What's It All About, Alfie?

I've been stressing myself out with bad habits of doing too much of everything. Pressured by my upbringing that I cannot fail at being self-dependent. Self-dependency is something you learn early in life. Fortunate are those bastards who are born with the gift of a legacy tool-box; which includes cars, real estate and perhaps cash that can all be traded in for the latest iPhone, MacBook,  Yacht dinner cruises and parties with friends in penthouses an Chateaus. Well, that ain't me. At times, I envy the highly favored trustees who can (and when they choose) flaunt their entitlements before the rest of us proletariats.

A Latch-key-kid, is a more befitting term that describes my adolescence years and life with my brother six-years older. While our single mom worked two jobs, I was busy being bullied and tormented by my older brother until I reached junior high, and he was finally gone out of the house. I had to learn self-dependency. Home-made burgers and tacos during the week and rewarded with the occasional steak. I learned to be mom, protector; care giver and how to lock away emotions; not always a good thing.

However, I am finding as an adult that self-dependency is like an old habit that is difficult to shake loose. Too much of a good thing is ultimately bad for you. At some point, you need to retire, relax, lay low, release. Thinking this out has even made me tired. I've always ended up in jobs just to make money, to pay rent, pay off college debt and to pay a mortgage. These are all anchor weights in life. At some point, you realize that they only provide a tentative sense of safety, comfort and stability, but not real security.

Instead of being a jack of many trades or a miserable labor of one; why not decide to hell with everything else for the money and do the one gratifying thing that brings happiness. It may not make money, but perhaps its worth sticking it out for the heart of it. After all, what's it all about -Alfie?

HAPPINESS: Desiring, Hoping, Wishing, Creating

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen; others make it happen,” is a quote Michael Jordan made at the peak of his success. Perhaps he did not originate the quote, but certainly the most famous person to say it publicly that will resonate forever.

I’ve heard this quote paraphrased by mystics, ministers, motivational speakers, Sufi’s and many others given a platform to teach, preach and reach.   It doesn’t really matter the source from which the wisdom comes, only the results of the intended action because of it.  Just imagine the physical state of a professional sports athlete; the mind - body coordination must become more receptive to coaching and training than that of the average person. Special conditioning of the mind-body coordination improves over time until it reaches a performance capacity peak absent from injuries, it be followed by a slow and natural digression called aging that occurs in all forms of life.   More so, what happens when the mind-body can no longer master performance driven successes; when satisfaction and gratification are a void?   Life becomes critical for most high-performing individuals, including athletes, executives, top-achievers and workaholics. At worst, some will conclude that life is unbearable.

Prior to reaching the performance peak  along with the mind and body conditioning and after is the spirit-self that also needs the same intensity of training.  Depression and fatigue come easily absent the core training of our being.  More so, when we work and train hard with a sense of balance, we will often recognize it in ourselves as satisfaction or gratification and at times may even witness greatness.  Achieving greatness is not limited to physical performance, talents, wealth or receiving highest recognition or awards.


“You can chase a desire; hope for success; wish to achieve wealth or you can create happiness.” The greatest achievement of man is finding unwavering happiness right where you are; and often it's in the palm of your hand.” -  S. B.

“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” -  Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
- Mahatma Gandhi