My dear friend, Andrew Cummings, and his beautiful family endured the harsh reality of his beloved wife, Jennifer Greene, being diagnosed two and a half years ago with breast cancer. His heartbreaking devotion to record the final moments he shared with his best friend and soul mate to honor her wishes and the choices she made: to suffer in hope, to not be a burden, to live long enough, to die peacefully with dignity and grace surrounded by loved ones, to be a part of something bigger than herself, and the choice to share their story to help others heal.
Jenn's simple power of choice to make a difference for everyone - to leave the world a better place than it was before - is simply inspirational.
Click here to read Andrew's account of Jennifer's choice.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Tell Someone Else
I just walked from 53rd Street & 3rd Avenue a total of 23 blocks to 76th St and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. I met many people I did not know. I took the time to stop and tell them:
I LOVE YOU.
WE DON'T SAY IT ENOUGH.
PLEASE TELL SOMEONE ELSE.
I LOVE YOU.
WE DON'T SAY IT ENOUGH.
PLEASE TELL SOMEONE ELSE.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
On the Shitty Side of the Street
"Yes, the world is going to hell and everyone is to blame. Everyone, except me that is."
Well, at least that's what you keep telling yourself. All you ever see is how people disappoint you. Everyone is not doing what is best for you or your company. No one listens to you. Why would they do it that other way when you just told them the best way to do it? Right? I mean......am I going crazy here or am I the only one who has any common sense? Come on, people.....wake up! I know I'm right, but they're just morons. (I've heard them all.)
The answer is simple. Vicious Vampires, Bloated Bullies, Negative Nellies, Miserable Myrtles, Dragging Drama Queens, Jealous Judgy Judy's, Self-Worshipping Assholes, and Dumbass Know-It-All's. They are ruining life for everyone.
Well, the only person ruining your life IS you!
Yes, the answer is -- and always will be -- you. You are the only one who can disappoint yourself. You are the only one who can hurt you. You are the only one who can lie to you. You are the only person who makes the choice to wait and wait and wait. You are the one who chooses to assume the worst without obtaining the facts. You choose to be negative, mean, and disgusted by everyone around you. You are addicted to pointing fingers, addicted to judging others because you worship yourself -- addicted to self.
If you don't have the life you dreamed of you can only blame the choices you made along the way. If you have obtained success, be grateful for the people who have chosen to be in your life and the choices THEY made. Your circle of mentors, friends, and family are the ones who made you successful. Not you. Period. It is their choice to give you the gift of their time, the gift of remaining in your life, and the gift of helping and supporting you.
Successful people never blame anyone else. They accept the responsibility for their lack of clear communication and the lack of working in yes/no agreements. Simply because you ask does not mean someone has agreed. They must answer in the affirmative stating exactly what they agree to do for you. Otherwise, there is no agreement and one cannot expect anything from the other. This is called "acting like an adult" or "working together".
Shouting profanities, blowing your top in a fit of rage, making assumptions, gossiping, judging, blaming, backstabbing, throwing a temper-tantrum, whining about how unfair life treats you, (etc etc etc) is NOT clear communication. It is childish and unproductive. These behaviors are major symptoms of people choosing to live a miserable existence.
You read that correctly - choosing to be miserable!
HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE and one must make that choice every split second of every day.
If you have a flat on your car, why would you yell and scream, and give yourself a heart attack on the side of the road? Change the tire and get on with your life. No one wants to stop and help a raging lunatic. They look away and keep on traveling - leaving you stuck right where you are. When your boss yells at you, do you feel like doing more work or do you feel like punching them in the face and telling them to do it themselves? If you don't like to be treated that way, then DO NOT TREAT OTHERS THAT WAY.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
The only person in the entire world who can make you happy IS yourself. Love yourself, don't worship yourself. Very few people are able to figure out how to overcome it. It starts by remembering old adages, mantras, fables, fairy tales, and stories we are told over and over. They are passed down for generations, normally by our mothers and fathers. The research has already been done and we don't have to second guess why they have survived the test of time......because THEY ARE TRUE!
You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.
If yelling has not worked yet, it never will. If assuming the worst about others has not worked yet, it never will. If telling someone what to do or how to do it (or where to go) has not yet worked, guess what, it never will! No one controls anyone else in the world. A quote often attributed to Einstein says, "Insanity is repeating the same mistakes expecting different results." It was actually a blurb in the literature created in 1981 written for addicts by addicts in a little group called Narcotics Anonymous.
You have the right to ask for anything and everything you need, want, and desire. Depending on your manners and how you approach the other person, it is their choice to grant your request or deny it. Everyone has the right to deny your demands or to give you the gift of success.
Unspoken expectations are failures waiting to happen. ~ Origin TBD/Unknown
Failure to communicate clearly or treat others with respect will always lead to disappointment and failure. You chose to fail by not setting yourself or the other person up for success. You are the only person who will ever hold you back from obtaining what you want. It is your choice to be ignorant and continue the insanity or accept responsibility for your own actions and give respect to get respect.
Make the choice to live On the Sunny Side of the Street.
You will not be punished for your anger. You will be punished by your anger. ~ FakeBuddhaQuote.com
Well, at least that's what you keep telling yourself. All you ever see is how people disappoint you. Everyone is not doing what is best for you or your company. No one listens to you. Why would they do it that other way when you just told them the best way to do it? Right? I mean......am I going crazy here or am I the only one who has any common sense? Come on, people.....wake up! I know I'm right, but they're just morons. (I've heard them all.)
The answer is simple. Vicious Vampires, Bloated Bullies, Negative Nellies, Miserable Myrtles, Dragging Drama Queens, Jealous Judgy Judy's, Self-Worshipping Assholes, and Dumbass Know-It-All's. They are ruining life for everyone.
Well, the only person ruining your life IS you!
Yes, the answer is -- and always will be -- you. You are the only one who can disappoint yourself. You are the only one who can hurt you. You are the only one who can lie to you. You are the only person who makes the choice to wait and wait and wait. You are the one who chooses to assume the worst without obtaining the facts. You choose to be negative, mean, and disgusted by everyone around you. You are addicted to pointing fingers, addicted to judging others because you worship yourself -- addicted to self.
If you don't have the life you dreamed of you can only blame the choices you made along the way. If you have obtained success, be grateful for the people who have chosen to be in your life and the choices THEY made. Your circle of mentors, friends, and family are the ones who made you successful. Not you. Period. It is their choice to give you the gift of their time, the gift of remaining in your life, and the gift of helping and supporting you.
Successful people never blame anyone else. They accept the responsibility for their lack of clear communication and the lack of working in yes/no agreements. Simply because you ask does not mean someone has agreed. They must answer in the affirmative stating exactly what they agree to do for you. Otherwise, there is no agreement and one cannot expect anything from the other. This is called "acting like an adult" or "working together".
Shouting profanities, blowing your top in a fit of rage, making assumptions, gossiping, judging, blaming, backstabbing, throwing a temper-tantrum, whining about how unfair life treats you, (etc etc etc) is NOT clear communication. It is childish and unproductive. These behaviors are major symptoms of people choosing to live a miserable existence.
You read that correctly - choosing to be miserable!
HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE and one must make that choice every split second of every day.
If you have a flat on your car, why would you yell and scream, and give yourself a heart attack on the side of the road? Change the tire and get on with your life. No one wants to stop and help a raging lunatic. They look away and keep on traveling - leaving you stuck right where you are. When your boss yells at you, do you feel like doing more work or do you feel like punching them in the face and telling them to do it themselves? If you don't like to be treated that way, then DO NOT TREAT OTHERS THAT WAY.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
The only person in the entire world who can make you happy IS yourself. Love yourself, don't worship yourself. Very few people are able to figure out how to overcome it. It starts by remembering old adages, mantras, fables, fairy tales, and stories we are told over and over. They are passed down for generations, normally by our mothers and fathers. The research has already been done and we don't have to second guess why they have survived the test of time......because THEY ARE TRUE!
You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.
If yelling has not worked yet, it never will. If assuming the worst about others has not worked yet, it never will. If telling someone what to do or how to do it (or where to go) has not yet worked, guess what, it never will! No one controls anyone else in the world. A quote often attributed to Einstein says, "Insanity is repeating the same mistakes expecting different results." It was actually a blurb in the literature created in 1981 written for addicts by addicts in a little group called Narcotics Anonymous.
You have the right to ask for anything and everything you need, want, and desire. Depending on your manners and how you approach the other person, it is their choice to grant your request or deny it. Everyone has the right to deny your demands or to give you the gift of success.
Unspoken expectations are failures waiting to happen. ~ Origin TBD/Unknown
Failure to communicate clearly or treat others with respect will always lead to disappointment and failure. You chose to fail by not setting yourself or the other person up for success. You are the only person who will ever hold you back from obtaining what you want. It is your choice to be ignorant and continue the insanity or accept responsibility for your own actions and give respect to get respect.
Make the choice to live On the Sunny Side of the Street.
You will not be punished for your anger. You will be punished by your anger. ~ FakeBuddhaQuote.com
Friday, July 18, 2014
What the hell are you waiting for?
"You have nothing to fear but fear itself."
We repeat these words often times when we need encouragement to do something we know we should be doing. Yet, do we really believe them? How often do we allow the perils of self-doubt and the voices of naysayers creep into our psyche? We can't get over the fear of success. Or maybe, just maybe, we are addicted, not to failure, but to judging anyone and everyone - most of all, ourselves.
"You are your own worst critic."
You know these mantras. Right? We've heard our teachers tell us. Our mothers taught them to us. We know them by heart, but never do we actually practice what we mantra. If we could learn to trust our abilities and do what we know we can do, think of the potential achievements within our grasp.
"You can do anything you put your mind to."
You have the right to obtain your dream. What is holding you back? The answer is never easy and it's always YOU are holding you back. If you don't make the decision to actually do it, then you will never be able to do anything. "But what about the person who makes the decisions about this and that?" you say? Excuses! I say.
"You are the master of your destiny."
"When a door closes, look for an open window."
If you cannot find an open window, build your own house and open all the doors and windows. Don't wait for someone else to include you in their dream. That's their dream and guess what - it's never included you prior to this moment. Has your dreams included that person? Let it go and start creating your own opportunities. There is no use sitting here whining about not doing anything. You're not doing anything because you're not doing anything. No one to blame but yourself. As a teacher once told me, "When you point a finger at someone, turn your hand over and realize you have many more fingers pointing right back at you."
"Be the change you want to see in the world." ~ Ghandi
Stop your addiction of judging everyone (including yourself). Just get out there and do SOMEthing, anything. As long as you are creating your dream, no one can take that away from you. We were never guaranteed tomorrow and we are not guaranteed success. You must work hard to obtain it. Nothing says it will be cookie cutter perfectly as you envisioned it based on the way the world was 20 years ago. Technology and society are constantly evolving. Your picture of a successfully realized dream career should be as well.
"All you need is faith, trust, and just a little bit of pixy dust." ~ Walt Disney
There is no one holding you back except yourself. Give yourself permission to be more than just a waiter or secretary. Those are temporary solutions to ensure you have rent paid. Tell everyone you are a performer. Say you are a writer. Believe in yourself enough to present yourself as, not a customer service agent, but as a comedian with a captive audience of one distressed audience member per routine. You are You, Inc and you simply need to believe as much.
"We are limited only by the confines of our minds."
When you think about the many ways you have been holding yourself back, don't be discouraged. Simply make the choice to never play the victim again. The dream murderer in your personal drama has been and always will be you. When you see the way to obtain your dreams, go boldly forward and never let fear get in your way. As my voice teacher always told me:
"Less than tremendous is not enough." ~ Linnie Garner-Mower
Tremendous thought. Tremendous energy. Tremendous imagination. Tremendous passion. Tremendous commitment. Tremendous effort. Tremendous dedication. Tremendous heart.
If you don't try your best, don't give 110%, don't have tremendous passion, and don't put your whole heart into what you are doing, then why the hell are you doing it? You will never be successful nor happy.
"Life is not a spectator sport."
Happiness is a choice. So is being miserable. We make that choice every second of every day.
"You are what you do, not what you say you'll do." ~ C.G. Jung
So.....What the hell are you waiting for?
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Welcome aboard the Mothership!
Welcome Ladies and Gents!
After some light goading by a few friends, I have decided to chronicle my ambitious undertakings to pick up my life and move to Germany all in the hopes of having an international career singing opera.
I have already been making plans and many of my friends have been rather excited to help with advice, giving me pointers, books, German dictionaries and lots of general joking about becoming someone's sex slave. However, it has been rather exhilarating to have so many people readily share information in the hopes that I will be "one step ahead" once I make the big move.
Of course, it seems that the biggest piece of advice that everyone gives me (besides the need to speak German) is the understanding of the German Fach System -- thus the name of this blog -- FACH YOU!
So, over the next three months, I will fill you in on my progress as I attempt to learn German, get my ass back in the gym, resume the "eating healthier" mindset, begin searching for an apartment, European agents, coaches, jobs, fill out the numerous required German registration forms, etc etc etc. There's a lot to do and there will never be enough time to do it. So, please, give me advice! I can use all the help I can get and then some!
Looking forward to sharing my experiences (good, bad & probably even embarrassing) with you as I take one small step for man and one giant leap across the pond.
Go forth and prosper!
Bryce
After some light goading by a few friends, I have decided to chronicle my ambitious undertakings to pick up my life and move to Germany all in the hopes of having an international career singing opera.
I have already been making plans and many of my friends have been rather excited to help with advice, giving me pointers, books, German dictionaries and lots of general joking about becoming someone's sex slave. However, it has been rather exhilarating to have so many people readily share information in the hopes that I will be "one step ahead" once I make the big move.
Of course, it seems that the biggest piece of advice that everyone gives me (besides the need to speak German) is the understanding of the German Fach System -- thus the name of this blog -- FACH YOU!
So, over the next three months, I will fill you in on my progress as I attempt to learn German, get my ass back in the gym, resume the "eating healthier" mindset, begin searching for an apartment, European agents, coaches, jobs, fill out the numerous required German registration forms, etc etc etc. There's a lot to do and there will never be enough time to do it. So, please, give me advice! I can use all the help I can get and then some!
Looking forward to sharing my experiences (good, bad & probably even embarrassing) with you as I take one small step for man and one giant leap across the pond.
Go forth and prosper!
Bryce
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