* As first Blogged on Yahoo 360 *

Message From Michael * Blogs from Beyond

“Creation”
~ Your Ability To Change The World ~

“Move just One Grain of Sand

~ And You In Fact Have Created A New Desert”.

Can I Invite You, to Come and Move A Grain Of Sand With Me?

Just One.

Just One Grain Of Sand.

Unless, of course, it Gets Good to You ~ And then You’re Free to Change As Many As You Wish! ((smile))

That Thought ~ “Tickles!”

I can imagine the Picture in my Mind of You and me,

Together

Alone

Out in the middle of A Desert

Endless Sands Stretching out in every Direction

And You’ve Discovered the Secret of Creating New Deserts

And You Like IT! You’re Having Such Fun …

You’re Changing All the Grains … One by One!!

Hey … I’m Just Watching … YOU!! LOL!

Okay, now back to Just Changing One Grain of Sand …

A Small and Quite Easy Task … Don’t You Agree??

We Are ~ “A World of Consumers”

People Work to Earn Money, and use Money to Buy Things.

Food, Clothing and Shelter – The Basics. ( The “Needs” )

Cars, Entertainment and Products – The Luxuries (The “Wants”)


People Buy from People Who Sell, and that Creates “Commerce”.

“Commerce Makes the World Go Round”



Now, most People can Work and attain Comfortable Lives.

Work ~ Earn ~ Save ~ Spend ~ Buy ~ Live.

A Lifetime of Working and Earning and Saving.

A Lifetime of Spending and Buying,

A Lifetime Spent..

If You look at it in those Terms,
that doesn’t sound very fulfilling, does it?

Enjoyable ~ “Yes.”

Fulfilling …. Hmmmm, let Me Think About that One …

Now, please don’t get me Wrong …

I Love Shopping, Buying, Purchasing, Spending!

I Love the New Car Smell! Especially when I’m Driving it Home!!

I Love going into a Store filled with the latest Products, coming out with a Big Box, fitting it in the Car, Taking it Home, Opening it up and having the Smell of New Electronics, Computers, DVD Players, TVs, Video Games, Music CDs!


I Love Shopping Online!

Don’t even have to leave the Comfort of Home … Just pick it out, Credit Card or Pay Pal … and sit back and wait for it to Arrive At My Front Door!! Love It!!


I Love Shopping for Clothes!

Suits, Boots, Leather, Suede, Fur, Silk, Jeans, Hats, Ties, Accessories! Love It!

The Feel of Putting on New Clothes and Going Out … Is Magic!

* Other People seem to Love it Too! When You’re “Dressed for Success”. Ever notice how People Give You First Class Attention? Now, if You’re looking Really Stylish, Dapper or Elegant ~ Ever notice how some People Look at You like They just want to Eat You Up Right There On the Spot?!! Or just Melt in Your Presence?! Believe Me ~ It Happens!


And I Love Shopping for Toys too!

Things that Bring You Joy ~ Make You Smile, Laugh, Play!

Electronic Toys with Lights, Flashing or Pulsating or Blinking Lights! Toys that Move, or Walk, or Fly, or Talk, or Make Noise! Wow! TOYS!

MP3 Players, Ipods, Games, Cells, Remote Control Toys,
BIG SCREEN TVs!

I Bought a 10 Foot Screen Television and my Basement Room became a Home Theater where the Movies were LIFE SIZE!! Wall To Wall TV!! Now I’m just Waiting for the release of Holographic TVs, where the Pictures Actually Project into 3-D Form and Shape, right there in Mid Air in front of You!

“I Work Hard … and I Play Hard”, is that OK?

Now that we have that out of the way …

All of those Material Things, can make Life feel Richer and More Fun. But it Doesn’t … Shouldn’t Stop There.


As Individuals on A Planet of Billions of People,
We All Possess A Unique Gift.


The Uniqueness of Self. Our Minds, Our Hearts, Our Souls are Unique from All Others. Our Thoughts, Ideas, Perspectives, Visions, Experiences, Memories, are in some ways ~ Unique Unto Themselves. Of course there are Common Ideas, Thoughts and Experiences, but Each of Us may See Them, Interpret Them, Remember Them and Feel About Them ~ In A slightly Unique and Differing Way. That’s Individual Perspective!


Each One of Us, also has the Ability of Creative Thought. Ideas and Concepts. From These Billions of Unique Individual Perspectives, therein lies the Potential for Billions of Creative Ideas! New Ideas! New Perspective on Old Ideas! Ideas that may have Never Been Thought of Before in the History of Mankind!

Does that Give You Any Idea of
Just How Special You Are in This World? It Should!!


Now, as A Consumer, You … We …Are Constantly Bombarded with Advertising! Buy This! Buy That! You Need The New One! Buy for Yourself! Buy for Your Loved Ones! Buy for Your Children! Buy for Your Pets! Buy for Your Security! Buy for A Rainy Day!
Buy … Buy … Buy!


In every Commercial on Radio, Television, Newspaper, Magazine, Internet Portal, Billboard, Movie, Flyer, etc. You are Constantly being Bombarded with Ads, Jingles, Slogans and Advertising to BUY! After all … “Commerce Makes The World Go Round!” So, I guess that All the Advertisers are really Just Doing Their Part to Help the World! LOL!


But, Please let me Ask You ~

Just How Many People Encourage You to Be Creative? How Many Encourage Your Creativity? How Many Stir You Desire to Dream? Stir Your Passions to Create? Stir Your Mind and Imagination to Conceptualize (To Think of Concepts in Your Mind) …
May I Ask, How Many?

“Well, I Would Like To ~ If You Will Allow Me”

Throughout My Life, My Teachers Encouraged Me! To Imagine, To Think, To Dare to Dream of New Concepts, To Be Creative ~
To Create!

It Enriched My Life. Expanded My Perceived Personal Borders and Scope. Broadened My Horizons. Unlocked Limitless Frontiers.

“I’d Love The Chance to Do That For You!”

To Write, To Draw, To Paint, To Sculpt, To Mold …

To Sing, To Dance, To Act, To Play Music …

To Read, To Learn, To Research, To Imagine …

To Plan, To Design, To Construct, To Build …


I’d Love to Tell You About One of My Favorites …


“A Wonder Of The Ancient World”


A Testament to Man’s Creativity that has Crossed Centuries to Inspire and Amaze!


Although it is not one of the recognized,
7 Wonders of the Ancient World, it was A True Wonder of the Ancient World! It is The Library of Alexandria, Egypt.



The Great Hall of the ancient Library of Alexandria in Egypt.
~ A reconstruction based on scholarly evidence ~


It was said to contain A Copy of Every Book in the Known World! In Vaults and on Shelves, Scrolls and Manuscripts packed floor to ceiling, containing the Knowledge of Egypt, Rome and Greece. It was the “Bank of Knowledge of the World!” Can You Imagine that? The Library of Congress in Washington, DC is the Modern Day equivalent, but it was Inspired by The Library of Alexandria.


Here, The Greatest Minds and Thinkers came from All Corners of the World! Thinkers, Writers, Scholars, Philosophers and Inventors all Came and Gathered to Study, Learn, Research, Conceptualize, Think, and Share! Those Names that We hold in such High Esteem, from Ancient Greece were all there!


It is the Ancient Version of “A Think Tank”, A Place specifically for Thought and Sharing! The Great Thinkers Gathered as Contemporaries, to Share and Exchange Their Ideas, Knowledge, Thoughts and Concepts with One Another. Exchange brought with it ~ New Insights, New Perspectives and New Concepts and Ideas!

This was the Renowned “Library At Alexandria!”

Adjacent to this Library was another building ~ “The Museum.” Most of us are familiar with Museums as Places that Display everything from Dioramas (Miniature Scale versions of Displays), to Dinosaur Bones and Fossils, to Art and Historic Artifacts.


Museum comes from the Latin or Greek word ~ “Musa” or “Muse”. The Word Muse means to Inspire. This Museum adjacent to the Library of Alexandria was the place that the Great Thinkers went ~ To Create! It was An Ancient Research Center! (also spelled ~ Musaeum at Alexandria or Temple of the Muses)

An Old Axiom says ~ “Thought Without Action, is Empty”. The Great Thinkers at the Library must have embraced this concept, because after their “Think Tank Sessions and Exchanges” filled them with New Ideas … They went from the Library into The Museum. Here They Put Thought Into Action and Created! They Invented! They Innovated! Applying New Perspectives to Old Ideas and Inventions.


The Man Who Invented “Sliced Bread”, neither Invented Bread or Slicing. He was an Innovator, Who simply Applied A New Idea to 2 previous Inventions ~ Slicing and Bread! Thus A New Creation – “Sliced Bread!”


We are truly fortunate, that many of the Written Records and Books of that time, have been Preserved and Survived the Millennia, for Us to Read and Reference, Today!


We Can Look Back at the what happened some
Three Thousand Years Ago! 3,000 Years!!


A Window Into The Past,
that May Serve Us as We Pioneer the Future!


I hope to Write A future Blog in Tribute to A Friend I chanced to meet. A beautiful lady from the Tiny Kingdom of Bhutan. Where is Bhutan, You might Ask? Well, it’s snuggled at the foot of the highest Majestic Mountain Peaks in the World, the Himalayas, neighboring China and India. This lady, lets call her Sonam, was Studying Library Science at a University in Scotland. Sent there by Her Government to Study, and upon Graduation was scheduled to return to Bhutan to become One of the Only Two Librarians in all of The Kingdom of Bhutan!


As Library’s Preserve Our History for All Coming Generations, it is due to the Efforts of Librarians such as Sonam, that Today, We have the Priceless Treasures of The Past! From Aristotle to Plato, Shakespeare to Mark Twain! I Wanted to Celebrate and Pay Tribute to My Friend Sonam, and the Unknowable Service Her Dedication May Play in the Future of Bhutan and the World.



It was a German Businessman, turned Archaeologist, named Heinrich Schliemann, who in 1870, having the chance to Read and Study Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey”, ( The Story of Troy and The Trojan Horse ) Ancient Writings Preserved by Librarians over the Ages … was able to pinpoint the Ancient Kingdom of Troy, thought by many to be only Legend. Buried under Centuries of earthen Dust … He Located, Uncovered and Discovered – Ancient Troy!

Through His Quest, he brought Ancient Legend into Reality! But he would never have been able to do it without a lineage of Centuries of Dedicated Librarians ~ Dusting the Books and Keeping Order on the Shelves!
But That is indeed, Another Blog and Another Story!



You may have seen Brad Pitt as Achilles, in the Oscar Winning Movie ~ “Troy”.


So, having Shared All of That … May I Humbly Ask …


What Do You Give the World?

What Do You Create?


Artists ~ Give the World ~ Paintings and Statues

Writers ~ Give the World ~ Stories and Books

Librarians ~ Give the World ~ A Perseverance of Records

Musicians ~ Give the World ~ Song and Melody

Poets ~ Give the World ~ Visions in Verse

Farmers ~ Give the World ~ Food and Nourishment

Teachers ~ Give the World ~ Knowledge

Inventors ~ Give the World ~ New Products

Visionaries ~ Give the World ~ New Ideas

Priests ~ Give the World ~ A Remembrance of Faith

You Get the Idea, Right?


Now, Can I Invite You to Come and Create With Me?

Who can Say …? You or I, or We Together just May Create something that will Be Sung of in Story a Thousand Years from Now! ((smile)) Nothing Ventured … Nothing Gained …

“Are You Ready To Change The World?”


Footnote: I Know that I Write A Lot.
I Know that I Blog A Lot.
On and On and On, about ~
Where I’ve Been, Who I’ve Met, What I’ve Done …

Sometimes. even when I re-read what I’ve Written … It Sounds A Bit Much! For People who don’t know me, it could sound Very Egotistical! That Thought Makes Me Cringe! That is Never My Intention! I’m NOT Trying to Impress You with My Exploits, Achievements, Blessings or Good Fortune. I am NOT trying to give any False Impression of My Importance. You See, I Already Know What I’ve Done, as Well as What I have Left Undone. I Already Know, Where I have been and What I have Seen and Who I have Met. I Already Know, What My Achievements have been (some of them anyway ~ smile) … and Where I have Fallen Short … My Shortcomings.


You See … “I’m Just An Average Guy”. That Little Boy in that Cowboy Suit, in my Previous Blog. I wasn’t Born Rich, didn’t become A Professor, I’m Not a Superstar or Celebrity, and I haven’t Won The Lottery. I am As Average As Anyone One Else! I’m Just the Same As You, Sitting There Reading This!


At Times in My Life ~ I’ve been Lazy, Confused, Un-Inspired and Negligent ( or Not Responsible ) … Oooh, I Hate to Think About Those Times! But I Do. I look back and Remember Often …
It helps Remind Me, Gives Me A Sense of Balance

And A Push Forward at Times When I Might Need it!


What I have Done in My Life ~ “Are My Footprints in the Sand!”
The Legacy that I will Leave … Behind Me.




What Gave Me, An Average Guy, Such Experiences and Achievements to Write About was … That People Came Along and “Touched Me!”


Teachers, Elders, Friends, Family and Even Sometimes ~ Strangers!


At those Times in My Life when I was Confused, Uninspired, Lazy, or “Just Going Along for The Ride” … These Wonderful Magical People Came Along, and Noticed Me … Wasting My Potentials, Talents and Opportunities!


For whatever Reason … They took it Upon Themselves to Counsel Me, Talk to me, Scold Me, Fuss at Me, Nudge Me, Pinch Me, PUSH ME ~ Inspire and Guide Me!!


They Shared Their Experience, Their Insight, Their Knowledge, Their Wisdom, Their Advice, Their HEARTS!

THEY HELPED CHANGE My LIFE!


Guide and Mold … Instruct and Teach … Counsel and Support … Motivate and Inspire!



“If I Have Seen Father than Others ~ It Is Because I have Stood On The Shoulders Of Giants!”




They Made A Difference in My Life!! A Qualitative Difference!

That is Why I Write! To Share!!

To Reach Out And Touch You!! Your Life!!


To Nudge .. Pinch … Shock You Awake! To Help You See Your Potentials!

To Help You See Within Yourself … Your Latent Talents and Your Gifts!


I Want To Shine A Light On A Path You May Not Have Seen!

A Path To Opportunities! A Path to Adventure, Experience, Achievement, Enrichment and Success!


Our Creator Gave Us Each A Most Precious Gift! The Gift Of Creation!!

Just Like His! (But on a Smaller Scale I Think ~ Smile)



Whether You Call Him or Her ~

The Creator, God, Allah, Grandfather,
The Great Spirit or Goddess …

The Message Is …
“Don’t Waste Your Gift Of Creation!”


In All Of Creation ~ In All The Galaxies, On All the Planets and In All of The Worlds … In All of The Billions of People ~ There Is But ONE YOU!

I was Wrong. I’m Not “Average”,
and Neither Are You!

We’re Both Unique and Pretty Special ~
Don’t You Agree?!!


It Doesn’t Matter Where You Come From, or Where You’ve Been!


The Future Starts Today!!

Can I Invite You, to Come and Move A Grain Of Sand With Me?

“Are You Ready To Change The World?”



~ Michael

xox oxo

another novel post *tehehehe;))

Am JAZZ a particle, but by just bein' me, simply being myself, living my life the way a Christian should, or being mindful of how i deal with people, being careful the way i speak to others, treating others highly than me, showing respect no matter what the difference we have in our beliefs and views, i think i can make a LITTLE difference in another person's life. Sometimes listening when a friend is over burdened or simply sharing their joys and excitement do a whole lot difference than talking. People need people, all of us longs for someone to care, to be with, to comfort one another, to be a FRIEND! We dont need to be someone famous or well educated nor be rich to make a difference in this cruel world.

Our life is the BEST TESTIMONIAL we could offer to people. We should walk and live the way we talk. And the key to be an effective evangelization is not composed of well spoken words but mostly of our actions, honesty and integrity.From there people would know our authenticity. I am definitely in chorus with you, Cuz in making a difference and in building up lives. KUDOS!!! I ditto!

Okay about shopping and spending..who doesnt want to have all the best and comforts of life, eh? But ALL those are but temporal, things that we'll leave for others to enjoy once our journey in this earthly lives is over. Shhh... am not trying to sound preachy but i'd rather invest on things of above where no thieves nor moth can destroy. But being a parent i want to give ALL THE BEST to my children only if i have the means, LOL ;))

NICE BLOG, KEEP THE THOUGHTS COMING! ~x0x0x0~

i meant effective ***evangelist, grrr... my fat fingers hit the wrong keys again....Hahahaha!

STAY POSITIVE AND FOCUSED, Cuz!

Sweet smiles from the Philipines ~jazz 0",)

Dearest Cousin, I loved reading about this and look forward to more on this topic! You knew that I'd be interested, eh? As always, I am drawn to the ancient world! I saw the movie 'Troy' and loved it! I never thought it could have really existed! This is exciting to know! I hope, somehow, I am leaving "footprints' or changing a grain of sand. I use to think, "I'd like to live forever! LOL But, I realize I will, through my grandchildren , and that is my legacy! My mom, kids, & grandkids, even my brother, Jon, when he was alive, could draw. I've never been able to do so. In the last few months, I have starting drawing some. Not great, in my opinion, but at least it's something! LOL I've sang at church a few times (never did that before either)! I don't claim to have a great singing voice, but it was something that just seemed 'right' at the time. Tianna & I do many things together, as far as making memories, and someday, that will be something that perhaps, she will do with her children. I feel like this is what we can do to leave footprints. May not be the greatest things in some people's eyes, but to me, I will always know that I was important in the life of a child.
Hugs! xoxo's

ok...LOL stop that! i just watch Troy lastnight. an woke up to your blog...grin but great blog sweetness! i'll come move a grain a sand with you :)in Chilly Florida oh burrrrr...LOL as i'm getting berried up to my beep in snow...LMAO

i've learned a word from you... "muse"... little did I know that this word means to inspire....(blush) now I know why every league, organization,teams,etc... they get some muse....and ussually a beautiful one..." it means to inspire this players?

Yes let's change the world by contributing the talents that God gave us....We are all unique in our own way... let's hold our hand for a brighter tomorrow...
Mike i always love to read your blogs.... it inspires all the time...I am proud of you...

Thank You so Very Much ~ Kelly, Terry, Jaz, Sunshine Daisy!

For taking the time to Read and Share Your Perspectives and Insights! They’re really invaluable to Me. I really do understand what You’ve conveyed in as much as Material Possessions are just that. I totally Agree! But Your Feedback helped me realize something else important. As the main idea of Writing was “Inspiration To Create”. I wrote “The Love Shopping” parts as kind of a Comical Aspect that I figured that most people could Identify with, because as You said ~ “Who Doesn’t Love to Go Shopping?”

I was hoping that my Humorous Lead would kind of give a little Fun Balance to the other information contained. Don’t know how many people really Think much about Ancient Cites, Greek Storytellers, or Massive Libraries, so I was hoping to add a little Fun aspect to Digging up 3,000 year old subjects to Illustrate a Point. It may in fact more so tend to Distract away from the Focus, as opposed to Complimenting it. Often when Writing, it’s hard to predict what the person Reading it, will gain. Whether I Successfully Communicated My Idea or Illustrated my intended Point. It’s only through You Sharing Your Impressions and Feedback that allow me to know. That’s Invaluable to me, and helps me to strive to improve my Writing Skills! Thank You So Much!

I know that You, Each in Your Own Ways, Reach Out and Make Qualitative Differences in the Lives of Others Each and Every Day!! You Really Live The Point I was Trying to Share ~ In Your Everyday Lifestyles, Words and Actions!! I could be no more Honored than Having Your Comments and Insights to Guide Me! Please Allow Me to Send My Love and Big Hugs in Appreciation!

PS ~ And in further Appreciation … “Who Should I Make Those Unlimited Holiday Shopping Gift Certificates Out to??” ROFLOL!!

love the post my friend, but i have not yet learned how to temper my ability to move grains of sand, and often times, i fear i don't create much,
hugs always

The American Consumer...me...hehehe

Yes, I love the stores and clerks...their snobby attitude of "How should I know? I just work here!"

And then comes my S/A tone.................well, my Dear Borther Michael, maybe I shouldn't repeat what I say to those useless fools...young and old alike.

Yes, I LOVE walking out saying "Thank you, SIR/Ma'am, for allowing me to shop here"...as they cry about their job...as I wonder aloud how they would like to be in my place, and not be capable of holding a full-time job...LOL...and yet, I still try my dam (darndest) to return to the tax-roles, so I can support their lazy but (behinds) next week, when they complain of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from lifting all those heavy Dollar Bills?

LOL...shh...let's not tell them, I really DO love going to shop, so that I can search those L^&()Y&)&)^&^*_)(+_96aaaazy clerks out, lazy non-concerened store managers also....just so I can remind them, yet once again - that Sir and Ma'am aren't NASTY words, Thank You and May I help you IS OK for them to say FIRST, and that NOT hogging the isles and expecting "me" to get out of "their" way, as they run down the isle, empty handed, to lunch is DEF NOT a standard requirement for their pay (which "I" create for them)...I do love our nation...just, too bad we forgot WHY our nation was great (ONCE)...grrr

WOW, Kuya, that felt fantastic...heheh

Thanks!

I would say more about this blog, but sometimes one word sums it up more adequately. "POWERFUL"

Wow...there is so much to digest here Michael..in my quite time i will come back to read...meantime, i wish you a great holiday and joy this season brings.
...oxoxo...

Your entry is so long, but I read all. Thank you for your advice, It's good for me in this time. Yes, Create to change the world.

Hug
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