The Believer by Common

I personally consider any and everything to be possible and attainable in life, but I have also come to understand that there are many, many people in the world - even those who I currently surround myself with - that can not see the same light at the end of the tunnel and do not believe that we can have everything we desire in life. For some, they may never be exposed to these possibilities and for once in my life, I am okay with that. Everyone has their own path and you have my respect.

Nevertheless, I will not stop believing in you, in others, in the possibilities and in myself.

I've grown to become a believer.

Please take a moment to listen to the words in the tracks above. They are powerful.

"We inherit the power to turn nightmares into dreams,
For those of us who come from less than everable circumstances,
Dreams, good dreams, sweet dreams, dreams come true,
Truthful dreams, truthful dreams become life,
Life becomes belief, belief becomes live!
Live the life you believe."

-Common, Pop's Belief, The Dreamer/The Believer

One Life, You Decide™

P.S. Common's ninth album 'The Dreamer/The Believer' drops December 20th. Definitely worth the buy.

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

via marcandangel.com

Got a Dirty Eye, See a Dirty World

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By Mark Nepo

It was a beautiful sun-filled day. I had driven 300 miles to see her. She was 94 and had been in one room for close to 8 months. I was her first-born grandson, and she was so happy to see me. But after catching up, we sat in silence on the edge of her bed, and, finally, she complained how gray a day it was.

I realized then that her one window hadn't been cleaned in almost a year. When I said this, she chuckled, as only someone 94 can, and uttered with her Russian accent, "Got a dirty eye, see a dirty world."
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It is the same with our minds and hearts. For our very self is the one window we have into this life. And so often, we suffer the mood of a dirty window, believing the brilliant world gray.

Perhaps the purpose of authentic relationship is to help each other keep our minds and hearts clear. Perhaps inner work is the ordinary art of window-washing so that the day is fully the day.

"Before fixing what you're looking at, check what you're looking through."

Update: Writing The Year of 24

Update: Friday, December 2

I don't know how great it will turn out, but I know it all began as a dream over three years ago. I've fallen in love with my book and I have enjoyed the writing journey thus far: A Son's Faith.

A toast!

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Update: Thursday, December 1

It's December 1, 2011 and I am very happy to say that I have reached my goal, AND I am not done. Because the ending has been so difficult to write, I will be staying on my writing schedule until I am satisfied. Sorry, friends - no drinks for me still.

Wish me luck!

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Update: Sunday, November 27

It was quite a shaky weekend for me, and let's just say I was not as successful in my writing as I would have liked. On the other hand, I had an amazing time with family and look forward to closing out this upcoming week with a vengeance. I realize my dreams are coming true as I write this book. And to think, it all started with one word.

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Update: Tuesday, November 22

This morning was probably the most emotional writing day because I received a glimpse of the end, in my story and for the first draft of my writing journey. When I first began writing the book, I wasn't the most excited about the story. Now I realize, it was because I did not fully realize the potential of how far my imagination could actually go.

As my characters have come alive and color has been added, I have been hit with an awesome revelation - I have loved this journey and I equally love the story. In a message to one of my closest friends, I wrote:

Regarding the book, I have been realizing that it is no longer just something I am putting together this month. After I am done with nanowrimo, I will take it as a first draft and go back to the drawing boards for revisions and cleaning up over the next few months. I am not sure how many drafts it will take, but I want to get it to a point where it can be published. Yep, I finally said it.

After years of having the idea, I finally put it out into the universe: it's a story of mother and son.

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Update: Sunday, November 20

Only 10,000 words to my goal! Some days are much tougher than others, but I am getting there. Happy Thanksgiving week to everyone.

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Update: Tuesday, November 16

I'm not sure this is just about writing a book anymore, or about being completely sober in a pool of late night partying and drinking like sailors in the town of Hollywood. Yesterday, I reached the half-way mark towards my goal of 32,000 words by claiming 16,333.

Writing each morning, afternoon or night has given me an escape from any problems and any tough days at work. It is sometimes difficult to find that burst of energy to write, when 40-50 hours of your week goes towards paying the bills, but this month is proving to me that is worth much more.

Each day that I am able to complete my words, grind throughout work, go to the gym and still be able to get other work done, I deem as a success and as a signifier that our levels of discipline can always evolve and grow.

By no means am I saying that writing an entire book in a month has changed me as a man; I am saying that the screws in my brain have started to turn a bit more.

It's quotes like these that keep me going:

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

-Steve Jobs

It's all worth a shot, right?

Click Below to Continue Reading About My Writing Journey

Beautiful and Inspirational Words by Sarah Kay

What I'll Be Tuning Into This Month

Each day for the next 18 days, HuffingtonPost and TED will post ideas worth sharing.

From HuffingtonPost.com
On behalf of The Huffington Post and TED, we are delighted to invite you on a year-end journey of ideas that can help shape the world in 2012. Starting today, we will be counting down 18 of 2011's most impactful TEDTalks -- and combining them with new blog posts written by the people who delivered them. TED stands for technology, entertainment and design, but the content has become much broader than that. The talks you'll be seeing touch on science, business, global issues, education, and much more. Picking the 18 wasn't easy. For the TED team, it was like being asked to name their favorite child. And this year, they had over 300 kids to pick from. But they finally managed to come up with their selections. Watch them, comment on them, and pass them along. An idea is one gift that you can hang onto even after you've given it away.