Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Just Like Riding a Bike

We’ve all heard the expression that it is just like riding a bike.  Generally referring to something that once you learn how it is something you never forget how to do.

But do you remember those daunting steps towards that initial goal of learning how to ride your bike.  How you first had to learn to ride with the training wheels on the bike, teetering from side to side as the bike gained its stability from bouncing against the training wheels.  Do you remember how scared you were of your new favorite toy once the training wheels came off?

The most terrifying part of coasting while trying to steer as you leaned to pull your feet up automatically to the pedals as you tried to coordinate pedaling, steering and trying not to wreck.
Recently my five year old son mastered riding his bike just before his sixth birthday.  The utter joy and excitement that beamed from him from this milestone achievement.  His first real vehicle that actually belongs to him that can convey him at unrealized speeds much faster than his legs and feet alone.  The excuse to travel to the end of the street – the new much farther boundary of his universe beyond his yard.

My son has a younger brother who is 20 months behind him.  The enthusiasm of my older son was countered by jealousy and abandonment from his younger brother.  The younger sibling tried as much as he could to follow and keep up with his older brother who he idolizes on his tricycle.  There is a physical limit to pedaling a trike that can never catch a much bigger bicycle.

I remember telling my wife that it wouldn’t take the little one long to catch up to his older brother and he would be riding much sooner than it took his older brother.  I was right but never did I dream that desire to keep up with his older brother was as strong as it is.  Within two months the youngest mastered the art of bike riding in order to stay up with and remain in his big brothers realm of influence as it involves playing, travel and boundaries.

I was the oldest in my family and know the pressure of always having to push through the fear and do everything first, right or wrong, before my siblings as we grew up.  I never realized the tremendous monumental push and strength of character the younger siblings have in an effort to keep up. 
Sharing the thrill and excitement of them both learning to ride their bikes between April and June was a trip down memory lane for me.  Remembering when I learned to ride, remembering my first bike with the banana seat and orange paint.  Seeing how over joyed my boys were at their accomplishment and the new found passion that is starting to wear on my wife and I as every free second the question is asked by one and both, “Can I ride my bike?”
Looking back as a boy at the ripe old age of 48 I know how this is the first steps towards the ever growing fascination with locomotion that will lead to cars, motorcycles, thoughts of flying.  The learning of the history to flight to mankind’s trip to the moon and ideas being planned now to carry mankind off this planet into the Universe.  That same desire that spurred young men to travel, sail away on ships and discover how small our planet really is in the ages past.

The development and desire of mankind to move faster, expand our boundaries in order to just go farther and ultimately see what’s around the next corner or over the horizon is just as awesome as mankind’s survival instinct.  Both of these traits have done more to promote our species and allow us to grow possibly only surpassed by our curiosity and desire to learn new things and answer questions.  I love seeing my baby boys develop and grow into young boys and seeing their desires push them to new heights and over come new challenges.
Driving a stick shift or manual transmission – it’s just like riding a bike.  I pray I can restore on old manual shift car for when it is time for them to learn to drive – since most cars today are automatics.  I want them to have that same experience I had when the time comes.  It is true that once you learn how to do it – it is just like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it.


I hope you too got a little walk down memory lane.  That through reading this you could remember that awesome feeling of achievement you once experienced when you took off on your bike for the first time.  I really pray you get to experience it with your children and God willing your grandchildren.

Monday, March 3, 2014

No Rules Of Engagement

Read an E-Book Week
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“No Rules Of Engagement”  By Thomas Wilson



Whisper

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“Whisper”  By Thomas Wilson
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/38922

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Election Question

I feel it is important for people to vote as much as I still believe the true power of our country and the major reason it is so great is because of its people.  Patriotic?  Yeah, just a little.

I hear from people all the time that they believe their vote does not count.  That it doesn’t matter who they vote for.  I hate hearing about the horrible feelings people have about our government even though I can’t say I am impressed with the job they are doing for this country.

It dawned on me that with today’s technology a major television station or I would even be more impressed if all three, CBS, NBC, and ABC, joined together and did the event simultanenously!  I think it would be great for Presidential Elections to start with numerous candidates from numerous parties and introduce them through an investigative report with breaks to do questions and answers in the form of a debate style and then let the country vote.

Each night of a week a one hour special and narrowing down the peoples choice by party and then by qualifications making it more in depth and harder as the candidates progress through the process and then people vote on their computers, cell phones and eliminate candidates with the grand finale being the actual presidential election.

The best part would be if they did it live and we got to watch these candidates self destruct on national television!

No Campaigning!  No huge amounts of money spent by candidates or supportors trying to buy their candidate a seat.  The money that would normally be spent on campaigns should be collected and spent on paying down the national debt which would get people to stop donating rather quickly.

No National conventions!  Within each party numerous candidates would be sent to the show to represent their respective party.  For those who are afraid of getting stuck with a popular would be actor as president – let us remember President Reagan who didn’t do all that bad as Presidents go.


It is just an idea.  I would be entertained and happy if we threw out the electoral college and limit the whole thing to those who are registered through their computer and cell phones to vote and part of the registration process is to have a valid drivers license, and proof you have paid your taxes.  Get the NSA to run the voting polls for the computers and cell phones, they could do it honestly and have the technology.  Definitely do not let the government hacks who are responsible for the Obama care website near it.  The IRS would love to be able to verify the registered voters by who have paid their taxes.  

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Bigfoot, Jack-a-lopes, and New Years Resolutions

Three things among many that I don’t believe in.
I don't believe in Big Foot!

Someone asked me yesterday what my New Year’s Resolutions were going to be.
I said I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions.
They asked me in a very concerned sort of way, “You don’t have any goals or ambitions for the coming year to become a better person?”
That’s different.  I have tons of goals and ambitions along with trying to become a better person as I grow, learn and mature.

I don't believe in Jack-a-lopes!

  From my way of thinking about it – This is a ongoing process that needs to be adjusted continually as you progress through life.

I don’t feel goals should be statically set or you have made it to some special place by achieving your desired goals.  I do believe if you are not happy living your every day life and enjoying it to the fullest as you go – you are wasting your life.

I know what the person was striving for when they asked the question of me, but I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions.

2013 was definitely a year of change.  I entered the year having reached a twenty year mark with working for the same company.  I had finished two more books but needed a editor to get them ready to be published.  I had not published a new book in 2012.  I lost my job in March and my company truck I had driven for years.

I found a new opportunity with the Edward Jones Company and began studying for my Series 7.  I did not publish a new book in 2013 nor have I written a single word towards a new one since I lost my old job.  I have been busy reading, studying, and learning since I took this new position.   Working for the Edward Jones Company is like a person dying of thirst trying to get a sip of water from a fire hose - At least at the start of your career.  Fast paced, almost over whelming, non stop learning and training, challenging and a hell of a lot of fun if you don't let it over run you.  I have never worked with a more helpful and up beat group of people in all my life!

The Good News is that I have never been happier in my life.  I have been blessed repeatedly since this new career has started.  I enjoy the fact, that by doing my job well, that I get to help educate people to understand, manage and protect their savings.  I never dreamed I would be so comfortable in such a social environment where I literally talk to hundreds of people every week.  I am surprised by how much I have learned in less than a year and how much I know about different vehicles for investing money.

Goals for this year are to break records of various types within the Edward Jones Company.  I plan to grow my business and help as many people as I can. 

I was able to purchase my own vehicle last year and finally after years have a means to listen to my favorite music in my car after years of having nothing but an AM/FM radio.  I have even managed to aquire a speaker machine that will play my music off my cell phone while I am working in my office.

I plan to purchase my dream house with an in ground pool this year and get moved into it and settled.
I plan to begin painting again in order to paint a piece for my office and see who will notice that I painted the painting.
I plan to get the sequels of my first two books edited and self published along with finishing my fifth and sixth novels. 

Most of all I plan to continue enjoying every day for the blessing that it is as I learn and grow to higher and greater heights that even I can’t imagine.


I will try to blog more often this year.  My writing career and blogging are coming up on the third year since I started both.  This year I will get back to writing as I grow and become continually better at my new career as a financial advisor.  

 
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