Seeing is Believing

    

       Recently I visited Garden City, Kansas.  I had never heard of it though I was scheduled to speak at Garden City Community College and fortunately there was an airport in town.
            As we made our final approach into the city, I gazed out the window, hoping to catch a downtown skyline off in the distance. 
            Nothing.
            In fact, except for far off street lights, the only thing I could see were the lights on the runway.  When we got off the plane, I saw that there was only one airline.  One gate.  One terminal.  One restaurant.  One baggage claim.  That's the picture of the entire airport above.
            As we walked into the airport, the complaints started.
            “Where is this place?”
            “Have I stepped into the Twilight Zone?”
            What I noticed though, amid the fact that yes, it was indeed small, was that the rental car counter was 10 feet away from the door I entered.  My walk from the airplane, to the rental car counter, and to baggage claim to collect my bag, was less than 10 minutes.  My rental car was parked curb side and my contract and keys were waiting when I arrived.  NEVER have I walked from plane through the airport and to my rental car in less than 20 minutes.
            NEVER!
            Of course the return flight was equally as easy.  From my return to the rental car row, to inside the airport and through security was less than 10 minutes.  When I stepped on the plane, I noticed we had the same flight crew from the night before when I arrived.  I asked the flight attendant how was her night in Garden City.  More complaints.
            Now, I am not saying I am ready to pack my bags so I can live in the town with the small airport; however, while I was there, I chose to look at the positive side of the experience.
            Is the glass full or is it half empty?  I chose to see it half full. I know, it’s such a cliché saying that sometimes we bypass the importance and significance of it in our daily lives.
            A better way to think of this might be the way Dr. Wayne Dyer, one of my favorite teachers, says it.  “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
            However you see the “glasses” in your life is a choice.  No one can make you see a glass as half empty, or a small airport as a step in the Twilight Zone.

 

            How you CHOOSE to see the world is the world you will experience.  Are you making wise choices?

           

There's No Place Like Home

            I absolutely love The Wizard of Oz.  Even though I know exactly what’s going to happen at every turn in the movie, I still get anxious when the Wicked Witch is trying to get Dorothy.  Oh, and the songs- I know those things by heart!  It’s such a universal reminder that truly, there is no place like home.          

          Recently I visited my great aunt and uncle in Los Angeles while I was in town on business.  It was my first visit to their home and I was so happy to see them.  After we played catch up for a while, they dropped me off in downtown where I was scheduled to meet a friend for dinner.               

        As we rode through the LA Live area where the Staples Center is located, my aunt got super excited, stating, “I’ve never been here before.” I must admit, it was awesome.  The restaurants, the big screen televisions and all the people walking around got me excited too.

            The Staples Center has been around since 1999.  And, my aunt and uncle have been in Los Angeles for well over 25 years.  More importantly, they live less than 10 minutes away from the arena.

            While I could understand why a non basketball fan may have never visited the arena, I found it just a little odd that she had never even been in the area.  (In case you are wondering, yes, my uncle had been to the area, though not the actual arena.)

            That night, I started to ponder how many people are missing out on the treasures close to home.  And I am not talking about some good restaurants or cool hang out joints.  

            I am talking about people, resources, and opportunities that could be life changing.  I remember when I published my first book.  Once I set the goal of doing the book and set a release date, I learned that one of my closest friends at the time was a graphic designer.  I already owned the painting that became my book cover.  And, I had a friend 45 minutes away who had just released his book, so he was an invaluable consultant. 

            In a way, I was kind of like Dorothy when she received guidance from Glenda, the Good Witch, “You’ve always had the power.”  I could have written my book many years earlier, but I just did not realize I had the power to do so all along.        

            If someone told you that you could graduate from college with a 4.0, would you believe him?  If a friend said that you could easily start a business with the little side hustle you make a few dollars from, could you see that?  Or, if a co-worker complimented you on your clothes, could you see yourself as a stylist?

            You have the power to change your life and in fact, the entire world.  Are you ready and willing to use it?

Give us Free

           The movie Amistad was a great educating film.  One of the most memorable lines in the film for me was “Give us free.”  I was reminded of that line and the movie recently.
            I visited an uncle in prison a couple of weeks ago.  It was the first time I had ever been to a prison and the first time in several years I had seen him.  I was a little anxious.  I had no idea what to expect.
            When I first arrived and walked toward the entrance, I had to be buzzed in through two gates before even entering the prison.  I remember standing there for what seemed like an eternity after I rang the bell before I was allowed to enter.  And, it seemed to make sense to me that since I entered one gate, the next one would automatically open, or at least open quickly after I rang the bell.  No such luck.  I still had to wait longer than what I thought was necessary.
            I immediately concluded that I NEVER wanted to be in prison.  Okay, not that I had been contemplating a stay in the big house, but, those few minutes of being told when I could enter a place that was isolated with barbed wire fencing with no access to family or friends sealed the deal.
            My visit went well and then after leaving my I.D. and keys at the front desk, I collected those items and again, waited to be buzzed out of three different doors to leave.  “If you do the crime, then you have to do the time,” is a saying I have often heard.  But, what’s sad is many people are doing time and they don’t even know it.  Yes, many of us, at various times in our lives are in our own self made prisons.
            Anytime you allow another individual to control your happiness, that’s prison.  When you limit your goals because you think only certain groups of people can achieve certain things, that’s prison.  If you allow yourself to believe you deserve misery, a bad job, an abusive relationship, or fill in the blank by what’s limiting you, that’s prison. 
            It’s no fun to be locked up in a state or federal institution.  But for some, rehabilitation is possible, and they can reenter society as productive citizens.  I have a high school classmate who has done just that and is on a personal crusade to mentor others so they do not go down the same path he did.
            What’s crazy is to be a prisoner of your own self imposed limitations.  What’s absolutely insanity though, is to not even realize it.
            How many places in your life have you given away your freedom?  And, what are you willing to do to reclaim it?