Love in the rain

10 Memorable Ways to Be Successful | The BridgeMaker

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10 Memorable Ways to Be Successful Posted: 08 Dec 2010 03:52 PM PST Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are. – Bernice Johnson Reagon Article written by guest contributor Jonathan Figaro. Please visit Jonathan at The Dropout Kid. Lean over the banister, with no wings to soar with, still think you can fly. Dare to dream and be brave. Leave behind the message in the bottle and create your own source of wisdom. How? Look in the mirror, the soul of a hustler is always revealed. Goals The net, Joey, the point is to aim for the net. "Ohh," his face shakes in complete understanding. He was never taught this before. We aren't taught to set and achieve goal as kids or young adults, this is why most people get nowhere in life. They run a marathon of dehydration before they realize, Gatorade is here to help, not hinder. Try this: Set down three specific, clear, cut and precise measurable objectives you want to meet. Shake hands with these ideologies, wine and dine the chief aim. Do this routine: Blog three times a week, lose one activity that wastes your time, and then set an aim for that seven day period. Let's say you want to get one subscriber, find three things you can do, on a daily basis that will get you one subscriber for the week. Of course you can do more, but start small, build confidence, momentum kicks in. Make your goals realistic (remember realistic in ones perspective) then work on it. Choose to fight Slide, step, dodge, prance, dip, dodge, punch, K.O, never as easy as it sound, but with practice, you can't lose. Muhammad Ali, Floyd may weather and Pacquiao are similar in that they never give into what others say. They proved everyone to be wrong, and themselves to be right. If they miss a flight, they would take the bus, if the bus broke down they biked it, if the bike breaks down, they run or found a hitchhiker to reach their destination. This is going to happen to you. The difference between those three men and you is that they made the choice to strive. What's your decision? P.S There is no good reason to give up. End self pity "Pick your head up young man, no reason to cry, the world is too beautiful to shed tears of sorrow, if you're going to cry, why not shed tears of joy," the little guy started to laugh. Everyone in this world is usually so down on themselves. A bright day is when they are six feet under in hopes to get into heaven. Don't let this be you. A brighter day starts today. The day you remind yourself, no- one life is perfect, and that's the perfection of life. Remind yourself to visualize the future and work toward changing the present, and running light years away from the past. Substitute "Just switch it, oh yeah," He said, in extreme acknowledgement." I never thought of that, that's why I'm here," and the angel flew away. You can substitute a negative thought for a positive achievement. It's time to put more optimism in your life. If you're thinking along the lines of "I'll never change, or I can't," change these negative and nefarious phrases to something completely opposite. Try to be specific and clear, so you can drive down the side streets of success. Wake and bake Wake up and soak in the smoke of good thoughts. Before you start your day, inhale the infinite possibilities of day. End the catastrophes of tomorrow. Blow smoke up of positive anticipation and lean to the side like a junkie. Sit with a cup of coffee or tea, and set positive conscious intentions to make sure today turns into a successful day. If you don't pack your life with healthy lunches, how are you supposed to survive times of malnutrition? Give gratitude "Thank you, come again," the Quickie Mart guys say. I looked away and thought to myself, why be we all just as grateful. Take a moment out today, whether its morning, noon or night, and just give thanks. Things you might take for granted, take a moment to appreciate, such as your vision, heart rate, mother, father, daughter, blog, job , shoes, clean clothes, shelter, money in account or pocket and parking ticket you didn't get because you talked the cop out of it, all goes into account. Don't miss a drip of gratitude, for that water your drink needs to be appreciated also. Say no to inner whining "Negro, You can't," Why do I listen to you? Well because I'm the voice of reason, and you just can't that's too big of a goal, look at all your other past failure, you can't win. She said. He may be right I thought. "Of course I'm right," she countered. Now cash in my advice, before you blow all your money on this stupid idea. What decision will I make? When negative thoughts try to drag you away from your home of optimism, kick it in the face and shut the door. Ignore the thought and it will go way. Negativity only grows when you give it attention. The attention you give it, the more it hinders your thinking. Remove yourself from its lime light, overshadow it with no love. Keep it simple "Keep it simple Tommy," His wife's voice rages on. What do you mean? He scurries this thoughts into the back of his throat like a tongue of an innocent child who said something he will soon regret, but knew he had to be said, to learn the lesson, only mistakes reveal. His wife opens her mouth and each syllable travels along the world of reality, his life begins to shift. Dedicate yourself to one craft and make sure you're the greatest of all time. Forget what others say you should do and do what you want to. Life gets no simple than this," her arctic comment warms his heart into molten lava; he can now walk on water. Tom's eyes swells in happiness, tinker bell couldn't of gave him a greater smile and understanding of life and happiness. When you decide you want to be successful, dedicate yourself to one craft and be the best in this field. Nothing is simpler than that. Once you reach high levels of success, then you can delegate your time to other aspects of your life. Trust your inner God and roll with life punches, just get up after you're knocked out. Cook the breast and separate from the legs “Stir that water, prep the meat, and inject the ingredient so of your desires!” To be successful you must learn to separate the legs and cook the breasts – the breast being the main objective. What you can do, and you have to do to achieve your dreams. The legs beings are the things you can outsource. Never try to do everything, if you do, you'll fail and run yourself ragged. Cheat on your wife Now I’m not promoting promiscuity. What I am promoting is that you leave your wife, (your craft or for ladies, your husband) for a while and soon you’ll realize, sometimes when you leave the best thing you ever had, you'll understand, there nothing more-better (not sure if that's a word) than what you have right at home. About Jonathan Figaro Jonathan's direct and tell-it-like-it-is style is as refreshing as it is inspirational. I encourage you to read more from Jonathan at The Dropout Kid or visit him on Facebook. Please Spread the Word Please tell your friends about The BridgeMaker by using the share buttons below. Every Retweet and Facebook share helps me grow my blog. I look forward to seeing you here again soon. Thank you for reading! – Alex

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A Simple Guide to Feeling Good on the Inside | The BridgeMaker

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A Simple Guide to Feeling Good on the Inside Posted: 05 Dec 2010 10:11 AM PST Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live. – Norman Cousins Looking good on the outside is important to most of us – me included. Five workouts a week, a discerning eye on what goes into my mouth and a clean shave every morning helps me look as good as possible. But to be honest, the real reason I do these things is to feel even better on the inside. For most of my life, experiencing true and lasting self-confidence has been a challenge. I exercise not because I hope to become a world-class athlete; I exercise because of how I feel about myself afterward. The feelings of accomplishment and commitment are my fuel – my energy to sustain me through the challenges and obstacles that occur as a natural part of living a life. Feeling good on the inside is integral to living a happy, successful and balanced life. But, not all days are easy ones. However, we get to have a head start every day when we feel worthy, valuable and full of passion. The following simple guide to feeling good on the inside can provide the power necessary to give you this head start: Enjoy the moment There seems to be problems lurking every day, so when the good moments happen allow these to be enjoyed more. Stay in the good moment, the comfortable moment, and the passionate moment for as long possible. These moments can be extraordinary. Live them fully and begin noticing how much better you feel on the inside when you do. Celebrate your success Take time to congratulate yourself and to pat yourself on the back for whatever level of success you just achieved. Allow others to celebrate with you and be open to their praise. Humans are not robots. We have souls that need nourishing and our batteries sometimes rundown. Allow yourself to feel the pride and joy of your accomplishment. Always keep moving forward The day most people give up is the day before they would have found success. Feelings of failure, regret and doubt begin to swell into things that can be far more dangerous. No matter how tired or discouraged you may feel, if the thing you are working so hard to obtain is aligned with your life's purpose, then you will achieve it. Perhaps not on your timeline, but you will achieve it nonetheless. Stay focused on how it will feel to get there. Your spirit and your faith will give you the energy to keep moving forward. Treat yourself Self-deprivation doesn't feel good to me. What does feel good is the ability to choose when and how to treat myself. By treating yourself to a special meal, dessert or a concert ticket you are confirming you are worthy to enjoy something a little special. Strengthen your relationships Never miss the opportunity to tell someone who is close to you how much you love them. Time invested in your relationships can result in deeper connections and a better sense of what you are able to give – and what you would like to receive. Be real with yourself You never really believe the lies you tell yourself. These lies only make you feel more anxious and incredibly guilty. By being real, and completely honest, you are in a better position to discover what you really want in life and what feels good. Accomplish one item from your "to-do" list each day All you need sometimes is to take one small action in order to continue moving in the direction you want to go. Forward progress, and movement, can make you feel that you are well on your way; no matter how long it might take you to get there. Pick one thing, each day, on your to-do list and complete it. Soon, all of these one-day-at-a-time items will aggregate into something amazing – something you have created and something that belongs and feels good to you. Be responsible for meeting your own needs No one else is going to do it for you – nobody. Only you know what's in your head and what lives deep in your heart. If you want to have financial success, work harder; or if you want to have a better marriage, then become the better spouse. Yes, there are people who you can count on for love and support; but if you rely on these people, and only these people, you are missing an incredible opportunity to fill yourself with a level of love, grace and respect that can never be taken away. Acknowledge your feelings When you are happy, say you are happy. When you are angry, say you are angry. An important part to feeling good inside is to know exactly how you are feeling. Keep your balance Listen to your inner voice, your inner wisdom, when you are pushing too hard in one area of your life or when you are neglecting another one. Live somewhere in between. This middle space often feels better. Start the day right Start the day in a way that is right for you. I love the serenity of the early morning to either write or workout. This is my time when no one has any expectations of me. It feels like freedom and happiness to do some of the things I love to do. Both make me feel great on the inside, too. End the day well Spend the remaining time in your day doing what you enjoy or what brings you peace and sense of completeness. Allow yourself time to enjoy what you have accomplished and begin planning for the next day. This time for centering will allow you to connect with what's going on inside your mind and in your heart. Be a person of integrity Do what you say you are going to do. Treat others with respect and dignity. Don't cut corners with the people you love the most. To feel good on the inside means being good on the outside, too. There is a direct connection between the two. Embrace challenges Test yourself. Push yourself a little. Don't back down from a fair challenge. When you embrace challenges you are given the opportunity to learn more about yourself. No matter if you are successful or not, you can feel better for trying. Perform one random act of kindness There is a certain connection we all share. Without knowing everybody you encounter, you do know they certainly have struggles, disappointments and perhaps pain in their life. By holding the elevator door for someone a few steps behind you, or helping a stranger change a flat tire you are making their day a little easier; a little brighter. In return, you are adding to your own repository of personal contentment. Simply put, it feels good when we make a point of doing considerate and generous things for others Show your gratitude An amazing thing happens when you express your gratitude: More of the things you are grateful for keep coming back to you. Give Pick a cause or organization that is important to you and consider making a donation. The donation does not necessarily have to be monetary. Consider giving some of your time or offering a talent. While the beneficiary receives the expected value, so will you. Nourish your mind Learning can be a lifelong process of discovering the unknown and the interesting. By expanding your knowledge, you are in a better position to try on new things and see how they fit and feel to you. This discovery process will put you in a better position to get in touch with what feels right and what feels even better to you. Trust your inner wisdom. When you listen to your inner voice, and respond accordingly, you are seldom wrong. The tug you feel that guides you to a particular awareness or decision is unusually aligned with truth and reality. Shame, guilt or disappointment can occur when your inner wisdom is ignored. Happiness, peace and confidence are gained when you follow and respect what you know in your gut to be true. Appreciate what you have. Only this day is guaranteed. Spend each day giving thanks to the people and circumstances in your life that bring you the most happiness. While it's important to remain optimistic and excited about the future, it can also be humbling to become aware that the people we love the most can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Reach out and express your gratitude. It will be returned. And when it is, you will feel twice as good on the inside. How do you feel good on the inside? What do you do to feel good on the inside? Please share in Comments below. Reading this by email? Please visit the blog to share – just click here. Please Spread the Word Please tell your friends about The BridgeMaker by using the share buttons below. Every Retweet and Facebook share helps me grow my blog. I look forward to seeing you here again soon. Thank you for reading! – Alex

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Beyond Eden: An Interview with Robin Easton | The BridgeMaker

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Beyond Eden: An Interview with Robin Easton Posted: 01 Dec 2010 05:10 PM PST In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful. – Alice Walker The Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia is a sacred place for Robin Easton. Among the thick vegetation, extreme temperatures and dangerous wildlife is where Easton found peace and her greatest love – Nature. In the book, Naked in Eden: My Adventure and Awakening in the Australian Rainforest, Robin Easton shares her time in the rainforest when she was twenty five years-old. Faced with the challenge to adapt or perish, Easton chose to survive. Her book provides a moving and inspirational account of her survival and the spiritual awakening she experienced there. Several reviews have been written about Easton's remarkable novel, Naked in Eden (to read these reviews, just click here). But what struck me after reading her book was if she is still able to have a love affair with Nature after the many years, and the many miles, that have passed since then. Robin’s passion for Nature, and life, come alive in the following interview. Her answers provide hope that regardless if you have never been to Australia, or have never even left the city, there is still a piece of Eden waiting for you. Robin shows us the way there. The BridgeMaker: What is the greatest problem facing humankind today and how can Nature provide a solution? Robin Easton: One of the greatest challenges facing humankind is our collective belief that Nature is something separate from us, something "out there.” seen as "scenery.” I don’t think it’s a conscious belief; nonetheless the repercussions of it are so staggering that they endanger all life on planet Earth. Today there’s much anxiety, fear, greed, addiction, anger, and grief. When I see this turmoil around me, I’m filled with great compassion for my fellow humans. I understand their emotional anxiety, and know that it results in part from living "out of relationship" with the life that sustains us all. Everywhere I go I see the symptoms of our "out of relationship" thinking and lifestyle. I see exhausted people endlessly trying to fill the emptiness inside, the hunger, anxiety, loneliness, despair, and fear. Yet nothing seems to really fill it. So we drink, take drugs, over eat, watch computer porn, have multiple relationships, buy more and more things, stay forever busy, or watch endless TV, all of which can be desperate attempts to fill the part of us that we’re missing. If we can recognize the world around us as an inseparable extension of us, like a leg, head, or arm, and we an extension of it, we can begin to see ourselves and the world in a whole new way. Maybe the first step is to shift our thinking and expand our awareness. We don’t have to go to a distant jungle to do this. We can simply lie upon the earth and watch the clouds go by, and do so without talking on a cell phone, without reading, without listening to music, instead just be in relationship with this greater world. TBM: Now that your Daintree Rainforest adventure is over, how do you interact with Nature on a daily or regular basis? RE: I am blessed that my relationship with Nature is such a complete one, so intimate and loving that I commune with Nature all the time, no matter where I am. Yet, I still take time each day, even if it is five minute, to be "with" Nature, and give thanks for the beauty around me, that is me, if I let it be. In the morning, I usually wake early to watch the sunrise. I often walk miles barefoot up mountainsides just to feel the Earth beneath my feet. Sometimes I wade in a local creek while I photograph water bugs and colorful rocks. Some nights before bed, I walk outside my door and stand alone under the black sky until I fully grasp that I am floating through space on an amazing self-sustaining spaceship. As I look at twinkling distant stars I wonder what's out there. I cry because I feel those stars as part of myself, part of us all. I thank them because I feel beautiful. When I go inside to sleep I am more whole, more peaceful, and more connected to something loving, infinite, and Divine. I feel watched over. TBM: As you continue to grow and learn from your incredible experience in the rainforest, what new lessons are being revealed to you today that were not obvious at the time? RE: What seems to be happening is that the things I learned in the forest are coming more fully to light, not so much in a new way, but rather in a deeper all encompassing way. The insights and wisdom I gained have become more universal. I experience them no matter where I am. During my time in the forest, I took in so much information and had so many wild experiences that I changed drastically. It has taken time to process all that. In fact, the changes in me were so total that I’m not even the same person who went into the jungle. I think this is one reason I didn't write my book sooner. In many ways, although I had returned to society, I was still in the forest. I was more spirit than physical body. It took a long time to understand my culture, and then bring the wild and my culture together inside myself. For many years I felt I walked in the space between two totally different worlds. I no longer feel this way. I now experience it all as one world, one existence. There is no longer a split between me and all that is around. TBM: What are a few strategies parents can follow to encourage their children to enjoy Nature more? RE: I highly recommend getting rid of the television. Have the courage to unplug it today. One day your children will grow to adults and they will thank you. When I was a child my father got rid of our television. That one action changed my entire life and how I viewed the world. He then started to take us hiking, camping, swimming, and sledding, and so on. We all fell in love with Nature. My mom usually had a large vegetable garden every summer, which also helped connect me to Nature. She was always pointing out snowflakes, flowers, the color of autumn leaves, the shape of a bug, or the beauty of a sunset. She took time to stop and show us these things. I would encourage parents to let their kids get muddy, wet, grass stained, and go barefoot on the lawn, stand in the rain, roll in the snow, and feel the wind. I would encourage parents to be aware of how they talk to their children about Nature, especially about snakes, spiders, and other "creepy crawlies" some parents may fear. We can teach our children how to fear, or we can teach them how to have respect and awareness. There’s a big difference. Take time to play with your kids in the snow, the water, the woods, the fields. Stay out one night and watch shooting stars. Your children will never forget it. Imprint your children with these essential parts of themselves. Children need Nature for peace, self confidence, a sense of safety and love. We all need it. TBM: What could be Nature's surrogate? In other words, for people who will never have an opportunity to experience Nature in the way you did, how can they still find a way to comprehend its incredible power and the lessons it teaches? RE: I would say that love is Nature's surrogate. Nature is Love. If we expand our view of nature from one of "beautiful scenery,” "wildlife,” "outdoors” and so forth to one that is vast, and encompasses all that exists and that ever will exist, we then begin to understand that Nature is Love. Nature is spiritual. Nature is the Divine. However, to begin to feel this in our core, we need to connect with Nature. We need to go into relationship "with" Nature, every day. Start to commune with it, acknowledge it, and give it thanks. Nature is an amazing energetic fabric that includes everything in existence: you, your child, your neighbor, the woman in China, the distant galaxy, the cells in your toe, the boy in Mexico, the elephant in Africa, the mosquito in Maine, the mountain in Colorado, the river in Russia, your house, your car, the tree in your backyard, your neighbor's tree, and the flea on your grandmother's cat. It is all Nature. TBM: What adventure do you have planned next? RE: I'd love to sometime do a barefoot trek of one to two months. I’d love to kayak some long rivers that have sections of untamed water. I’d love to see the Kalahari Desert, and meet the people who’ve lived there for thousands of years. There is much to see and do in the world, but if we live with our eyes, hearts and minds open, everyday is an adventure, right here, right now, even as we drive to work, or take our kids to school. We don't have to go to the jungle to experience life altering adventure. The trick is to see the adventures happening right under our noses, every day. About Robin Easton © Robin Easton – Author of Naked in Eden: My Adventure and Awakening in the Australian Rainforest, is a writer, blogger, nature photographer, musician, and adventurer. She has appeared in magazines and newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada, and in an award-winning NBC News affiliate piece, Paul Harvey News, KBLA Radio, KSFR, Big Blend Radio, and others. She writes and blogs at www.nakedineden.com. Please Spread the Word Please tell your friends about The BridgeMaker by using the share buttons below. Every Retweet and Facebook share helps me grow my blog. I look forward to seeing you here again soon. Thank you for reading! – Alex

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The Most Important Life Lesson | The BridgeMaker

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The Most Important Life Lesson Posted: 28 Nov 2010 10:18 AM PST In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back (Charlie Brown). – Charles Schulz The sun is rising a little later and setting a little earlier now. Autumn's waning days tell me that December is on its way. Christmas will be here soon and after Christmas, a new year. And when December arrives, time will accelerate to the speed of light, or so it may seem. The year's quick exit will be a welcome relief, I think. My family has seen its share of difficulty this year. Good-byes, disappointments, and a few bad choices have left their mark. There have been times when we have stumbled, fallen and felt like giving up. But now with the worse seemingly behind us, there is a guarded optimism settling in as December approaches. We have made it though. We are intact; we are alive and we are ready to have a reason to celebrate. The time we spend together during the Christmas holidays will give us a chance to recall the lessons learned this year and how we can find the value in each one. Taking time to consider life’s lessons is an empowering way to acknowledge what has happened, and at the same time discovering how each lesson can make us stronger, more faithful and determined to learn more about ourselves. I have the sense these lessons will be among the most precious gifts my family opens this Christmas: Live right now You can't change the past or control the future, but you can give your mind, heart and soul to what is happening right now. Consider your commitments seriously Before committing, be convinced; be absolutely sure it's what you want to do. Trust recovers slowly When temptation wins over common sense, trust will return, but cautiously. Be patient. Wait for it. And when trust recovers, put it in a safe place and away from what you know will challenge it again. Ask to be carried When you feel weary, allow yourself to fall into the arms of someone stronger and asked to be carried. Your burdens don't feel heavy to others when their love is used to lift you up. You see what your create In misery you see the enemy; in grace you see the possibility. You don't have to run 100 miles an hour Be Still. Listen. Allow the light to find you. Rushing at 100 miles an hour looking for peace will cause you to miss the fact it’s standing in front of you. Faith never lets go The next time you fell like giving up, extend your hand; the first thing you grab will be your faith. Hold on to it and know it will always hold on to you. It's not about where you've been; it's about where you will be taken Your past doesn't define who you can be in this moment. Use the present, this very second, to decide who you want to be and then start heading in that direction. You are worthy to have what you want Peace, love and happiness aren't for everybody but you. You are worthy to have to your heart's desire, too – all you have to do is ask. There is love or fear You have a choice: Live in love or live in fear. There is no in-between. The most important life lesson I have already received my Christmas gift. Recently, Mary Beth and I were preparing dinner while discussing a particularly hard stretch. Standing at the sink peeling potatoes, tears filled my wife's eyes. She told me she couldn't have made it through if it wasn't for my support. She told me that the commitment I made seven years ago to change has made all the difference in our life today. While I can't take back the first 18 years of our marriage, I can continue to give her and my family what they need from me most – strength, faith and love. I believe the challenging times experienced this year have happened for a reason. I believe my family will be made stronger by these obstacles. I also believe God gives us hardship not to break us, but to make our faith stronger; faith not only in Him, but in ourselves, too. I'm certain the lessons I have learned, and the ones I'm still learning, are ones that will continue to make a difference for me. I'm also certain the lessons my wife, sons and daughters are learning will allow them to experience their world for the better. December is almost here. My family will soon gather around one another again. I hope amidst the hugs, laughter and tears there will be a clear understanding of the lessons learned this year. And for me? My heart is at peace. This past year has been a wonderful reminder of the most important life lesson I have learned: I am not who I was. A special thank you I would to thank fellow bloggers Abubakar Jamil and Farnoosh Brock for inviting me to participate in the Life Lesson Series. While I decided to write about just one year, the lessons learned will no doubt last my family a lifetime. More than 70 bloggers are participating in the Life Lesson Series. You can read their life lessons, here. I also invite you visit Abubakar's blog, AbubakarJamil.com and Farnoosh's blog, Prolific Living – both are full of inspirational and helpful articles. Please Spread the Word Please tell your friends about The BridgeMaker by using the share buttons below. Every Retweet and Facebook share helps me grow my blog. I look forward to seeing you here again soon. Thank you for reading! – Alex

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How Blogs Can Change Your Life | The BridgeMaker

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How Blogs Can Change Your Life Posted: 23 Nov 2010 02:36 PM PST A blog is merely a tool that lets you do anything from change the world to share your shopping list. – Unknown Article written by BridgeMaker contributor Ali Luke. Please visit her at Aliventures.com. I don’t know whether you’re a blog writer or not, but you’re definitely a blog reader. This might be the very first blog post you’ve ever read. More likely, though, you came here through a link from another blog, or you’ve been a reader of The BridgeMaker for a while – and you probably read at least a few other blogs too. That means that blogs absolutely have the potential to change your life. Sceptical? Intrigued? Either way, read on… Blogs: Information and Connection There are hundreds of thousands of blogs out there. Sure, an awful lot of them are rambling personal journals – but there’s a huge core of fantastic, valuable information – all for free. Want to learn something new? You don’t need to pay for evening classes or head back to college, or even buy books. Whatever you’re interested in – cooking, public speaking, playing the guitar, bringing up kids, time management – there’s bound to be dozens of blogs about it. A useful blog could give you the knowledge which you need to make a career change. An inspiring one could give you the confidence and motivation which you need to reach for your dreams. Be open to the possibility of change. Don’t see blogs as something which you just read – see them as material to engage with. Blogs are a great place to connect with other people with the same interests as you. If you read a few blogs but rarely or never leave comments, I’d urge you to find one post to comment on today (it might be this one). Let the author – and the other readers – know your thoughts. Writing a Blog: Why It Changes You Maybe you have your own blog, or you’ve thought about writing one. I’d urge you to give it a go. Blogging will change you – in many good ways. If you want to write but struggle to find the time, blogging can give you a great reason: readers who’re waiting for your next post. If you’re interested in exploring different ways of expressing yourself – in writing, but also with audio or even video content – then blogging lets you do that. It’s not like writing a book: you don’t have to stick to one narrow topic, or one style. You can bring in fiction (like Alex did with What Hope Really Means) or branch out into poetry. If you want to learn, then writing a blog can be even more effective than reading one. Perhaps you’re a new parent, sharing your own experiences and lessons learned. Maybe you’re getting a grip on your own finances, and blogging about your journey. (That’s how the popular finance blog The Simple Dollar started – when the writer, Trent Hamm, decided to get out of debt.) The process of writing itself can be hugely valuable; if you’ve ever kept a journal, you may have experienced that for yourself. Writing a coherent blog post helps you to clarify your own thoughts – often coming up with new insights along the way. Where Could Blogging Take You? Blogs are here to stay. New blogs are started every single day, and hundreds of new readers are getting online. The beauty of blogging is that there’s no one set path. You could write a blog simply as a hobby, and have a great time making new friends – who might live across the world from you. Or you might eventually end up with a six figure income from that blog. (That’s what happened to Darren Rowse from ProBlogger, for instance.) Blogging has taken me in directions I’d never have imagined. When I graduated from college four years ago, I thought I’d have an office job for the next few years – and, if I was lucky, eventually make money writing novels. With blogging, I can make a living and pursue my writing at the same time. I work on a number of projects – freelance blogging for big sites, generating revenue for my own sites through advertising and affiliate sales, selling my own digital products, and coaching other writers. I don’t know quite where I’ll go next – but I know I’m excited to find out! And I don’t know exactly where blogs will take you. But, if you give them a change, they just might change your life. More from Ali Luke Ali Luke and Thursday Bram have put together the Creativity Toolbox, a must-have resource full of tools to help you get going and keep moving forwards. The Creativity Toolbox will help you if feel overwhelmed and can't find time to be creative. Give it a look – just click here. Please Spread the Word Please tell your friends about The BridgeMaker by using the share buttons below. Every Retweet and Facebook share helps me grow my blog. I look forward to seeing you here again soon. Thank you for reading! – Alex The BridgeMaker - A blog about faith, inspiration and stories of personal change.

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