Ok, I’ll admit it, I watch American Idol… There, I said it. I don’t watch much TV, I’d rather spend the time living my own life, but I love seeing people go after their dreams, I love seeing lives changed, and I love the inspiration it brings to others. It’s not just about singing, or entertainment, it’s about passion, making things happen, and taking risks.

Don’t waste precious time being afraid. Without the risk, all you’ll have is more of the same. Be wise in your decisions, but don’t stand in your own way. Trust in yourself and trust that as you take steps to move closer to living your dream, new doors will open – but you have to take action. You have to keep moving.

What is it that you’re working toward? What can you do today to take one step that will get you closer? It could be as simple as making a call, sending an email, practicing a little longer, introducing yourself to someone new.  Each step doesn’t have to be monumental; you just need to keep taking the steps.

Go out there, follow your passion. I’d love to hear what baby step you took today…

Just a short post to say farewell to a man who became the epitiome of living life. Because of his fame, he fought his battle with cancer in the public eye.  With grace and dignity, Patrick found a way to battle his disease while pursuing his dreams and passion to the very end. The most important gift Patrick gave us was the reminder to live life to the fullest each and every day.

Choreographer Kenny Ortega had this to say “Patrick loved life, and had such an enthusiasm for everything he did. If he could climb it, he climbed it. If he could write it, he wrote it. If he could dance it, well, we all know he did. He lived.”

If I’ve learned nothing else in life from the deaths of many friends and family, it is to always live life to the fullest, relentlessly pursue your passions, be kind to others along the way, always be present in the moment and leave this world better than you found it.

For more on Patrick’s life.

My last entry was about the amazing in-person meeting of  our like-minded community. The “challenge” has officially ended, but I choose to see it as morphing into a beginning. The lessons learned were deep and lasting. For six months we were immersed in learning how to shut off the “mind chatter” and negative thoughts that creep into our habits–especially those we didn’t realize we had.

Since that time I’ve been busy putting into action all that I’ve learned, “re-learned”, and reawakened. I am currently transitioning from this blog into a hosted website that allows me a lot more flexibilty  www.iamsimplyd.com  My new home is a work in progress, I’m learning to use the amazing tools I have at my disposal so please bear with me during the construction.

I have to give a special shout out to Joel Comm. He doesn’t know me but I’ve been “following” him since last year. I’ve always been taught to learn from the best of the best. I choose my mentors in life very carefully. They must “walk the talk” and have “been there done that”. They must have integrity and a true passion for what they do.  Joel, like John Assaraf consistently displays this.

 http://www.joelcomm.com/my_best_day_ever.html  In a world where we are innundated with self proclaimed “gurus” in every arena, how do you choose who to trust? If you trust your gut and watch what is said vs what is done, your answer will become clear. Joel’s philosophy to life is in line with mine. What I am striving for in terms of financial succes in a BIG way is about what I can DO with it, where I can make a difference, how I can better serve. THAT is my “big fat why”. Thanks Joel for showing me that my gut was right about you.