Our State of “Tude”!

Our State of “Tude”!

By Allen Merritt (©2017)

I was thinking this morning about “tudes.”

What’s a “tude”, you might ask?

Well, a “tude” (generally speaking) refers to an attitude of any kind.

Over coffee, I pondered the abbreviated form of a “tude.”  I jotted down ideas and words that relate to it as I wondered about the positive aspects of how “tudes” impact our lives.  How many “tudes” are there? Which ones give us the most bang for our buck in the way of feeling good or obtaining enlightenment, peace of mind or contentment?

Let’s face it, our attitude means everything toward how we face each day. If we wake up grumpy, it may take a while to turn the frown upside down! Ultimately, it is my belief that a positive attitude will serve us better in the long run rather than any negative one. The right “tude” can determine our mood, dude!  More importantly, it garners a better outcome overall.

Here are a few thoughts I want to propose for helping us improve our state of “tude.”

Gratitude – naturally finding something to be grateful and/or thankful for helps place us in a state of appreciation for aspects of our life. It’s humbling. It’s also a form of recognition toward understanding that the whole of life is a gift and not necessarily something that comes to us on a silver platter and/or with a silver spoon. Nothing is ever guaranteed even when one works hard to believe and achieve. To me, gratitude is my number one “tude.” We are blessed with the opportunity to pursue and give it our all. Without gratitude everything will mean nothing and is taken for granted.

Solitude – taking a moment here and there to be with ourselves and reflect on anything and everything going on in life. This is a very important “tude.” If we do not take time to think on, contemplate and ponder how we feel, what we know and understand or figure out where we stand on issues and situations, then we only become more and more blithely unaware of our circumstances. We get too caught up in the world and forget who we are, what’s important and where we are heading. Solitude helps us regroup, reassess, reevaluate as we move forward and navigate.

Beatitude(s) - help us form character and integrity. While generally thought of in religious context, there are many benefits from these thoughtful proclamations. They remind us to be humbled, passionate, forgiving, gentle, self-controlled, thoughtful, tolerant, comforting, peace seeking and more. The Beatitudes contribute greatly to our daily recipe for living.

We-attitude – reminds us to focus on inclusiveness and social consciousness. While a ‘Me-attitude’ may prove important to our general health and well being, a’ We-attitude’ helps serve to balance out everything else.  At some point one realizes we are all in the same boat and it isn’t always about the almighty Me, Myself and I.  On some level, this “tude” reminds us of our social connected-ness in the world.

Overall, attitude changes the outcome of any initiative. You can have a bad-itude, be crude, lewd and rude and the outcome will result in the same return on your investment. It’s like being repeatedly slapped in the face. I don’t think anyone likes that.  Yet, I do notice this happening a lot out there in the real world. People are letting their “tudes” get the best of them and others. They lash out, scream, bully, objectify, purposefully attack people and wreak havoc, which only promotes destructiveness.

Attending to those “tudes” which promote growth and understanding helps everyone live life on a more positive note, don’t you think?

Considering these theories on “tudes,” I hope each and every day will reflect the best of the best. May our attitudes promote us toward a higher gain and not lead us down a path of ugliness.

With that in mind, have a great week living life on a positive note.

Cheers!

Lighten the Load!

Lighten the Load!

By Allen Merritt (©2017)

I try to be observant and pick up on signs, symbols and word play. It comes natural for me to do so. Sometimes it happens so fast I don’t even know where it comes from. I tell people, “It just came to me out of nowhere” or “It flew out of me like a demon.”  Somehow I see unexpected things in the normal ebb and flow, which help to lighten the load, so to speak.

In any case, I look for positivity throughout the day and this is one way I do it.

For me, the last few weeks have been chalk full of activities and I found myself quite fatigued at the end of each day, which is a good thing. When I get this busy I often feel I am forgetful or lose track of time in regard to being observant or observing what I feel is important in life. It is almost like forgetting to eat because you are constantly on the go. I suppose the best approach is to not let any of it get the best of you or to beat yourself up over anything. If the chores are not a hundred percent complete, that’s okay. If you have to put things off for a few extra days, that’s okay. If you forget something, that’s okay. It’ll still be there later, because tomorrow never comes.

Ultimately, I try to keep it light when in the company of others and will crack a few jokes and sillies along  the way, or share true stories of things I noticed or experienced that were not what one would expect. Here are a couple of interactions I had this week. I hope it helps others to see how to lighten one’s own load as we continue living life on a positive note.

1. A discussion about an upcoming trip to Chicago came up and I immediately blurted out, “Do you know how many ‘chicks’ are in Chicago?” Answer, “Nearest I can tell there is only one ‘Chick’ in Chic(k)-ago!”
2. While driving to work and about to pull into the conference center I came to a stop at the light. What I thought was a homeless individual approached the car in front of me. He was holding up his pants and carried a large red guitar drinking cup (popular in Vegas). I reached into the back seat where I had a small bag of snacks to give out in just this kind of a situation. The man shuffled up to my car. I rolled down the window and asked him if he wanted a snack pack. His reply was, “No, I want you to take me to a strip club. I will pay you $5.”  Needless-to-say, I chuckled and said, “No, I am pulling in here.” I certainly wasn’t expecting that type of interaction, especially at 5:00 am in the morning when I wasn’t even sure if I was awake yet. I can tell you, I was awake after that!
3. While enjoying an after work reception in the exhibit hall following the conference day, I saw what I thought was a squeezable rubber stress toy shaped like a dog with a yellow ball in his mouth. (Try and picture this!)  I had a plastic cup of Cabernet Sauvignon in one hand, a plate of pink butternut ravioli in the other hand and a bag over my shoulder. Yes, my hands were full. Anyway, I went up to the booth and asked if I could have the stress toy, because I thought it was fun. A young man encouraged me to take one, which I did. While juggling everything and having to switch my plate to the other hand and place it on top of my beverage, I reached and grabbed the toy and began to squeeze it like a stress ball. The yellow ball that was in the dogs mouth immediately popped out and shot up in the air and so did my pink ravioli, which went all over the floor. I began to apologize and laugh like crazy. The scene was too funny. I didn’t expect the ball to pop out at all. But I am glad it did. It truly lit up the moment with a heightened sense of fun.

How many times have such moments caught your attention and allowed you to stop and see the good things in life? Take a moment to reflect back on your week and count how many times fun and interesting events filled up your moments with opportunities to lighten up and reduce your stress. Take advantage of these little humor breaks to create more positive space throughout the day. Use these moments to accentuate the positive.

With that in mind, take notice of what is going on around you and what is being said. 

Go out and have a fun filled and joyous week living life on a positive note.

Cheers!

Grab the Goodies!

Grab the Goodies!

By Allen Merritt (©2017)

How many times have you heard the words, “As soon as…; when…; or, if…” preceding a sentence and used in context of choosing to view life either positively or negatively? When do we decide to make things happen regardless? Why does the time always have to be perfect for us to move forward or make effort?

Last night I listened to a short presentation on choosing peace and refuting the idea of taking a negative stance or beating oneself up over nothing. If we open the eyes of our minds and heart, take a look around, we may find the time to move forward is right now. We may discover good things are abundant as are the opportunities.

No one needs a REASON to be happy.

No one needs a REASON to be peaceful.

The “When this happens, then I will do this or that” mentality only slows down and/or potentially eliminates possibilities to achieve. It creates a self-inflicted wound and brings about self-fulfilling prophecies, which leave us empty handed.

My experience with this comes from my mother. After listening to this mindset, one realizes such talk produces nothing fruitful. In fact, it serves only as an excuse for not giving it a go!  Negative thinking has a powerful nature about it toward interfering with goals and dreams. It stifles the ability to become…more. It stunts our growth.

Consider the following statements:

• I don’t deserve it.
• I don’t think I can.
• I don’t know how.
• I just can’t!
• Now’s not the right time.

No matter how big or small a thing it is we want to accomplish, we must recognize we have the innate ability to approach it positively. Or, at the very least, we can refute it.

• I deserve the best.
• I think I can!
• I’m not sure how, but I will try.
• I can learn.
• There’s no time like the present.

My goal this week is to propose an exercise for choosing the good. Let’s call it, “Grab the Goodies!”

First, we must decide there is a world of good out there. Then we have to surround ourselves with such goodness and experience it fully by working to identify every aspect of the good. We may even have a change of heart/perspective as a part of the process.

Start by checking out the surrounding environment. Find something good. Point it out to yourself. Then say, “That is good” followed by a smile and an affirmative head shake and then use the button of, “This is good!”

Sound simple? It is!

Sound silly? It’s not.

Searching for the positive (or good) is habit forming and becomes not only addictive but infectious to others. It helps to avoid jumping the gun, over reacting or speaking too soon, providing a chance for the positive to permeate the situation.

In some cases, finding the good may prove difficult at best. Think of the process as a scavenger hunt and seek out the buried treasure. One gem is all it takes to turn things around. Once found, grab it and hold on to it!

Think of the game as a sort of Halloween event of trick or treating.

Grab the goodies!

Look for the positive.

Make a better day.

We’ve nothing to lose by going for it now.

Imagine it. See it clearly. Place it in full view.

Grab those goodies. Give yourself a chance.  Don’t wait until "whenever". Do it now. What are you waiting for? 

Go out and have a great day harvesting all that is good and living your life on a positive note.

Cheers!

Shoot With a Camera!

Shoot With a Camera!

by Allen Merritt (©2017)

There is no doubt it takes a strong constitution to remain positive in light of ongoing chaos. It’s challenging to say the least. I read an online post this morning which conveyed how this individual usually tries to keep everything on a positive note, but how this is the hardest time in his life to do so.

I understand.

Yesterday another shooter attacked a small country church in Texas.

Earlier this week, a man went on a rampage in New York City and randomly killed people out biking, running, walking and enjoying an otherwise beautiful day.

It wasn’t that long ago where one man rained gunfire down on a concert just three miles from where I live.

On it goes and no one does anything about it in the way of taking measures to reduce the possibility of these events from taking place. (This is not a post about gun control, right to bare arms or any amendment. It’s about seeing clearly and knowing what to do.)

Here is what I notice. People are angry. People are hurting. People are lost in their own mental fog and then are imploding in such a fashion it impacts anyone and everyone in their pathway.

And it isn’t just random shootings. Law enforcement is caught in the act of shooting to kill without question or investigation. Ultimately, people die. Families are losing loved ones.

Positivity is always a work in progress for anyone, especially in today’s world.

How does one feel safe going out in public?

It’s a big question and it comes without a guarantee.

This week I found myself in another situation which I felt was shady and uncertain considering recent/ongoing shootings and terrorist attacks. A group of people behaving unusually were working around me at a local conference. They purposefully spoke in another language. I wasn’t sure if it was Hebrew or Arabic from a distance. One was on a phone speaking angrily. They were selling skin care products, which was odd considering it was a nursing organization. They served no purpose being there. Then I noticed there was another table of similar individuals selling electronics (cell phone accessories). This caused me to consider all the cell phone bombs used today. Then more people showed up until I counted at least eight. I observed two of them performing daily prayer rituals.  Then I walked past the leader and he looked straight into my eyes and all I saw was pure darkness. It pierced me to the point of wondering what I should do. What was going on, I wondered?

I began questioning whether or not to report them. I did not want to overreact. I reached for peace in the situation. Could this be a serious situation? I located exits and had small discussions to investigate. On the one hand I do not want to stereotype people or put them in a box. On the other hand, when I add up all the variables which were out of place in this scenario, something was off. Something was wrong. I have felt this way before when I had another similar experience on a plane leaving San Francisco the day of the Paris attack and observed highly questionable activity.

I share these experiences to point to the idea that it isn’t easy to know what to do or how to be objective. However, when there is an uncomfortable feeling, don’t ignore it. Go within and calmly reason through it. Be mindful, prayerful and contemplative toward a positive outcome and truth seeking.

For me, instead of simply looking outside of myself and thinking, ‘What is going on?” This time I decided to go inside and think thoughts like, “What should I do? What can I do? What is best to do? How can I help?”

I reached out to others to ask them to send good thoughts and energy, to join me in a partnership toward a peaceful outcome.

Interestingly, my feelings were not such that some major event took place that day as it did in Texas and NYC this week. But it did turn out some shady events were going on with this group in the exhibit hall and they were conducting unethical business practices which were scamming other innocents in the mix.

Keeping life on a positive note may mean not ignoring your feelings, but paying attention to them. If your gut is telling you to look into a situation or walk the other way, it may prove to be the most positive experience of your life.

In light of all who have suffered these great atrocities, I hope we can come together in support of life sustaining measures to prevent such madness.

For me, I tend to walk away from people who I visually see carrying guns in public.

Today, I simply wanted to share some of my thoughts and experiences. I am thankful for each day, but I hurt for those who needlessly have theirs cut short.

As I watched the news, I tired of listening to reporters ask questions they know for a fact have no answers and would impede investigation. As I scrolled through social media posts, I see people speaking out and some were tired of hearing politicians send prayers instead of taking action.

Personally, I think prayer and good thoughts/vibes toward pursuing healing, happiness, positivity and the like are a strong aide in moving past and forward into the next moment, but I also think stronger measures need to be discovered and implemented toward controlling that which is currently out of control: people accessing and handling weapons of all kinds of destruction.

Go ahead. Send your prayers. Pray without ceasing. Seek peace in the midst of the storm that will surpass any and all understanding and then work hard to overcome and to achieve actions that benefit the better part of the whole while promoting and supporting life, loving and living.

If you want to shoot a thing, grab a camera. Take a picture of something beautiful. Make a meaningful movie. Plant a flower bulb, water it and watch the shoot bloom into a wondrous act of life.  All lives matter. Let’s get behind that.

Go out there and be the best you can be right here and right now and have a positive week despite it all.

Cheers!

Master of None!

Master of None!

By Allen Merritt (©2017)

There is an old saying/cliché which I dare say many people can relate to, which is, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” In a nutshell, this phrase suggests how people do not gain wealth and security because they have not mastered or developed an expertise in any one thing. Therefore, their success in life is comparatively limited. On one hand I understand it. On the other hand, the world has changed.

Personally, I relate to this statement. However, I have a different take on it, which I think lands me on the positive side of living. As a result of my perspective, I have survived and continue onward in the face of all my experiences.

Here is the way I see it. For me, life has been on my own. I am an only child. My family ties are limited. Nothing was ever given to me on a silver platter. To navigate the whole of my life I must work. No one else will provide or support me (either monetarily or morally). Support structures are minimal and finding areas where I am embraced and accepted by mere virtue of who I am barely exist.

Think on the following questions.

• How many individuals find themselves in this boat?
• How many people are depressed, suicidal and gravitate toward substance abuse and addiction?
• How many aren’t able to cope and feel uninspired, unmotivated and uncertain of their options?
• How may have already given up hope or given up period?
• What are the numbers when it comes to persons who feel their life is meaningless and they will never succeed at anything in life?

All are good questions. And, as someone who has been utterly on their own in much the same manner as these questions would purport, I always wonder how I make it through and some do not.

What makes me different?

I think the answer lies in the ideology of being blessed with the ability to find a perspective (even if it takes time to achieve it), as well as focusing on the many available options, which leads me back to the concept of jack of all trades.

My experience in life is based on being able to do many things. It pays to be diverse and versatile. That is how you make it through the roller coaster ride. For me, as a starving artist type, learning to jump in and wear many hats has paid off in seeing me through the tough times where opportunities were limited and money was short. If I were not able to adjust and adapt to my conditions and environments, I may have been utterly out of luck on the street.

The choice was mine.

From my experience, being an expert at something doesn’t guarantee success, opportunity or continued survival in your field of expertise. At least, in this day and age, the old cliché does not stand up to the weather. One can see this in how many individuals graduate with a degree in their chosen field and end up working jobs that have nothing to do with their profession. Moreover, many companies hire people who have the ability to wear more than one hat as they do not have the means to hire a one trick pony, so to speak.

With this in mind, I believe that one way to approach life positively is by buckling up and learning how to do more things. One cannot be afraid to be a jack of all trades. A skill (or set of skills) may or may not set you apart. Ultimately, success is how you define it, not as others tell you it is.

In short, my challenge for everyone is to look at all you are capable of doing and all that you do instead of brooding over what you do not have or feel you can’t do or are being kept from doing. Positivity begins with opening up our minds and hearts to the many things we are able to do in service to others and to ourselves.

Go ahead and be a jack of all trades. It doesn’t mean you cannot be a master at something or all things. It simply means you are alive and doing the best you can with what you have. In that, you move forward. Hopefully, on a happier and joyous note!

Have a great week and be positive about yourself!

Cheers!