Embodying the Example We Learned From Our Mentors is an Essential Part of our Self Development
all the attention given recently to the life of Senator John McCain leaves no doubt that he was a great influence to many. The wonderful stories about how he touched the lives of those around him reminded me of the people who have been my great mentors.
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It Makes no Sense to Rush Armageddon, Work Instead to Create a Better World
Apocalyptic stories are all the rage again in our culture. The popularity of shows like The Walking Dead and The Handmaid’s Tale provide ample proof. There have always been stories about the world’s end. I grew up in the sixties with novels like On the Beach and Fail Safe that were popular when the fear of nuclear annihilation was at its zenith. A few years ago, movies 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow projected what could happen if humans do nothing about global warming. The Terminator movies (my favorites! Home of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s immortal line, “come with me if you want to live!”) take a fatal bent on our reliance on technology.
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Being Alone Does Not Mean You Have to Be Lonely
Having spent these past three years living alone, I have come to terms with the difference between being alone and being lonely. Although they can be related, they are not the same. While we are unable to control or change the factors that led to us being alone, we don’t have to choose feeling lonely when people are not around. This is an important distinction to make if you want to live a fulfilling life even when you find yourself alone.
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Official Announcement: Catch and Release, Guillermo Vidal’s Latest Book, is Now Available!
After three years in the making, my new book, Catch and Release; One Man’s Improbable Search for True Love and the Meaning of Life, is now available. You can order it on Amazon and in the Kindle version. For those of you who would like an autograph copy, you can order from my website, guillermovidal.me, and purchase the book in hard-copy or paperback.
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Do You Know Why Disappointments are so Painful? Because They Are Worth It
Life is a school. While I can’t be certain if death is part of our graduation ceremony or if our efforts become another point on some kind of learning curve, one thing is certain, no one can skate through life without experiencing failure and disappointment.
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I Was Forcibly Separated From my Parents as a Child, Here is How This Impacted My Life
Every parent dreams of giving their children a better life. This desire is not just based on love for our offspring, if you have experienced setbacks—who hasn’t—you know life can bring you to your knees, so you want to spare your children from experiencing a similar fate. Yet, no matter how hard we try, we cannot protect our kids from the pain that comes from trauma.
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The Four Characteristics that Assure the Quality of a Leader
No matter how much we wish it, power, fame, money, status or an important title do not make leaders. Since I have never heard of an instance where god descended from heaven to anoint a leader, at least not in my lifetime, then we must have a way we can use to identify them ourselves. Looking for these four characteristics do that for me.
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I Am Not Afraid of Dying, but I do Fear not Living as I Was Meant To Live
My mother was the last remaining member of my family from her generation. Her death a year ago Christmas Eve was another reminder that my turn is coming. I know no one will survive this journey, but that doesn’t bother me anymore, for I made peace long ago with the fact that my days will end (hopefully not for quite a while yet).
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The Older I Get, the Stronger the Desire to Find My Tribe. Here Are Eleven Signs to Help You Discover Yours
Unless you have been living in isolation from people in some monastery hidden in Nepal, the rest of us know there are people in this world we don’t belong with. Nobody warned us about this when we were young. In fact, someone taught us the opposite. My parents taught me as a child to respect and obey adults and I took this value with me throughout the years.
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Why You Should Do What You Love Even if Money and Fame Do not Follow.
I have lost count of how many versions of “do what you love, and the money will follow” I have seen. Many modern self-help gurus make this promise to convince us to do what we love to do. Some insist that we take daily steps in that direction, like writing your goals on a journal, repeating affirmations and praying to god to grant our desires.
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