Category Archives: Relationships

Today’s Mandate!

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“Make today about you and loved ones. Make it a special day. Do something wonderful for you and family or a friend. Live a little. laugh a little, love a lot. Have fun, let go. Just because you can.

Let today be a day of rest and enjoyment. Allow delight and celebration to fill your moments for no reason. Simply relax and do nothing but special things for yourself. Make it a treat day.

Gift yourself. Gift your loved one. Accept from others too. Expect good things. Look for good things. Let them happen. Smile more. Turn of f the TV, let go of media, connect in person face to face.

Talk, share, read a book. Take a bath. Get a massage. Have a special get together or a meal. Go for a walk or a ride. See some thing new. Go somewhere you have wanted to go Be with another or be alone.

Live. Laugh. Love. Let Go and enjoy today for no reason but that you can. Be kind to yourself and to others.” Rex Sikes

Keep spreading the joy around!

*If you like this blog please share it with others who can use some inspiration too!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

GETTING CLOSER TO THE NEW SITE LAUNCH  – Inching our way up on getting it up and running. The site will have a new look and feel. If you get this blog emailed to you,  You will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments. I love your comments and feedback. Thanks so much!

Can You Do This???? — Extra Blog Post 10/19

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Hey there. I trust you are well. Hope you have had a marvelous day. If times are tough I hope they resolve themselves soon. They can you know. Keep the faith and maintain your forward momentum in gratitude and celebration and you may be quite surprise.

Today, tonight, I am adding a brief extra blog to all subscribers, followers and readers. I want to say thanks. I hope you like the blog. If you have questions or there is anything I can do to assist you finding information please ask. Anything I can do I will do.

Tell me what topics you are interested in. If I am able and have some experience or knowledge in the area I will attempt to discuss or point you in a useful direction. Please, tell me how I can improve this blog for you. Your feedback is welcome. Let me hear it.

Thanks for sharing the blog with others too. That helps more than you can ever imagine!  When you share it gives others a chance to read it too. I appreciate that and your efforts. It has been my goal to provide a daily inspirational piece and for nearly 500 consecutive days that is the case. I will continue.

Can I ask you something?

I need your help too. It is getting very busy for me in the next few weeks and I could really use a hand, each day, getting my blog out. If you would share the daily blog posts with your friends and on Facebook, Twitter, and elsewhere that would help. It would mean so much! SO MUCH!!!

Whether in person or by email, re-blogging or however you are able to get the posts out to others IT would be wonderful. I won’t have the time to promote the blog for a while (few weeks) so I ask your help in doing this. Is this possible for you to do?

If you can and if you will that would mean a lot. I’ll still write it in the middle of the early am hours and get it to you.

Thank you! I look forward to your feedback on improvements and topic ideas. Have a wonderful rest of the day! Meanwhile, all the best. Make your dreams come true. Celebrate and enjoy!

Rex Sikes

You Are Marvelous!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

GETTING CLOSER TO THE NEW SITE LAUNCH  – Inching our way up on getting it up and running. The site will have a new look and feel. If you get this blog emailed to you,  You will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments. I love your comments and feedback. Thanks so much!

You Need A Power Team And Here Is Why!

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“The world goes on no matter what. It doesn’t slow down for us one bit. Sometimes it may seem as if we just don’t have enough good juice to handle it all. There are ways, of course, practices and principles you can apply. Would you like to know an important one?

If you can only sit peacefully in meditation atop a mountain somewhere, removed from the noise and the hustle and bustle, then you haven’t really learned how to quiet the mind. One should be able to live meditatively anywhere. Meditation is perfect for living where conditions are less than desirable. Try it. You may like it!

There are circumstances we enjoy and those we dread. There are people who are good for us and those who are toxic. I am a firm believer that we should be able to rise above anything or anyone who is a problem. Just as with meditation we should not allow ourselves to be brought down because of outside influences.

There are those people who are good for you to be around. These are the people who love and appreciate you. They encourage and support you in positive ways. They help you nurture your goals and dreams. They enjoy who you are and allow you to become who you want to be.

These people respect and value you. You respect and value them. Together you feel more alive. These are people to spend more time around. It is good to surround yourself with positive energy and good feelings. Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like gold. They are resources to you and you can be the same for them. Together you form a positive power team. Embrace it.

Relationships like this are wonderful to develop and grow strong. Your team may be people you already know or people you meet soon. When it comes to new ones choose friends you are proud to know and have in your life. Choose people you admire and respect; people who walk their talk, because actions speak louder than words. This is critical. Do they live it?

You want people in your life who are nice to you and you are nice to them. It is important to reciprocate love and kindness. Notice what you appreciate in others and let them know. Tell them. Be their cheerleader too. Support them in their pursuits. Cheer them on to greater heights. Be genuinely thankful and happy when they succeed and move forward. Be thrilled for them!

Help them in their endeavors. Small or large it doesn’t matter. The more you help others the more they will help you. Go first when it comes to giving. Be a gracious and available receiver. What goes around comes around. Be honest and reliable. Keep your word. Be the kind of person you want others to be.  Care about them. Let them know how much they mean to you.

If an issue or misunderstanding arises be slow to blame and quick to forgive. Forgiving means don’t let resentments get the better of you. Put things back into perspective. Let go. If you have some incredible relationships with quality people seek to preserve these. It is desirable to have a great core of quality people who inspire, motivate and support each other.

There is a synergy that occurs when like minded people come together. There is an exponential effect when two or more are gathered. Together you create more than each person can individually. Together you may accomplish great things. Together you can live, love and laugh more. Together you form an oasis in the world. Celebrate your positive team of friends and family.” Rex Sikes

Make today make yesterday pale by comparison.

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

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What You Should Do: The Best Way To Spend Your Time!

horizons sun and flowers

“What is most important? What should a person do? How best to use their time? These and other questions are certainly important.  Often, I am asked to consult or give advice. I am happy to provided I can be of service and provide value. I will attempt to answer these questions to the best of my ability.

The life you are living. You and your relationships. The people closest to you. These are important. If I had one word to give as advice that word would be ‘live’. Live your life fully. Make the most of the little moments and enjoy everything. Live, celebrate and live.

It is far too short to spend time worrying about what isn’t, what you don’t want and don’t have. What is important is to enjoy this experience as much as possible. Fill your life with love, laughter and lightness. Leave the seriousness behind. Drop anything that doesn’t make you feel better. Happiness is a choice. Choose it!

Sure, you have to pay bills and do what is necessary to live in society. So do it and learn to enjoy life anyway. You can either hate what you have to do or enjoy it. Make the best of it or at least don’t let it get you down. Spend less time in misery and more time enjoying.

Delight, love, live, laugh, learn, have as much fun and fascination as possible. Play and relax. You only go around once! Make the most of it. Celebrate, appreciate and be grateful.  Spend time with the people who you love and appreciate most doing things you enjoy.

It is so simple. Spend more of your time feeling good and life will be good. It is a no brainer. Focus on that which makes you feel wonderful. Think thoughts that make you feel good. Be positive and enjoy. It is simple. Be more positive than negative, more joyful than sad, more peaceful than angry. Be curious and play as a child does.

It is your life. You don’t have to, of course. It is only a suggestion for how you may want to spend the time you have here.  The more fun you have the more you can have. Don’t shirk your responsibilities simply add pleasure in more often. Stop being so serious. LIVE!!!” Rex Sikes

Be filled with passion today!

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

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What Can You Do To Improve Today?

horizons-phil-koch

“What can you do today that will move you closer to being, doing and having what you want for your career and life? What small steps can you take today? What will you do? When it comes down to it it is up to you.

What can you do today to enjoy life a little bit more? What tiny change can you make that will allow you to focus on feeling delighted and celebrate your life right where you are at?

What can you do today that will put a smile on the lips of someone you know? What can you do to help this person feel better? Perhaps, you could help them finish or accomplish a project. Maybe, together, you could  begin something important.

What can you do today that will put a smile on the lips of someone you do not know?  A complete stranger. How can you be of benefit to this person? What might you do that would help them out?

What can you do to make the world a little nicer, a little better and a happier place? What might you do today? It doesn’t have to be something big and great. Some times it is the little things that really make a difference. What will you do today?

Have a beautiful day!

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

What Being Thankful Can Do For You

horizon clouds flowers pond

“What are you grateful for? There are so many people and so many things to appreciate? Can you list a few? Who do you appreciate? What experiences in your life have blessed you? What things in life are you thankful you have?

Could you do that every day? Spend some time feeling grateful? Especially prior to bed could you do this? It is such an amazing practice. The more you can feel truly grateful the more life becomes incredible. Feeling blessed is transformation. Feeling blessed opens the way for all good things in life!

I am so grateful for so many blessings in my life. My children, my family and friends, my career, all of my experiences that have led me to today. Thanks for those that are good and those one wouldn’t think of as good but which actually are. All experiences good and bad. Everything!

The Attitude Is Gratitude

Thank you readers! Thank you who spend time with me. Thanks to you, who in whatever ways, put into practice some of the principles shared here. Thank you for taking time each day to inspire yourself and others. Thanks for the comments. Thanks to you who share this blog so others can benefit. You all are a blessing!

I appreciate you even if I do not personally know you. The more we positively influence each other the more pockets of positivity that form and grow in our world. The more people who are positive the more powerful changes we can make. Birds of a feather flock together.

We can be a force that helps make the world a better place within our own community and without. You can be a force that helps change the world by outreach. While we may never meet in person we are on the same team that helps the world become a better place.

Magic Happens When You Can Celebrate Everything

Heck, it is already a really marvelous place! People may gunk it up with their limitations and greed but together we can change that. The world is still marvelous! We can be influencers for positive change. We can dream our goals and achieve them together.  What we focus on expands.

It begins with the idea. If we are inspired to live better and make a better place for ourselves and our children then we can. We can accomplish what we set out to as long as we keep at it and do not quit. So I thank you for being part of a community of people who want to live better, work better, play better, and relate better.

So today, let us celebrate. Celebrate being together. Celebrate all the wonderful people in your life. Celebrate your experiences. Celebrate all the things you have. Stop, pause and truly be grateful. Enjoy it, delight in all of it. Transformation occurs inside appreciation!” Rex Sikes

Delight in all today!

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

Why You Need To Be Part Of A True MasterMind Group!

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“Do you have support for the changes you want to make? Are you working at it all by yourself? Are you helping anyone else? The Mastermind Group suggested by Andrew Carnegie to Napoleon Hill is a powerful and excellent possibility you will want to explore.

Carnegie and Hill stated it is a necessity. Hill wrote  extensively about what a mastermind group should be. You hear a lot about these groups today but few are actual mastermind groups. The name gets used for any collection of people gathered around a topic. It has become a popular term and selling point.

Without going into the particulars in this post I suggest that you find ‘likeminded’ positive people whom you can partner with or associate with to help you stay on course. It is important to surround yourself with positive people who inspire you and whom you can encourage and assist.

There is exponential potential when more than one person pursues a definite chief purpose. Together people can accomplish more than individually. A true mastermind is formed around that purpose. It is tightly monitored to insure all are on the same page. Members work toward accomplishing the same agreed upon end.

You Can Accomplish More When In Harmony With Others

It is a special and unique group that forms in particular fashion for a particular purpose.  It is not the mere collection of like-minded people. Still, there is a point to also having like minded people to engage with. It is important to begin there. It is a great benefit too!

For our purposes today I suggest you find people to associate with for the purpose of having a cheering squad and a support team. When you associate with positive others you are inspired to greater heights. You travel together instead of separately even though you each are on a solo path. Birds of a feather flock together.

We will discuss at other times elements of a true mastermind group. This is an important topic and according to Carnegie and Hill a critical component for achieving great success.  Meanwhile, I encourage you to read Napoleon Hill, ‘The Laws Of Success’ and ‘Think And Grow Rich’. Two very worthwhile books!

Read these works for a more complete understanding of the time honored principles for success and an accurate description of a true mastermind group. A mastermind is not an internet collection of hundreds of people but a select few chosen for particular purposes.

Surround Yourself With Positive Energy People

Meanwhile, surround yourself with people who are accomplishing their dreams. Find those who already have made their dreams come true and who continue to make positive pursuits. It is great to learn from people who have been where you are and who are doing what you want to do.

This is important too. People who have come from a similar background. Of someone is born to extreme wealth and you are not you don’t have much in common. Their path to success is not yours, you don’t have those advantages. If the person came from humble roots but went on to great success that is the person to learn from.

That person’s path is more parallel to your own. They have some things to teach you and you have some things to learn from them. Spend time in nourishing atmospheres with uplifting people. It is part of your nutritional program for your mind and spirit.

Read and re-read positive materials. Listen to positive speakers. Attend functions and events and stay on course by having buddies who help and whom you can help. A wonderful thing happens for you when you can celebrate and cheer on another to success. Great things can happen when you assist and give to others.

Think of your own personal improvement program this way. How much time do you spend devoted to the positive pursuit versus the negative? How much time is positive versus distraction? The goal is for you to enjoy more and more of life so that the balance falls in the favor of the positive time. 70, 80, 90% positive.

Your Positivity Scale Should Tip In Favor Of Positivity

If you read a page a day and spend the rest of your time surrounded by negative whining people whom you join in helping criticize current affairs you aren’t spending much time filling yourself with positive and inspiring thoughts, feelings and actions. You need to change that and adjust those times appropriately.

Social media can be a huge time waster and downer because so much is focused on what is wrong with everything. As is the news and unfortunately as is a lot of people we care about. Make sure you are getting more than adequate nutrition for your mind and body.

If you want to turn your life around you can. Spend more time engaged with the positive thoughts and behaviors that make it so and you will! Spend more time with positive and encouraging people. Adjust the positive to negative time spent ratio and you will find your life moving into the positive fast lane. ENJOY!” Rex Sikes

Celebrate Today!

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

How Easy It Is To Hate And Why

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“Why do people treat each other poorly? Why do we have such little regard for our own species? Why do we hate those unlike us? I am not sure I have any answer to these important questions but I learned much from some adventures during the 80’s.

I have become convinced that focusing on hate and trying to rid oneself or others of hate is as futile as anything else we have tried to rid ourselves of. We don’t stop hating by legislating against it, however, we may curb it by focusing on love and acceptance.

We need to focus on what we do want and not what we don’t want. We identify what we don’t want, yes! Then we put our attention onto what we do want instead. This keeps up moving forward regarding our goals.

If we want to end hate and discrimination we need to be love. We attract that which we already are, we create from whom we are. We need to be it not simply want it. Wanting it means it has not arrived yet. If we are it we already embody that which is necessary for change. I believe this is an important distinction.

A Journey Of Sorts

“Here is what I experienced. From 1980 to 1990 I had been a sannyasin of Osho otherwise formerly known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. I fell in love with the little guy’s message from books and listening to tapes.

I had been a student of the mind since I was 11. I read every book I could on spirituality, meditation, powers of the mind, Napoleon Hill and New Thought leaders, religious text, hypnosis and other disciplines. I sought to improve myself and evolve as a person.

I adored the message and promise  of meditation. I had spent time with others, including Swami Muktananda, Satchidananda, Krishnamurti.  Living in Los Angeles allowed me to have access to other prominent speakers and thinkers East and West.

When Osho came to America and headed west to Oregon I decided to go too.  I had received sannyas in Laguna Beach at an ashram center. So when I could, whenever I could, I went to stay or live in Oregon at the city commune. There were some dedicated people who lived and stayed there year round. I came and went.

Initiation Into Sannyas And Living With Awareness

Taking sannyas then meant  wearing clothes the colors of the sunrise as a reminder of one’s commitment to meditation. It meant wearing a mala, a neckless of 108 beads, to represent 108 forms of mediation. It meant taking a sannyas name. I did all three.

I was very aware that wearing red clothes and beads was my clown suit. It was different from the jeans and clothes I wore and most others did. To say I stood out is an understatement I suppose. I certainly did. A red orange beacon in a sea of brown and blue.

I lost friends because I wore red clothes. Suddenly, I was a cult member. I must be brainwashed were the statements I heard. I tried to explain that I could always take off the outer trappings; which are no different today than wearing branded clothing from popular designers. I was branded a sannyasin in the East. In the West I was branded a cult member.

I wore a brand – sannyasin wear. I was identifiable by being an odd ball. AND yes I could always remove them if I chose. I chose not to. It was, for me, an exercise in awareness. At first, prior to becoming a sannyasin, the thought of anything other than jeans, blue jeans was terrifying. Wearing beads absolutely out of the question.

Clown Suit Colors Are Most Fast Food Colors And Then Some

Once I put them on it took some time to become comfortable. As I stated it was an exercise for me. Not for anyone else. While I wore the sannyas, monk trappings that separated me from the rest of ‘normal’ society as a catholic priest or nun would, I didn’t consider myself different or special.

I sought to allow mediation to be my life. Anyway, I learned that I did not have a problem with the colors or the beads but that others did. My clown suit became a marvelous testing ground. When asked, I tried to explain to people the clothes and colors were meaningless.

They didn’t make me better or worse. They were clown colors. I didn’t have to wear them I chose to wear them. It didn’t matter. People believed whatever they wanted to regardless of my explanation. I did look like a walking fast food restaurant I suppose.

People either accepted me, got to know me, or they didn’t. The clothing and the beads was a barrier. It was right where most people stopped and drew conclusions. I figured they didn’t even begin to see me if all they did was stop at the colors.

Everything Is A Choice

Some made it  through the barrier of red, orange and purple clothes when blue and brown and green ruled the day. Some people couldn’t accept a beaded person in flamboyant jeans and tee shirts. I still wore traditional jeans and tees just dyed a different color.

Many times I was asked if I was gay. I must be they concluded. No real man wore purple or maroon. I was shunned. People would stare and comment. People would point, snicker and laugh. I was followed many, many times and taunted.

I was screamed at and called names. I was threatened with violence and told to go back to my country. I was physically chased out of places and many times accosted. I had guns pointed at me a couple of times.

In Oregon I was refused food in restaurants and gas at gas stations. In the LA airport one man passing out gospel tracks shouted repeatedly at the top of his lungs for someone to shoot and kill me.

He drew the attention of the police to the area. They ultimately settled everything down and stated he had the right to his opinion. He was expressing free speech and they left. As did I.

We Are Constantly Choosing

L A was less hostile because there are so many odd people wearing odd things. I traveled the country. I spent time in the East and in NYC, the Midwest and the South always dressed in my clown wear. Different parts of the country had greater degrees of intolerance.

Through all of my experiences I faced with myself. Does this bother me or not? Is it important? Is it my issue or someone else’s? Do I care what they think? Can I accept them even if they don’t accept me?

What they do has nothing to do with me because they don’t even know me. They are upset at my clothing and what it means to them. There were some times when I lapsed and made it my issue.

Most of the time I realized I was wearing clothes that, for whatever reason, others had problems with. Others took issue with my clown suit choice and made it about me. A person they did not know. Maybe they didn’t care to know and that was fine.

We Are All The Same

I was a provoking beacon traveling through the world. I learned opinions and actions of others were their own and had nothing to do with who I was or am. They didn’t know me they only saw the beads and clothes. That wasn’t my problem so I didn’t make it mine.

I am not saying I was always aware or awake or that I wasn’t at times offended or frightened. For the most part though I knew inside I could take these off and no one would be the wiser. I would immediately fit in. I would be accepted. I knew it was my choice.

Because of this I chose to wear them. I wore them because from moment to moment it was a reminder of my decision to live as a meditator and live peacefully. I am no better than anyone in any regard. I have those things that I took or take issue with.

This exercise has helped me see my sticking or stopping points. It has made me more aware of when I get stuck and stop short and do not go beyond and investigate more. We are people. We are cut from the same swatch. We all have areas of issues.

Learn To Respond Instead Of React

People’s responses could push my buttons and I could react or respond. I sought to learn how to respond in the moment with awareness and acceptance of whatever is. I could wear them or not it didn’t matter. There would always be something someone could find an issue about. Isn’t there?

Because I had an unusual Swami name, wore beads and silly colored clothing people assumed I gave up my mind to a guru and did whatever he said. Not true. They thought I gave up my will and would follow blindly anywhere. Not true.

The believed I gave all my money and worldly possessions to the ashram but I never gave a dime. No one ever asked either. Some times I tried to explain, when asked, but l learned most people concluded whatever they would conclude about me because of the clown suit.

My words didn’t mean much or make much impact anyway. If my explanation mattered it meant they would have to believe differently. I was stereotyped because that is what we as people do. It is convenient and we don’t have to think anything through.

Beliefs Run The Show: What We Believe Is What We See

It’s a no-brainer based on obvious characteristics. So I let them think what they wanted. I let go of attempting to change their opinions. Their opinions and name calling and actions against me had nothing to do with me. They were reacting to the clothing colors.

Sure, they were reacting to the person who wore them but they did so in ignorance of who the person was. That was their problem not mine. Yes, it could be dangerous for me at times, but I was learning so much about what we as people do inside our heads about others.

I developed some strong marvelous non-sannyasin friends too because they could see past the outfit. In some ways I wore it to see who was the type of person who could get around it in their mind. If they were able and were able to get to know me and I them then we could be very honest with each other.

I had some incredible girlfriends. I had amazing sannyasin friends and non-sannyasin friends. I moved in places where people could care less about what was worn and in other places where what you wore meant people wanted to beat you up.

Do Not Stop At The Obvious Be Willing To Go Beyond

It was an incredible exercise.  I learned so much about me. I learned so much about people and triggers and acceptance and hatred. I learned all this because I chose to do it. Did I tell you, I always knew I could take it off and slip back into the ‘normal’ world? Yes, I know I did but this is an important point.

OTHER people can’t take off their skin color or their gender. They live in their skin and in their body every moment of each and every day. Some encounter horrible cruelty and even death because of the family, the nation, the religion they were born into, not the least their color and ethnic heritage.

I could always remove it. Because I knew this made me want to wear it all the more. I got to experience a tiny taste of the prejudices and even violence directed at people because they are different. I was safe because I knew if I ever had to I could remove the outer wear and walk right through the haters. I never did but I could have.

Awareness Is A Choice

My clown suit was a luxury. A lesson few of us get to live and learn from. It was so valuable as a reminder to be aware and to let go and be meditative. If others hate you you do not have to hate back. You can, you may even, but you do not have to. You can choose.

I am so glad for my clown suit. The time came when the decision was made that people go and live among the rest. Drop the colors and the beads and the name. The ‘great exercise’ was over. Boy, that was hard. My clown suit was a tool for my awareness. If I wasn’t confronted moment to moment then what would happen?

Let me interrupt and make something perfectly clear. I don’t actually know what it is like to walk in another person’s shoes for even a single step. I got a taste of something from which came some realizations. What others face because of what they are born to can be unimaginable at times.

I only got a tiny, very tiny glimpse of a sliver of what some people must endure. I am not making any comparison. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn to be more accepting and to recognize choice points. For me, it was an incredible lesson and challenging exercise but so worth the years of doing it.

It was difficult to give it up but once I did I realized there are always buttons and triggers. It doesn’t matter. It seems we get to encounter ourselves no matter where we are. Alone or with others we are faced with who we are what kind of person we are.

Every Moment Is An Opportunity To Embrace

The world and others, even your own self is a great mirror being held up in front of you. What bothers us, gets us snagged up, frustrated, down and out, making excuses  and or being critical of ourself and others, blaming others, hating others, is a reflection and an opportunity.

We stare back at the other person who is reflecting us. Their behaviors mirror our own in some way. BUT we can choose. YES, it may be difficult but we can choose. We either reject it and fight it or them or we accept the lesson and let go of the anger and rejection.

It is a glimpse of oneself and one’s beliefs and conditioning. It is a look into what internal or external conflicts we may have. It is a little signal to get our attention so we can be aware, drop it, and go beyond it. It is benevolence disguised as pain.

Whether in red or blue clothes the world and its people provide opportunity to wake up. We can resist it or we can let go. We can love ourselves and everyone else through it all. We can find a higher road and not succumb to the lowest common denominator. We need to embrace all people because we are one people.

Seek The High Road

Love don’t hate. Be blind to differences that do not matter. Embrace yourself and embrace all those around you. Life is far to short for hate and discord. We need much more time to love and party. We can delight and celebrate and be grateful for all things. We should never stop at the obvious but seek to understand and embrace.

We are all far more similar than we are different. We are different mostly at the surface level. Some endure far more pain and suffering from hate and intolerance than anyone ever should. That is just wrong.

We need to embrace each other as the one species we are and seek love. Our differences make us richer and better. I have said for decades in seminars that what stops people is a thought. The notion ‘I can’t’ or ‘I am unable’ or ‘I won’t’ or ‘I refuse’ is what stops people from moving forward in positive ways.

Live Love Laugh Celebrate

I learned people stop at the most silly things. Color for one. Even color of clothing. WOW isn’t that an odd one? Type of hair, shape of eyes, size of nose, lips, dialect, gender you name it someone can make it an issue. They do literally stop. They do not seek to go beyond.

Going beyond requires being open. It requires acceptance of what is without judgement. We can use more of this, don’t you think? Focus on love not on hate. Don’t even hate the hate. Be love. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be acceptance.  Live, Love, Laugh and celebrate all. ” Rex Sikes

How often today can you delight in today?

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS You may know someone who could benefit from reading these message. Please share DI&G with them via social media or email. Buttons below make it easy for you to do so.

PSS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

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Who Are You And How Do You Fit In? Do You Have A Clue?

horizons walkway and clouds

“Sometimes I playfully imagine. Do you? Sometimes, I think about how we got here or whether we are all interconnected? Sometimes I look at the past and am amazed we survived it. Other times I look into the future and wonder if we will survive that. I like wondering because while I don’t know the actual answer, I can always make one up.

I enjoy puzzles and trying to understand the concept of oneness. Some quantum theorists suggest all life is one life. We are merely different expressions of this one. There is no division in reality. We perceive that there are differences because of our mental filters.

The Illusion Separates And Divides

We think we are separate. We think we are different. So we act that way. Yet, everything in the universe is made from the same material. It really is all the same stuff! That blows me away at times. Some of the concepts about our universe  really blow me away.

Did you know that there is as much space in the elements of an atom as their is in our entire outer space. This notion alone freaks me out. Plus, the elements of an atom aren’t elements at all but wavicles, or vibrations or possibilities. The larger stuff in our world is all vibrations appearing solid. WOW, plenty of things to wonder about.

Everything is made from the same material from the beginning of time. Whenever, wherever, whatever that was or is. We don’t know we just theorize and point to an event we named the Big Bang.

We Are All Made From The Same Star Dust

The body is made up of trillions of cells. Brain cells, skin cells, bone cells, heart cells, tissue cells, you name it lots of different specialized cells. They each perform separate tasks. Each individual cell is separate from the others.

Each individual heart cell for example is different from every other individual heart cell BUT it is a heart cell; and it is different from brain and stomach and lung and eye cells.

Imagine all these trillions of unique individual cells. Some belong to one group some in another group. Bone cells and skin cells are very different. Yet, through all of it runs DNA. The very same DNA in each cell.

So trillions of cells, multiple different groups that look different and act different all share the same DNA. They too are made from the same stuff. Still, the look different and act different but they are part of the very same thing material.

There Are Different Bees In The Hive – But They Are Still All Bees

It’s kind of like people. There are different unique individuals who belong to different groups. Black, White, Yellow, Brown, Red. Each group has a set of distinguishing characteristics which makes each individual identifiable to the group or class. Yet each individual is unique while within the group.

Back to cells of the body. There are all these groups of cells that comprise the human body. Each with their group functions. Each carrying out its individual tasks. These cells live and die. Even though they are individual and unique, and there are different groups and kinds of cells they are ALL human cells.

They are all one in the same thing. And they are different things all in the same one. The illusion is that they are separate but they function together. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts and the sum of the parts comprise the whole too.

Take a skin cell off the finger it is as human as a cell from the eye, the intestine, or the knee cap. It all shares the same DNA. It is all made from the same material. Yet, uniquely different as each person has DNA unique to that person. Countless variations of sameness.

There Is Only One Material In The Universe

All these trillions of unique individual cells comprising different groups of cells all exist within one body. The flesh, the bones, the organs. One human is made up of all these cells. These cells are made up of atoms and molecules.

All humans come from the same stardust. We are all on this planet. We all live together on the same spherical organism. So who are you? What do you want? How do you fit in with the rest of everything? Is it you against the world or are you part of something greater?

Your mind set determines so much about your happiness and success? Your attitude determines whether you live for your self or for others. Do you realize your amazing power and opportunity, yet? What illusions do you live from and are they serving you to have a better life and get along better with others?

We are all one. We just think we aren’t. We have intelligence. Scientists think our cells are intelligent, as well. There is a unified field, a consciousness that permeates everything in the human. Current thinking is we have more than one brain. One in the head and the other in the gut. Other’s say the heart also.

Scientists think there is a unified field in all the universe. Some think we are all connected as a forest of individual appearing trees is connected though a root system. Somehow information is available all at one time and everywhere.

What Else Could There Be

Do you realize that everything that is needed to build a rocket ship on planet earth has been here on earth since the dawn of time. We have added nothing. We just didn’t know how to make use of it until more recently BUT IT was ALL HERE!!!

Here is what I know. I don’t know much of anything. That is true. I don’t. But it seems to me that the body dies when the cells fall out of sync. When they stop co-operating and begin growing or multiplying on their own out of harmony with the rest. People do the same thing.

Thinking they are separate instead of working in harmony, together for the greater good of all, they compete and fight and wage war for resources. The argue and kill over mental constructs, ideas and philosophies, religions.

Instead, we should recognize we are all one species living in an enclosed globe. That globe from another vantage point given the size and scope of our KNOWN universe might as well be the cell on the back of a flee on a dog for all we know. We could be living on the thumbnail of a different species.

We Live In A Snow Globe Sort Of

All we can tell is we live in some incomprehensible vast array of space. We live and are energy vibrating at different rates. We think things are solid and behave in certain ways according to certain laws. We have different religious and philosophic and scientific answers but we truly don’t know much of anything. Really.

We are a part of a vast incredible oneness maintaining the illusion of separateness for political and economic reasons. We divided the world to control portions of land and populations. We divide the people to be able to categorize and control. We act so important and want to rule everything; people, animals, plants, space.

We blindly give allegiance to the land we were born in whether the power mongers of that land rule benevolently or not. People who say ‘no I won’t follow blindly along’ are curtailed, punished, ostracized, and killed to keep the illusion going.

We Are All The Same Originating From The Same Source

There does appear to be a secret some are hiding from others but I’m not sure they know what that secret actually is. Someone, somewhere just doesn’t want you to find it out. I think the biggest open secret out there is that we are all from the same source.

Whatever you prefer to call it we are one with it. We are different, unique aspects of the same thing. We are all one. We are the source. Instead of not noticing this we should be celebrating this. We should embrace this.

Reduced to its simples form we are living organisms living on a rock hurtling through space. Everything within this rocks atmosphere is made from the same material and it is all we got. We are self contained on this ball.

There is nothing else but what there is. Instead of being happy about this we fight about it, fight over it, divide it and ruin it to the best of our abilities.

They, whomever ‘they’ are. The powers that be don’t want you loving and peaceful because when you are they can not control you. Gandhi proved  you didn’t have to wage war to win. They want you arguing, fighting, distracted and at each other’s throats so these killer cells can dominate.

If You Are Distracted And Arguing You Will Never Unite

I don’t know how you fix that other than refusing to participate. What you resist persists so fighting it is not the way. That only produces more of what we don’t want. This is evidenced that our ‘War On’ programs have never solved the issues they were designated too. Neither have any of our actual wars.

Rather it is best to let go and focus on instead on peace, love and oneness. It is better to find likeminded, open, tolerant,  loving people who think together and meditate together for the world to become a simpler, nicer place. Lennon said, ‘Give peace a chance.’ Perhaps, we ought to try it as we never truly ever have.

Two minds become as one. When two are gathered.Two hearts become as one. There IS power and influence in numbers. If they can keep the masses in discord they can rule the world. However, if the masses said ‘nope, I am not going to fall for that’, and refused to play that game, maybe they wouldn’t stand a chance of ruling.

The masses would be peaceful and loving and it would radiate and extend outward. The world would be engulfed in positivity. Some say impossible and for them it is. Yet, the game continues. You have to be able to see it to know it exists. You may not be able to find the door in a dark room, especially if you didn’t know there was a door.

Awareness Means Waking Up

But once you wake up to that idea you can search in a more meaningful way. Once you find it you will know that it was always there. It was always the way out you just couldn’t see it. You didn’t know it. Change comes by becoming aware that we need to change.

Sometimes, in order for the human to recognize that, we have to get to a really bad place. Some people just don’t wake up until it is bad enough. That is part of our conditioning. It was like that for me but I did discover another way. I’d like to believe anyone else can too.

More positive change will come because of bliss than because of declaring war on problem campaigns. More positive change will come from being focused on positive changes and not by on focusing on the problems. Yes, you acknowledge the problems are there but once you do you turn your attention toward finding solutions.

You don’t become rich focused on being poor. You don’t become happy thinking depressing thoughts. You don’t solve your problems by thinking about your problems.  You solve them by considering solutions. You don’t unite by thinking about being separate. You don’t behave lovingly if you are scared of your neighbor.

Whenever Two Are Gathered Their Is More Potential

When you drive your car you check your rear view but you don’t keep your gaze there. You can’t focus on the past and move forward. You check your instrument panel but you don’t lock onto it. The panel alerts you if there are issues but you can’t stay focused on potential problems and move forward.

You pay attention to where you are going and where you want to end up. You have to look at and navigate the road ahead and drive the route to your intended location. You get there because you know where you want to go. You focus on what you want.

It would be nice to think that enough people would determine a positive course for our planet and focus on that. It would be wonderful if people came together with a positive, peaceful, loving mindset.

One that would bathe this planet in amazing energy and turn us from our darker hours, from our destructive practices, and lead us into an incredible future of loving kindness for all.

Know What Good You Want – Focus On That – Create It

Utopia isn’t necessary and that is not what I am thinking. I am thinking of a world where people are kinder and gentler because they understand WE are all in it together. We are one species on one planet and we have to care for it all. We have to nurture and nourish each other. We have to tend the garden to keep it growing.

Certainly, it won’t if we fight over land, food, water and ideas. We have to reach for something higher than the base survival instincts. Keep in mind a house divided will never stand. If THEY can keep everyone arguing and divided over petty issues they will have won. The will continue to rule by chaos and confusion.

If there is no ‘they’ then it is our own delusion. We will never be united as long as we think of separation. Each one of us has a choice for how we live alone and with each other. What we do today impacts tomorrow. We can not NOT have an effect.

There are always consequences. For every cause there is an equal and opposite effect. We will determine ours and our children’s destiny by what we think and do today. That is for certain! We create our future by what we think and do in our present.

It All Begins With Thought And What We Think Is Possible

Maybe what I have said has some truth in it. Perhaps, it is all utter nonsense. But what if we pretended it was real. If we focused on being one, if we focused on love and peace and happiness. If we focused on life maybe, just maybe, we would find ourselves getting along more and enjoying more of the experience on the planet.

Maybe we’d be nicer and help each other because we’d realize we are all in it together. We’d come to know that together we ARE creating our experience. Maybe, all this, ‘philosophy -science -quantum stuff is nonsense. Maybe it is all an illusion and a delusion.

So what?  Let’s pick the delusion and illusion that makes everything better. Once we realize that we have a choice in all of this maybe we would create something really wonderful. What would you like to do?

Maybe, we don’t have to be concerned with the overall future of anything other than to make it a nicer world for everyone in it on a daily basis. Maybe all we need to do is be more accepting, loving, compassionate, kinder, more fun loving and peaceful.

If It Is To Be It Is Up To Me

Maybe we can look at each other in ways that unite us and bring us together instead of dividing us. Maybe we should give peace and life a chance. And that brings us back to you and me. Where do we fit in? What can be done? What can you do to make your life and the lives of others so much better? How can you live and think moment to moment that creates a positive impact ?

If it isn’t up to you and me who is it up to? If we leave it to ‘them’ or ‘they’ what kind of future do you expect we will have. Nope, it is you and me. We are the ones who determine the course. We determine our course.

Let’s practice a little more benevolence and make it our future and our world (the only future and world we have) a better place starting right now in the present. Now is the only time we have and here is the only place we will ever be. We can make everything more wonderful when we make that part of our mission. I may be wrong but I can dream too.” Rex Sikes

Be adventurous today and enjoy.

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON  –  Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d  hate to lose you when it switches over.

PS You may know someone who could benefit from reading these message. Please share DI&G with them via social media or email. Buttons below make it easy for you to do so.

PSS  A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

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Doing This Can Help You Feel Much Better

horizons green blue and farm

“If ever you feel out of sorts, down and out, depressed or angry there is something you can do to change how you feel. It is simple and powerful. It works like magic in many ways. It can help you feel better and make your life much more meaningful.

Yesterday, I was fortunate to be able to volunteer to assist physically and mentally challenged adults go water skiing and tubing. What a joy and blessing that was.

They had so much fun and so did we. Their looks of excitement, their sounds of joy was truly touching and wonderful. Their gratitude and that of their parents and caretakers was incredible.

The ski club my son belongs to has done this for 20 years. We joined last year and this was our first event of this kind. As they thanked us I thanked them for coming out and having fun with us.

The other dedicated volunteers worked hard to make this a special day for all. It absolutely was. I mention this opportunity I had because it serves as a great reminder.

One is that people are people. Love them all. Whatever shapes, sizes, colors, abilities, religions, politics, anything and everything. People are people. All people seem to like having fun. To make that possible for them was a blessing in itself.

Some people are more fortunate than others. Some have fewer hardships or challenges. We should be grateful for whatever hand we are dealt. It could be better, true, but it could also be worse. Be grateful. Find all the reasons you are fortunate and blessed!

Whenever you may be feeling down or sorry for yourself volunteer. Help out someone else. Service for another is a great way to get outside of one’s own issues and find comfort, blessing and satisfaction. When you help another person you help yourself. Help uplift another person and you uplift yourself. Instant good karma!

Give. You get back more than you give. The amount of fun and joy and delight I had volunteering was far greater than the efforts I made on behalf of others. The reward or payback was and is immense. As you give you get the rewards immediately!

So lift yourself up and lift up others. Give for no reason other than it feels good and it feels right. Enjoy the feelings that you get helping put a smile on someone else’s face. It is worth it in every way.” Rex Sikes

PS In my previous blog I invited you to comment and share whatever needs and wants, successes and difficulties you may be having making your dreams come true. This is an open invitation. Let’s see how together we can support each other in being, doing and getting what we want. Let me know what you need so I can help as best I am able.

Have a glorious day!!!

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*Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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I’M GOING TO LAUNCH THE NEW SITE SOON  –  Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new home is coming!  A new URL, a new look and feel. All this and new content will be at new site.

Some of you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. You will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Please stay with us. I’d hate to lose you or have you miss any blog you want to receive. I’ll let you know when the change is taking place. I might launch and update as we go along.

PS YOU may know someone who could really benefit from hearing this message. Feel free to share this with them via social media or email. Buttons below make it easy for you to do so.

PSS  A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

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