay, having said that, then, well, "I really can't afford a new car. Maybe an inexpensive new car. Actually my old one is still pretty good. What if something happens and i can't pay for it? Maybe a used car. Well that's a great car but this one will be good enough."
Don't do that. DON'T DO THAT!
Be responsible. Figure out your budget. Will you have to save to get a new car? Yes, probably but it can be done. Maybe a new Kia but not a Ferrari. Now if you want the Ferrari, you are going to have to figure out how to have a couple hundred thousand dollars of disposable income. Maybe another dream to support that dream. Or maybe a lease. Maybe there is a dealer willing to trade services to allow you to drive the Ferrari on a limited basis. I'm going off on a tangent here but you see, you have to be a little creative but permissive. YOU have to be the one to allow yourself to follow your dream. Really, there are no roadblocks in the way. The blocks are all created by you and can just as easily be overcome by...YOU.
About Time
We've all heard the expression, "it's about time."
Unfortunately, when it comes to time we really have little say in the matter. One of the hardest things to wrap our dream filled heads around is the concept of time. When we state our dreams, we fully expect them to land on our lives doorstep within the next 24 to 48 hours. Right?
Patience is probably the first thing we should all dream about because it'll come when it's damn good and ready.
Our problem is twofold, patience and belief.
We may be willing to wait a bit for our dreams to come true but when they fail to appear we begin to doubt and eventually no longer believe. You know the process and so do I.
"I wanna' star in a hit movie."
There, you said it, you see it, it's on it's way.
However after a little while, nothing, a little longer still nothing and still longer.....
Soon we begin to wonder. Maybe not a movie, how about a TV show. Maybe just a part in a movie. Okay, an audition for a TV show. Well maybe, maybe it's just me. Hmm.
See how the dream changes. We don't realize it but we're sending out mixed signals and actually creating a nightmare of our own doing.
Create your dream. State it clearly. be patient and continue to believe it against all odds. In time, you will make natural adjustments that help make that dream come true. When we release our wishes to the universe we are not saying we understand how all this comes true because we don't. Believe and trust and know. Whatever changes are necessary will come from that....not arbitrarily from our own conciousness but from our UN-conciousness.
Unfortunately, when it comes to time we really have little say in the matter. One of the hardest things to wrap our dream filled heads around is the concept of time. When we state our dreams, we fully expect them to land on our lives doorstep within the next 24 to 48 hours. Right?
Patience is probably the first thing we should all dream about because it'll come when it's damn good and ready.
Our problem is twofold, patience and belief.
We may be willing to wait a bit for our dreams to come true but when they fail to appear we begin to doubt and eventually no longer believe. You know the process and so do I.
"I wanna' star in a hit movie."
There, you said it, you see it, it's on it's way.
However after a little while, nothing, a little longer still nothing and still longer.....
Soon we begin to wonder. Maybe not a movie, how about a TV show. Maybe just a part in a movie. Okay, an audition for a TV show. Well maybe, maybe it's just me. Hmm.
See how the dream changes. We don't realize it but we're sending out mixed signals and actually creating a nightmare of our own doing.
Create your dream. State it clearly. be patient and continue to believe it against all odds. In time, you will make natural adjustments that help make that dream come true. When we release our wishes to the universe we are not saying we understand how all this comes true because we don't. Believe and trust and know. Whatever changes are necessary will come from that....not arbitrarily from our own conciousness but from our UN-conciousness.
Roadblocks to Your Dreams
We've all been faced with putting together a plan and along the way realizing without anyone saying anything to us how "this plan could fail."
The fear creeps in. The results of our failure begin to add up and before we know it, we've done nothing...again.
For every plan there are a multitude of things that can go wrong and most likel will go wrong.
But consider this; do things go wrong or simply not as planned?
The scenario goes something like this; we plan, we try to follow the first few steps through.
The first time something goes "wrong", read, not as planned, we decide this just isn't going to work.
Have a dream, make a plan and then put it into action.
What happens along the way is called the journey. You may find yourself pulled in a direction you never thought about. Be flexible. Once you start putting your dreams into action, you don't know how you'll achieve them.
You can imagine what you think will happen but without actually putting your plans into the real world absolutely nothing happens.
I run marathons. I never know how I am going to finsh 26 miles and 300 yards but I know I will finish. Sometimes the day is cold or it rains. There are those days when I really don't feel perfect and days when I fight like hell not to quit.
At one ill-planned marathon I collapsed and had to be brought to a tent for fluids. I got up after 45 minutes and finished the race even though it took me six hours.
You don't know what's going to happen. Do you think I imagined that happening to me? So, you have set-backs.
Recognize turns in the road as opposed to Roadblocks:Bridge Out warnings.
You're gonna'make it. You're gonna'.
The fear creeps in. The results of our failure begin to add up and before we know it, we've done nothing...again.
For every plan there are a multitude of things that can go wrong and most likel will go wrong.
But consider this; do things go wrong or simply not as planned?
The scenario goes something like this; we plan, we try to follow the first few steps through.
The first time something goes "wrong", read, not as planned, we decide this just isn't going to work.
Have a dream, make a plan and then put it into action.
What happens along the way is called the journey. You may find yourself pulled in a direction you never thought about. Be flexible. Once you start putting your dreams into action, you don't know how you'll achieve them.
You can imagine what you think will happen but without actually putting your plans into the real world absolutely nothing happens.
I run marathons. I never know how I am going to finsh 26 miles and 300 yards but I know I will finish. Sometimes the day is cold or it rains. There are those days when I really don't feel perfect and days when I fight like hell not to quit.
At one ill-planned marathon I collapsed and had to be brought to a tent for fluids. I got up after 45 minutes and finished the race even though it took me six hours.
You don't know what's going to happen. Do you think I imagined that happening to me? So, you have set-backs.
Recognize turns in the road as opposed to Roadblocks:Bridge Out warnings.
You're gonna'make it. You're gonna'.
"No" Dreams "No" Future
It's all about dreams isn't it? Well it's also what you do with those dreams.
Know that most anyone will be quick to tell you why your dream won't work. By the way, what are you doing telling someone about your dream without doing anything about it anyway?
You know what happens when you tell the whole world about your dream but do nothing about it?
Two things. Nothing happens and somebody probably steals your dream.
"No" is an easy thing for people to say to something they may have never thought about before. So, you must excuse a friend for telling you what you've been dreaming about is "just a dream."
"Some men see things as they are and say why; I dream things that never were and say why not," said Bobby Kennedy.
For you to have the perception and depth to dream a dream that doesn't yet exist is a bold action. Most people will not understand what you're talking about. Now, granted if enough people give you that confused Marmaduke look you may be way out in the refinements of your dream. Perhaps a little editing might be called for.
But if you've spent time putting together what you've been dreaming about don't let anyone stop you. As a matter of fact, once you start putting it into practice, things will begin to fall into place.
You meet people. You learn new ways to do things. I'm not saying that you suddenly receive no resistance. No, actually the road may get very tough in unexpected ways. But you have to have the dream formulated in your mind clearly enough and if you do you will be able to keep going.
Do it, do it, DO IT!
Know that most anyone will be quick to tell you why your dream won't work. By the way, what are you doing telling someone about your dream without doing anything about it anyway?
You know what happens when you tell the whole world about your dream but do nothing about it?
Two things. Nothing happens and somebody probably steals your dream.
"No" is an easy thing for people to say to something they may have never thought about before. So, you must excuse a friend for telling you what you've been dreaming about is "just a dream."
"Some men see things as they are and say why; I dream things that never were and say why not," said Bobby Kennedy.
For you to have the perception and depth to dream a dream that doesn't yet exist is a bold action. Most people will not understand what you're talking about. Now, granted if enough people give you that confused Marmaduke look you may be way out in the refinements of your dream. Perhaps a little editing might be called for.
But if you've spent time putting together what you've been dreaming about don't let anyone stop you. As a matter of fact, once you start putting it into practice, things will begin to fall into place.
You meet people. You learn new ways to do things. I'm not saying that you suddenly receive no resistance. No, actually the road may get very tough in unexpected ways. But you have to have the dream formulated in your mind clearly enough and if you do you will be able to keep going.
Do it, do it, DO IT!
The Importance of Dreams
Dreams are really just an active form of meditation.
During meditation you may simply "watch" your thoughts go by. Sometimes though, one thought may take center stage of your thinking. Don't worry about it and don't worry about the importance of that vision.
We all think that we'll have the "aha" dream moment. We'll come away from meditation or sleep and feel that we have all the answers.
Sometimes, just letting the dream unfold is what your mind, spirit and body needs.
So don't waste a moment trying to figure out what the dream that made no sense means.
Whatever it was, it was necessary.
Enjoy the dreams you have
During meditation you may simply "watch" your thoughts go by. Sometimes though, one thought may take center stage of your thinking. Don't worry about it and don't worry about the importance of that vision.
We all think that we'll have the "aha" dream moment. We'll come away from meditation or sleep and feel that we have all the answers.
Sometimes, just letting the dream unfold is what your mind, spirit and body needs.
So don't waste a moment trying to figure out what the dream that made no sense means.
Whatever it was, it was necessary.
Enjoy the dreams you have
The Dream Recipe
We talk about dreaming of the perfect job or relationship but what about the perfect meal?
Yes, I have the perfect summer vacation recipe.
You like seafood? Lobster? Shrimp? Buttah?
Here we go;
Get some frozen, cooked lobster claws and some cooked shrimp(size matters)
Into a pot add;
Two tablespoons Olive oil (evoo)
A tablespoon of garlic (two cloves)
A rough cut stalk of celery
A rough cut Cubana Pepper (with or without seeds and husks depending on your heat preference)
2 cloves of a shallot
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup white cooking wine (or what have you)
1/2 cup of water
Cover and bring to a boil
Add one cut up Johnsonville New Orleans style sausage (brot)(for one person)
Bring to a boil ( ya' wanna see steam)
Add the lobster claws (3 for one person)
Add one tblsp of butter
Bring to a steaming boil (about 4 minutes if that)
Add the shrimp (four for one person)
Add 1/2 a squeezed lemon
Add about a half cup, no more, of Minute Rice
Replace the lid after each step and let this go about three minutes
Finish with a teaspoon of chopped cilantro, pepper and tablespoon of parsley chopped
Serve in a deep dish with the the broth and cold, cold Chardonnay or beer.
If you are able to make this outside and eat it outside or on a boat you will have tasted heaven.
The whole deal takes about a half hour from cooking to serving. Double all the ingredients per guest.
What great recipes have you dreamed up?
Lemme know how you like it.
Yes, I have the perfect summer vacation recipe.
You like seafood? Lobster? Shrimp? Buttah?
Here we go;
Get some frozen, cooked lobster claws and some cooked shrimp(size matters)
Into a pot add;
Two tablespoons Olive oil (evoo)
A tablespoon of garlic (two cloves)
A rough cut stalk of celery
A rough cut Cubana Pepper (with or without seeds and husks depending on your heat preference)
2 cloves of a shallot
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup white cooking wine (or what have you)
1/2 cup of water
Cover and bring to a boil
Add one cut up Johnsonville New Orleans style sausage (brot)(for one person)
Bring to a boil ( ya' wanna see steam)
Add the lobster claws (3 for one person)
Add one tblsp of butter
Bring to a steaming boil (about 4 minutes if that)
Add the shrimp (four for one person)
Add 1/2 a squeezed lemon
Add about a half cup, no more, of Minute Rice
Replace the lid after each step and let this go about three minutes
Finish with a teaspoon of chopped cilantro, pepper and tablespoon of parsley chopped
Serve in a deep dish with the the broth and cold, cold Chardonnay or beer.
If you are able to make this outside and eat it outside or on a boat you will have tasted heaven.
The whole deal takes about a half hour from cooking to serving. Double all the ingredients per guest.
What great recipes have you dreamed up?
Lemme know how you like it.
Dreams Come True...in Time.
It was years ago but I was fascinated by the song, a number one hit from Gordon Lightfoot called the Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald.
My friend from Australia, Jaan Torv taught me to play that song, long into a winter night in Cleveland Ohio. Even though "we got it' on the guitar it didn't have that special ring on mine. It did on Jaans and I noticed that he was playing a Takamine guitar. I'd never heard of that before that night.
Since then, I'd played on my Gibson Epiphone but it didn't have that ring to it. It sounded like a ships bell which fit nicely into the song.
So, years go by. I'm playing my guitar always hitting that song but never with the same results as old Gordon and Jaan Torv.
So, I'm looking for a new guitar with plug-in capabilities and I put a call in to my guitar store.They call the other night and say, "we have a used Takamine I think you should see and play."
Off I go.
The instrument plays like a dream. It has a tuner insatalled and EQ and all kinds of geeky guitar player things. I buy it.
I get it home, plug it in and start playing. Even my loving wife who didn't beat me up over the price says, "that sounds nice,"
My son comes home and plays it a bit pronouncing it "sweet."
I settle down here in my studio and start playing. It strikes me...the Wreck of the Edmund Fitgerald.
The A sus, the E7 and the G all ring out loud like a ships bell.
Gordon Lightfoot, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney, Steve Wariner, all Takamine boys.
I read online that Gordon hisseff' says they way he got the ships bell sound in the song was with the Takamine that has the lively strings. I realize I'm sharing a sound with my Canadien idol eh. That's how music goes.
My friend from Australia, Jaan Torv taught me to play that song, long into a winter night in Cleveland Ohio. Even though "we got it' on the guitar it didn't have that special ring on mine. It did on Jaans and I noticed that he was playing a Takamine guitar. I'd never heard of that before that night.
Since then, I'd played on my Gibson Epiphone but it didn't have that ring to it. It sounded like a ships bell which fit nicely into the song.
So, years go by. I'm playing my guitar always hitting that song but never with the same results as old Gordon and Jaan Torv.
So, I'm looking for a new guitar with plug-in capabilities and I put a call in to my guitar store.They call the other night and say, "we have a used Takamine I think you should see and play."
Off I go.
The instrument plays like a dream. It has a tuner insatalled and EQ and all kinds of geeky guitar player things. I buy it.
I get it home, plug it in and start playing. Even my loving wife who didn't beat me up over the price says, "that sounds nice,"
My son comes home and plays it a bit pronouncing it "sweet."
I settle down here in my studio and start playing. It strikes me...the Wreck of the Edmund Fitgerald.
The A sus, the E7 and the G all ring out loud like a ships bell.
Gordon Lightfoot, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney, Steve Wariner, all Takamine boys.
I read online that Gordon hisseff' says they way he got the ships bell sound in the song was with the Takamine that has the lively strings. I realize I'm sharing a sound with my Canadien idol eh. That's how music goes.
How Dreams Become Reality
I started this with the phrase, "We're All Daydreaming on the Way to Work." And believe me there's nothing wrong with that.
But eventually we have to stop dreaming and get to doing, otherwise, well you know.
And many times we ask or think about what we'll do when opportunity presents itself and we have a wonderful plan.
But many times, opportunity presents itself when we least expect it. As Hamlet said, "the readiness is all."
I was out for my daily run Saturday and for the longest time I was dreaming about a new running route because frankly, I was getting bored. I like to run long distances so there are only so many routes I can run before they all look the same to me.
So here I was on Saturday, a nice six miler when I saw a path, a trail and I wasn't sure where it led. Now, I hate dead ends and trails that lead to nowhere but I thought and remembered what I had been dreaming about. Here it was, a new route. I took it. It turned out to be wonderful. A beautiful trail that went along a pond, through the woods and ending at a horse barn close to where I normally run anyway. It was exhilirating. And on my way home. I thought, if I had resisted that trail, it was a dream coming true, and I would have denied that to myself.
The readiness my friends, is all.
You will get what you dream of and ask for. Be ready when it comes.
But eventually we have to stop dreaming and get to doing, otherwise, well you know.
And many times we ask or think about what we'll do when opportunity presents itself and we have a wonderful plan.
But many times, opportunity presents itself when we least expect it. As Hamlet said, "the readiness is all."
I was out for my daily run Saturday and for the longest time I was dreaming about a new running route because frankly, I was getting bored. I like to run long distances so there are only so many routes I can run before they all look the same to me.
So here I was on Saturday, a nice six miler when I saw a path, a trail and I wasn't sure where it led. Now, I hate dead ends and trails that lead to nowhere but I thought and remembered what I had been dreaming about. Here it was, a new route. I took it. It turned out to be wonderful. A beautiful trail that went along a pond, through the woods and ending at a horse barn close to where I normally run anyway. It was exhilirating. And on my way home. I thought, if I had resisted that trail, it was a dream coming true, and I would have denied that to myself.
The readiness my friends, is all.
You will get what you dream of and ask for. Be ready when it comes.
Live Your Dreams
We lived in Los Angeles for a good many years where everyone said they were an actor. Yet, really, there were really just a few thousand actors in LA and many of them worked and supported their families. The old excuse that "you can't make a living as an actor" is false. I knew many who called themselves actors, who had talent but all they did was wait for the next job to come along before doing anything. They did a fine job on the set but when that was over they went back to waiting and complaining that..."you can't make a living as an actor."
On the other hand I had friends who were actors who always seemed to have an active project in hand. Writing, producing, directing, teaching and managing another job many times. To me they were truly actors and if you look at people like that you can see a good percentage of these actors are working. I now live outside of Hollywood and I still work as an actor.
The point is this. Do what you say you are.
If you are a writer, don't wait for a publishing deal. Write. The same for actors or a computer IT person for that matter.
Daydreaming is an active process.
If you state your dreams, you'll accomplish a lot more, if you act on those dreams. Do something that works your dream to reality.
If you want to lose thirty pounds and you sit on the couch, telling your friends on the cellphone that you're going to lose thirty pounds, uh, how many pounds do you think you'll lose...ever?
Um Hmm. Get busy. Someone commented to me that they didn't have time to daydream let alone create some new reality.
Yeah? Really?
Take fifteen minutes and spend that fifteen minutes on your plan, your dream. Actively.
Enjoy the day...and don't forget to daydream.
On the other hand I had friends who were actors who always seemed to have an active project in hand. Writing, producing, directing, teaching and managing another job many times. To me they were truly actors and if you look at people like that you can see a good percentage of these actors are working. I now live outside of Hollywood and I still work as an actor.
The point is this. Do what you say you are.
If you are a writer, don't wait for a publishing deal. Write. The same for actors or a computer IT person for that matter.
Daydreaming is an active process.
If you state your dreams, you'll accomplish a lot more, if you act on those dreams. Do something that works your dream to reality.
If you want to lose thirty pounds and you sit on the couch, telling your friends on the cellphone that you're going to lose thirty pounds, uh, how many pounds do you think you'll lose...ever?
Um Hmm. Get busy. Someone commented to me that they didn't have time to daydream let alone create some new reality.
Yeah? Really?
Take fifteen minutes and spend that fifteen minutes on your plan, your dream. Actively.
Enjoy the day...and don't forget to daydream.