Red Flags

At most intersections there is some sort of traffic control. Sometime it’s a stop sign, sometimes it’s a traffic light or a policemen directing traffic. When we approach these intersections we have a decision to make, do we follow the laws or do we speed through.

Many times we’re in a rush, running late, sometime we’re just not paying attention. We run through these traffic control devices that were put in place for our protection and the safety of others, hoping to arrive to our destination in one piece. Taking that chance can be deadly for all on the road that day. We’ve all at one time or another ran a light or stop sign and nothing happen. But what about that one time when that child is crossing the street. Think if you and another person in the intersection are both running late or not paying attention. The outcome can be deadly!

Life is no different we have a traffic controller in our hearts and minds, it’s called a conscience. When we come to an intersection in life and there’s possible danger, our conscience flashes a red flag. We’ve never actually seen the red flag but we all know what it is. It’s that little something that says stop, do not enter or proceed with caution. Not heeding this eternal warning system we all have can prove to be just as deadly as running a red light. So many people are affected by the decisions we make that it is imperative that we respect the red flags in our life. After all, the red flags are only there for our protection and the safety of others. ~ Tito

The Women in My Life

I lift weights, a fact that surprised my publicist. "You do?" she asked, politely. I answered, yes, and added, 'You probably can't tell can you?' She didn't answer. At least not right away.  

"You probably eat a lot of carbs."

'No,' I said. 'I eat junk.' And then I explained why I didn’t like regular food.

That's not right. I made excuses as to why I ate junk. I finally just blurted out, 'It's the women in my life...'

Oh, she was all ears at that point. She was probably waiting for me to blame my wife and my mother, but I didn't. Instead, I blamed Mrs. Smith (pies), Little Debbie, Dolly Madison and the Hostesses - those creamy-filled girls.

I probably should have blamed my lack of resistance when it comes to the 'women in my life.' It’s not ‘the women.’ It’s me.

Too often we blame people and things for what is clearly our problem. With me, it’s the junk food, but maybe with others it’s a lack of control with their tongues or temper; it could be a lack of control with substances like alcohol and drugs, and it could be something like working long hours over spending time with the family.

I admit to having a problem with the ‘women in my life,’ but until I admit that a lack of control is an issue, and take the necessary steps to solving that problem, guess what? It’s still a problem. Yes, I can exercise more often and vigorously but I don’t think that will help. I need to dump those chicks.

What do you think?

~ Tito

 

 

 

Ten Fingers, Ten Toes

What is your quality of life? 

What does the phrase quality of life mean to you? Is it where you live, the car you drive, how much money you have in the bank? Does your marital status determine your quality of life?             

I say none of the above. When we come into this world the first thing our mothers and fathers did was count fingers and toes. Simple, but what if there weren't ten of each? All concerns about us at that time were our health, yep basic health. We just want to be able to function normally in our day to day live. I want to see and hear clearly. I want to smell pancakes in the morning and taste them too. I need to feel the, well, let's just say I need my sense of touch. At any rate when we come to the end of this journey called life the only thing that matters is our health. Go to any hospital ICU or Nursing home hospice unit. Nothing else matters. The ups and downs, gains and losses are just the scenery in this journey. Enjoy the ride, learn as much as you can and teach whenever it's possible. Quality of life is ten fingers, ten toes and everything working in between.    

Ready to Win

If you play the lottery, then you understand my dilemma. Here it is: I'm tired of having only one number in the Mega Millions game. One number. The same number or so it seems.

They say insanity is doing the same thing the same way expecting different results. I'm beginning to think I'm insane to play Mega Millions when I always get just one number. One number. The same number.

Frankly, I'm not trying to keep hope alive in this economy by spending my hard-earned cash on lottery tickets - just to get one number. Two numbers, now that I think of it, will only keep me playing and hopeful. Three numbers will make me feel like my turn to win mega millions is right around the corner. But, one number makes me feel insane.

At the end of the day, this isn't about playing Mega Millions and winning the lottery. Nope, this is about life and winning. The odds of me winning Mega Millions is one chance in 175,711,536. The odds of me winning the game of life are whatever I choose them to be.

I could have it in my heart to be a millionaire but if all I do is go to work and collect a paycheck for $500 per week, every week, all year, I won't be a millionaire that way. Face it, you live to work and work to live. The bulk of that paycheck insures I have a roof over my head, food, gas in the car, a car and everything I need to get to work.

The question becomes what do I need to do to become a millionaire? Do I keep doing what I do expecting a different result or do I do what I do and work towards my dream?

What if it is in your heart to become a doctor but you haven't finished college? You can keep hoping and praying that circumstances will change and you will finish your degree and apply to medical school or you can take a step of faith and do what you have to do to finish college. Sometimes that secure thing in front of us can get in the way of our dreams.

Sometimes we have to adjust and make sacrifices and look at the bigger picture.

How bad do you want to win?

Look at the president-elect. When he committed to running for president, he stayed focused and he did everything he had to do to win, even if it meant that he had to change the way the game was played. He won.

Hell, I think I'm going to take some of my own advice and change the way the game is played too.

~Tito

Postscript: Okay, so I haven’t stopped playing the lottery, but I changed the game. I went to another area of town to purchase lottery tickets and decided to buy a ticket featuring a new game. Well, I instantly won $100. Joy, joy! Then I went to another store and bought a ticket for the same game and won another $100. Joy, joy, joy! Do I think I’ll always win when I play this game? Nope. All it did was renew my hope and refresh my insanity. I’m good for now. For now.