You Aren't Dead Yet!

Had a thought today:

I'm tired of running into people who feel like they're at a dead end in their lives. They spend too much time saying things like "I'm a bad person," "I'm not good enough," or "I don't deserve ___." I also can't stand it when they act and talk like they know what they want, and yet never do anything to make it happen. There are people walking around, saying they're positive--but really, they're not, because they lack self-belief and they don't ask God for help. 

As Catholics/entrepreneurs/people who want to be great in what we do AND great at life, we know we aren't perfect. We know we have to keep pushing forward. Always. Always feeding our minds. Always taking risks. Always looking several steps ahead or just plunging forward when we know we have to. We do what we have to do when--or close to when--we have to do it.

I think we should encourage other people to do the same. We should encourage other people to break their own molds. If there are people around whom you usually bite your tongue, now is the time to charitably speak up--or walk away.

If YOU are one of those people who need to break out of feeling stuck financially; who keep making the same huge mistakes; who feel lost in your own mind; who feel discouraged because you think you lack luck or "good karma"; if you aren't where you want to be--if you feel like you aren't good/smart/successful enough--FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO CHANGE, and never stop reaching for where you need to be.

Les Brown memorably said: 

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry our their dream.”

YOU ARE NOT DEAD YET. You are not what happened to you, and you, through God's grace, control who you are in the present and future. Stop making excuses, and stop settling for mediocrity.

(This is me standing outside of Notre Dame about 24 hours before ISIS attacked Paris. I'll be writing a post about all that soon...I hope.)

I honestly feel like I had a close shave coming out of Paris. I know that God got me out of there right on time for a reason--I also think he let me experience that kind of scare for a reason. He reminded me that he MADE me for a reason, and that I shouldn't spend my life living in a bubble of mediocrity because of my own lack of self-belief.

He made you for a reason, too. Break your mold today! You are meant for more. 

A Glimpse into My Stay in Narita, Japan

Pictures of Japan and the amazing bed and breakfast in which we stayed for the brief time that we were there.

 Can you see the mountain?

 Our awesome, lockwood cabin in Narita, Japan. The man who owns this home provides rides to and from the airport, airport, and bikes! Look it up on AirBnB!

 I love riding bikes in foreign countries.

 We rode through beautiful farmland.

 And bought awesome food at the supermarket.

 I have a thing for staircases.

 Our host was a great cook!

Got some work done before we headed out for our flight to Moscow.

Hope you liked the pictures!

Victory Lap: One Year Later

I have the unfortunate gift of remembering the dates upon which unpleasant things happen to me. I wish I could remember my credit card number, or the good idea I had a couple hours ago, or the order of my schedule tomorrow, but no--I just remember unpleasant dates, like August 10, because of what happened on that day almost exactly one year ago. 
I was lying in my bed, barely able to move because an unwelcome feeling of certainty had found its way into the pit of my stomach. For some reason, I knew. I just knew. It was over. There hadn't been a fight, a disagreement, or even a conversation. Just silence. Enough silence for me to know that, without even an explanation or a goodbye, the guy I'd been dating for several months had decided to disappear from my life.
Thinking about the details of that day and the days of the first few weeks that followed it is never a good idea, so, of course I won't go into it here. But, boy, do I remember that day. And today, I'm actually kind of glad that I do remember it. Here's why:
My life completely changed after that. I'm looking back now, a year later, and I'm grinning. Writing this post to gloat is not my intention--I'm writing this post for you, dear reader, so that you might take heart (if you've ever been in my situation) and truly know that a breakup (even with someone you thought things would work out with) is NOT the end of the bloody world.
After August 10, 2014 happened, I looked at where I was at in life, and I realized that everything needed to change. I needed to change. It wasn't that I was bad, or lazy, or stupid or anything like that. I just wasn't...enough. I wasn't enough for me. I wasn't enough for God. And not living up to my potential or believing in my better future had abruptly landed me in a very sad situation, which I knew I didn't deserve. I needed to change everything. So change everything, I did. I took off like a rocket.
You've heard bits of this story before, or maybe you haven't: travel, business, creativity, family, friends, epiphanies, blessings, improvement, momentum, excitement, advenures, God--happiness. I have it all, and I'm gunning for more, because--Why not? And it's not worth it to "settle"; it's not worth it to not strive for God's dream for you. Trust that God wants to make you happy.
I'll close by showing you where I was the night before August 10, 2015--and the only thing in my stomach then was good food and whole-hearted contenment.

(Me, posing by a stairway after a grandiose wedding in Alabang, Philippines, after having eaten a delicious dinner and watched an amazing fireworks display, August 9, 2015)

I was at this wedding on August 11, St. Philomena's feast day, by the way, which is super cool because she's the patroness of young people ;)

What Gives You the Right?

So many people these days don't do what it takes to change where they're at financially. They boldly, with no real reason other than fear or comfort, refuse to take action or accept the opportunities that come their way. They act like they have a choice. They act like things are going to just keep falling into their laps and that their parents will never stop supplying their every need.
That is DELUSIONAL. And selfish.
What gives you (and me) the right? What makes us think we have the right to reject opportunity? To avoid risk? To avoid doing necessary things that scare us? To refuse to work harder and faster and smarter?
If you're a lay person (a man especially), married or single, it's your responsibility to take advantage of opportunities and make money. Why? Because money is a real way to contribute. To your family and to people in need.
Stuff happens. People get sick, houses burn down, storms destroy villages, children are born--What are you doing to make sure you're ready?
Money gives you options. Especially if you have a lot of it. I don't want to be stuck, scratching for a dollar, when I could be somewhere else, doing something meaningful. I'm doing what I can now to build wealth because, soon, I want to have the choice to drop everything when necessary, to go and be of service to other people--instead of being too stressed with being broke to think beyond how much money I wish I had in my wallet.
Hope that made sense.

Don't Give Up On Anybody

I heard a great quote last night that applies to the story I'm going to tell in this post:

The other day I received an emergency call from a friend who was feeling suicidal. I did my best to communicate with him based on what I knew his problems were and I decided to be very straight with him about the fact that he kept pushing God away because of his misconceptions about God.

Today, my friend messaged me and basically said he has a new, positive outlook on life. I know he is still in need of conversion, but I've sent him a Bible verse and told him to offer his suffering to God for the sake of others (both via text), and he didn't ridicule me for it, so that's a good sign.

I brought this up for this reason: I wanted to share how I came to realize what my distant-from-God, suicidal friend needed to hear from me and see me do. I hope you find the following outline helpful when you face a similar situation:

1) I prayed for him right in front of him at a point when I felt like I had run out of things to say.

2) I told him to stop sabotaging himself with negativity and making the same mistakes. He ended up pausing and then saying, "Tell me how to stop. Please. Because I don't know."

3) I told him that he was rejecting knowing more about God than he'd learned in childhood, or through his personal opinions.

4) I asked him if he believed in hell and the devil (even though he said he did, he still toyed with the idea of heaven or hell not really existing). But I asked him this so that I could point out that the devil was attacking him and that the devil hated God. He admitted that, since the devil hated God, the devil hated man kind as well. Even if my friend didn't fully accept God's true nature in that moment, what's important is that my friend was using logic to realize God might actually care about him.

5) I couldn't dwell on just one thing with my friend. He was always trying to find a way to justify his feelings, so I kept pushing, and I called him out every time i sensed him denying mercy or sabotaging himself.

6) Finally, I got to the point when I asked him, "Don't you want to be happy? Don't you want to be happy after you die?" I asked him this because he kept saying that he wanted to be happy, but never seemed to be abel to get ahead in life. He answered, "Yes." I also said suicide could land him in hell, where he would be unhappy, and that it was a sin to bet on God's mercy in the process of contemplating suicide.

7) After that, I had to switch gears and dig a little deeper, so I asked him, "WHAT do you WANT?" He said "I don't know... What do YOU want?" I said I wanted to go to heaven and I wanted my friends and family to go to heaven. And then he said, "I actually want to make sure my family and friends go to heaven, too." And then I said it was our job, as friends whom God most likely brought together, to get each other into heaven, and he seemed to agree with that.

8) Throughout it all, I kept deflecting his "I have no hope" attitude by making him see that, if he indeed had no hope, he would never have called me. And he was never able to deny that I was right about that. And with that in mind, I was able to get through to him and talk to him long enough for him to get through a really tough few hours.

9) I told him that i wasn't just trying to come up with smart answers to his objections, and he nodded and said, "I know." So I knew he was really taking in everything i said.

So, I told him I would help him clear up some clutter in his life, and after that we ate spaghetti!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for us!

Little Adventures: Strangers and Turtles

I'm not sure what this place is called, but it basically overlooks Talofofo Bay (Maybe it's called Talofofo Bay Overlook? Ha.) I had a little adventure there yesterday afternoon just before sunset that I thought I'd share with you guys.

That morning I'd just finished rereading the Harry Potter series (Don't lie, you do it too.), and that afternoon, I worked down on the southeastern side of the island. Whenever I read fiction, I always feel like writing some of my own (which is why I sometimes avoid reading fiction, because writing takes my mind away from business...which is bad for business), so I made the decision to spend some downtime at the beach. First Beach, my first choice (haha), was already a bit crowded, so instead I pulled over at the Talofofo Bay overlook, brought a notebook and pen with me to the precipice (I like that word), and sat down on the barrier, ready to enjoy the view and write a few pages of what might just turn out to be a load of useless fiction (Not everything I write is genius, I admit.)

I was not alone. There was a man there who seemed to be surveying the area. I'd noticed the name of some sort of company on the side of his truck (can't remember the name), so I decided not to mind his presence and get on with what I wanted to do. He was about to leave, however, when he called out to me: "Would you like me to take a picture of you? That looks like a great picture."

In my head I was like, "Crap, he thinks I'm a tourist." But then, I decided to take advantage of his offer and gave him my phone. When he finished taking the picture, he introduced himself, shook my hand, and left.

After writing a bit, I got up to take some pictures of the misty look that was settling over the mountains. The mountains through which Cross-Island Road cuts always start to look kind of misty around 6:00-7:30 PM, and it always looks awesome. I got up and walked to the opposite side of the overlook and started taking pictures, but, as I did so, I was interrupted from my nature excursion by yet another stranger.

"Do you want to see sea turtles? Here, look!" Another man had appeared and was making his way toward me. He joined me at the very end of the barrier, climbed and stood on top of it and, holding onto a metal pole that stood near him, told me to do the same. Naturally, I thought he was going to lure me onto the barrier and push me over the edge, where I would meet my untimely and totally unsought death. That didn't happen, though.

I climbed up and stood next to him on the barrier. "I'm Apache. I'm from Tali," he said. Name and residence: two important elements to social introductions on Guam. I said, "I'm Jess. I'm from Agat." I also had to explain that, no, I'm not military. Some of you can relate. 

Anyway, this interesting being pointed down into the water, which was yards and yards below us, and showed me how to spot the sea turtles that were beginning to come to the surface. They were hard to see at first, but after a minute, it became easier to spot the dark outlines of the green sea turtles swimming against the current, out into the open ocean. We saw three of them! Apache explained that he was a hunter and a fisher: I knew he wasn't watching turtules for fun--But it was fun for me! And when I'd had my fill, I thanked him for the experience and went on my way, feeling very, very glad that I'd pulled over to do some writing at Talofofo Bay instead of speeding past it, like I usually do, on my way home.

Take advantage of little adventures!

The Art of Conquering Fear

(Me, posing with the piece I submitted to Solace. The exhibit will be up in CAHA in Agana for the entire month of May.)

I've come to notice how big of a role fear plays in our perception of what we can and cannot do or have in life. "I can't do___," someone would say to me in response to a question as to why they don't try something that might help them out in a challenging situation. "Why?" I would ask. And they would respond, "Because I'm scared of___." And then, at that point, I have to ask myself if there's any point to saying anything more.  The admission of fear is an indication of a mental block that person has already created and fortified. 

Fear isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can be, in fact, extremely useful. The other day, for example, I was giving advice to a friend, encouraging him to take on more responsibilities in his workplace. He leaned over after a few minutes and asked, "Do you ever...feel scared?" And I said, "Yes!" Instantaneously, I thought of many of the things I do and have and realized that fear had always stood between me and those things. Identifying that fear, however, is what helped me smash through my mental blocks and achieve what I've done and gain what I have.

Fear points directly at what is holding us back. It indicates your target. Attack it! Break through to a more awesome life, and stop letting fear hold you back! (Easier said than done, but, c'est la vie!). I'm dwelling on this today because I recently faced a real fear--although no one would have realized how big this fear was for me.

I participated in an art show. It could have turned out to be completely absurd. I don't paint or draw or anything like that. But I like to take pictures, and I had a nice picture that I'd taken with my phone. I had an idea involving this picture in my head, and in my head it would have stayed, had I not chosen to act. Within the span of a few days, I decided to exhibit this picture in an art show and print one of my poems over it. I didn't know exactly how I was going to do it, or how it would turn out, or how much it would cost to print, or where I could get a decent frame; but, somehow, through random conversations and fast thinking and driving around the island more than my gas tank would have liked, I managed to produce a printed and framed piece that turned out to look pretty good, even though it wasn't exactly what I'd had in my head at first.

So up the picture went, hanging on its own space at the art show, and though I felt rather proud of myself, there lingered, still, that unmistakable sensation of fear: I felt like a fraud. I was no artist. And I wasn't sure if the content of my picture and my poem would "jive" well enough with the theme of the art show (which was mothers, daughter, and victims of human sex trafficking--Heavy stuff, right?). I wasn't sure if this poem-picture mash-up would work well either. These fears had dogged me from the moment I'd decided to participate in the art show, but I'd seen the fear for what it was and broken through it as I acted on my plans.

The result? Success! I watched at the opening of the art show as people leaned in toward my simple picture and poem, read the words carefully, nodded to themselves as though they'd just received some sort of insight into life and murmured, "I like this one..." Wow. It was so gratifying. So affirming for me. I mentally thanked myself for not listening to the fearful voices in my head that had plagued me previously. There had been so many moments when I almost backed out, so many "reasons"--I was too busy, it was too last-minute, I didn't have anything to contribute. But I didn't let that get in the way, and now, I can look back with satisfaction and know that I had, in a small way, mastered the art of conquering fear. And now, since I acted on one of my creative ideas and experienced success, I feel like a whole new set of opportunities have opened up to me!

What are some situations where you had to conquer your fears? Let me know in the comments!

The Pain of Desire

I just finished watching a Dale Partridge video in which he encouraged transparency in blog posts, so I'm going to go ahead and be transparent:
I AM FREAKING OUT!!!

The deadlines for two of my biggest goals this year (increasing my Thrive clientele and saving up enough for my business/family trip in November) are fast approaching, and I'm just trying to stay on track! I feel like I've had a crash course in marketing and creative thinking, trying to find ways to give more value so that I can truly make this year different. 

At the same time that this experience is driving me nuts, it has also helped me digest more deeply something I sort of already knew: There's no push without the pain of desire.

I'm pushing so hard right now. Pushing for results. I'm trying to make sure I make every contact I can, and edifying my services as much as I can. I'm even pushing myself to create products for my Auribus brand (more on that later). 

Fear is a great motivator, but, with the help of Denise Duffield-Thomas, I've been able to find motivation and a sense of calm through pinpointing my desires. I pinpointed one specific desire: I want to make sure my youngest sister can join me for part of my trip in November. This desire is so painful (it would SUCK if I failed!!!), I've been able to push forward with more clarity and confidence while I dedicated every little, painful, frustrating step to being able to go on vacation with my sister. It even made my money goal for the month seem more attainable!

Pinpoint what your desires are. Comment below and tell me what some of your most important goals for 2015 are! Are they specific enough? Write them out and tape them to your wall where you can see them everyday. Use your desires to push you to where you need to be.

Post Breakup Struggle Tip #4: You Are Not a Victim!

This is the part where you start to realize it--although I hadn't thought of it this way until one of my sane, close friends came out and told me so!

You are NOT a victim. It doesn't matter what happened. Don't think of yourself in that way. You're already making a come-back, you're already making plans, you're already improving yourself and positively impacting the people around you. You are a dynamic human being. 

There are no impossibilities; only challenges! Why settle for victimhood when you can be victorious?

Feedback: Have a victory story? Feel free to share it in the comments!

Post Breakup Struggle Tip #3: Transform Your Emotional Energy

If you're crazy, hurt, sad, frustrated, and/or confused after a breakup, then odds are you have A LOT of emotional energy. Not physical. Emotional. All kinds of stuff is thundering around inside, and it's probably excreting in the form of depression, garrulousness, over-eating, rebounding...

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

You're a human being, and, as such, you're capable of taking control of your thoughts, actions, and energy flow. Breakups are awesome in that they can supply you with a lot of emotional energy, which, when combined with a vision and focus, can result in major, positive life changes and progress. The last (and I hope it's the last) time I found myself in the immediate post-breakup zone, I saved hundreds of dollars, traveled to three different states, visited family, shadowed at two PHC's (pregnancy help centers), attended a huge business conference, made new friends, read new books, and started/restarted a few projects.

How did I do it, and all in less than three months? I transformed my negative emotional energy into positive emotional energy. What are some of your projects? What can you start or get involved in? What are your dreams and goals? Who can you meet/help/share with? Where can you go? Start imagining and planning. "Write it down, make it happen!"

In short: Realize your potential. Something that you'll come to see is, that, perhaps, your ex-girlfriend or boyfriend wasn't meant to join you in your greatness, although they may have given you a push toward it. You'll begin to see, too, that God is leading you in a certain direction, and them in another. 

Transform your energy. Take this advice, and you'll start to feel more like yourself than ever.

Post Breakup Struggle Tip #2: Don't Over-Examine the Details

After talking to a few good people and getting a handle on the situation, you have to commit to not over examining the details. Don't think about your relationship, don't think about your ex. Remembering detailed scenes and conversations will only intensify your sense of loss and increase any negative feelings you might be dealing with. Don't look at old messages or pictures. If you are sure--without a false hope--that the relationship is over, delete/hide/destroy (whatever the case may be) everything. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, phone number, email, everything.

Why?

To teach yourself to let go and eliminate an attachment that has now become unhealthy. It won't take long for you to feel glad that you took this bit of advice.

Delete friends and avoid certain social scenes and circles, if you have to. You want to be even-tempered and focused on having a good future--not one spattered by the wreckage of a relationship that, actually, no longer exists. The details have lost their worth. Besides, forgetting makes it easier to forgive.

Post Breakup Struggle Tip #1: Talk Enough to the Right People

If you're a human, you know what I mean when I say it's hard to keep it to yourself when you're experiencing emotional turmoil. That's what hard times do to you. After my first relationship, I realized that it was important to talk about how I felt. After my second, I decided only to talk enough, and only to the right people.

I went in search of guidance, reason, and just enough wise reassurance to know what to make of the confusing situation I was left in. I talked to the people I knew I could get those things from. I evaluated each person I spoke to based on the result I might get by talking to them--and I also felt I could trust their insight. When you only talk enough and only to the right people, you're stopping the bleeding and closing the wound, as opposed to getting angrier, more emotional, and--if you talk too much--annoying. Don't magnify an already disturbing experience. Let your conversations result in real calm, clarity, acceptance, and reassurance.

Keep in mind that you are looking for value, not an opportunity to bash your ex or make yourself crazy.

Suggested confidant:

• a priest you trust
• a parent
• close, sane friends
• people you trust who've been there done that
• people in you ex's family, if they're sane
• your ex's friends, if they're reasonable
• God

10 Tips for the Post-Breakup Struggle: Preface

Too much sunlight!!! But...I still like this picture.

I cannot say that I am the best at avoiding relationships that quickly go south. Each time I have agreed to date someone, it was always done with sincerity and with an end-goal in mind. Most of us are like that. We're careful, methodical. We hope and pray. A lot.

But it happens: We experience a breakup at some point and realize the crap has hit the fan.

While I may not be able to talk about what it's like to get it right when choosing to date someone, I feel reluctantly qualified in the post-breakup department.

So, read my next 10 posts, if you know the struggle (I'd like to meet someone over the age of 17 who doesn't). The following tips can be followed in order or simultaneously. They really work, I've got to say; it's proven every time one of my friends say to me, "You really do seem so much happier!" 

Here's a list of what you have to look forward to.

10 Tips for the Post-Breakup Struggle:

1. Talk enough to the right people.
2. Do not over examine the details.
3. Transform your emotional energy.
4. You are not a victim!
5. Take what was good and leave the rest.
6. Disown emotionally perturbed thoughts and own your reality.
7. Recite repetitive prayers spontaneously.
8. Jesus is too present in your life for you not to be okay.
9. Jesus, I trust in You!
10. It's a process.

Latin in the Mass: Part 2

(My 1962 Missal opened to the "Gloria".)

Language preserves tradition. In the Latin Mass, I learned how to worship God with the adoration and respect the Church has always shown Him. Latin helps remind us to keep what is sacred as sacred. It doesn’t damage or diminish holiness and tradition by changing in meaning or structure. For example, in the Masses said in the vernacular, we used to say, “And also with you,” when the priest said, “Peace be with you.” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had that changed to the traditional and literal translation. So now we say, “And with your spirit.” In the Latin Mass community, I never had to wake up one day and find out I had been saying the wrong stuff in Mass my whole life. In Latin, it was always “And with your spirit” (Et cum spiritu tuo), and it always will be.

Just as in the non-Latin Masses, at the Latin Mass, missals are always available. The Latin missal has the Latin right beside the literal English translation of what is going on in the Mass. It can be a little tricky to follow along at first, but the more you expose yourself, the easier it will become. It took one of my friends just three visits to the Latin Mass to get the hang of it. Just a few months later, he was able to say many of the responses from memory. Sometimes I don’t even use a missal because I’ve been able to memorize the responses and the different parts of the Mass as well. Murmuring responses like, “Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis,” has become like second nature to me and to everyone else who has been introduced to the Latin Mass over the last few years.

I feel as though going to the Mass in Latin has helped me nurture a mature relationship with God and the saints. I feel as though I’ve developed a deep understanding of God’s Plan and my role as a lay Catholic in our troubled modern world. It has made the Sacrifice of the Mass come alive for me and reminds me that my life is something that belongs to God. When you go to your first Latin Mass allow yourself to be transported. Allow yourself to learn more about your God and your faith through mystery and tradition. Allow yourself to be taken up, to participate in the sacred, to experience unity and continuity, to worship God in the most respectful way we know how. “Commune with your God.” (1962 Missal) It won’t be long before you reach an understanding you never thought was possible.

Latin in the Mass: Part 1

(My Latin Mass community, December 2014)

Since the 3rd century A.D. and up until the year 1965, the Mass was said in Latin. For the first 300 years in the history of the Church, much of the Mass was said in Greek, but for the almost 1600 years following, the Mass was in Latin. And yet, during this time, the Church grew explosively. Interestingly, today, many people balk at the idea of hearing the Mass in Latin. When I invite people to the Latin Mass, they usually say, “It’s in a language I don’t understand!” Although I am a young Catholic who does not speak Latin as a first language, and who understands very little of it, I tend to view the Traditional Latin Mass in a different light.

Many Masses are said all over the world in many different languages. Not everyone in all those Masses understands the languages being used, but, they still feel blessed, they still know the actions at Mass--what is happening at Mass. For example, on Guam, Chamorro is spoken even though not all people on Guam understand it. In fact, most people on Guam speak English. If someone from Korea or Vietnam or other parts of Micronesia goes to a Mass that is said in English, is it less of a Mass for them? Even native English speakers--do they understand everything that goes on in an English Mass? This is why the celebrant explains the Mass and Church teachings in their sermons, which is what our Traditional Latin Mass priests do for us.

As a matter of fact, when all the Masses were in Latin, it created a unifying experience. Latin is the language of the universal Church, the Catholic Church. In Guam, right now, people who are concerned about cultural identity are scrambling to teach young Guamanians to speak Chamorro. Why is language so important to this effort to re-establish cultural identity? Well, one of the reasons is that language often nurtures unity. “One island. One people.” I think I saw that on a billboard in Yona somewhere. Unity helps a people and its culture to not only survive, but to thrive. It keeps reality from turning into memory and then into myth. If unity is so terribly important to a small island in the South Pacific, it seems that it should be just as important to the one, universal Church.

I’m an experienced “Latin Masser” now, but that was not always the case. I remember saying the Mass in English as a child. Even today, since Latin Masses are extremely limited, I often go to Masses that are said in English. I’ve come to realize, however, that when you experience the Latin Mass, you experience something peculiar. I’ve heard people express this peculiarity in different ways. “I thought I was in pre-War Agana,” someone once told me after his first Latin Mass just a few months ago. Another friend said she felt like she’d been transported back to ancient times. Those were interesting comments because the popes and the saints themselves have talked about how the tradition of the Mass keeps us in touch with our Catholic roots: it keeps us in touch with saints of the distant past, with the Early Church, with the Last Supper itself because of the manner in which it is said, because of the formula we now call “traditional”. The Latin Mass I attend is the Mass of the young Karol Wojtyla, of St. Padre Pio, of St. Thomas Moore, of St. Francis, of St. Anthony... There isn’t a single saint in the book who did not experience the Latin Mass. The Latin in the Mass is timeless and unchanging while vernacular languages are always changing with time. Latin links us with our Catholic heritage while the vernacular severs us from it. Somehow, I can’t imagine myself shouting, as  Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati did, “Yes! He is the King of Kings!” after experiencing a Mass that was said in colloquial Italian instead of archaic Latin--Which brings me to another point...

...Stay tuned for part 2!

Year-End Mastermind Party Program

(What is your word of the year?)

I started 2015 off right with a Year-End Mastermind Party. We had it potluck-style, in the evening, at my house. We ate and chatted first, and then we got down to business.

(My Year-End Mastermind party, January 2015.)

There is untold power hidden within the folds of a mastermind group. Here's a suggested format you can use to uncover some of that goodness at your first/next mastermind party:

Bring:

Notebook and pen

Program:

• 7:30-8:00 Potluck and socializing
• 8:00-9:00 Round-the-Table Discussion
• Did you achieve last year's goals?/Evaluate how you did last year in terms of your goals.
• What is your focus for the new year? (business idea/ goal/ plan)
• What is your word for the year? (Your word for the year is like an affirmation; it backs up your focus and your belief in your abilities. My word for the year is "win" because I want to win in all of my endeavors.)
• 9:00-10:00 Listen to Audio: 
• "Biscuits, Fleas, and Pump-handles" by Zig Ziglar was played.
• 10:00-11:00 Round-the-Table Discussion
• Talk about a few of the notes you took during the audio presentation. What did you get out of it? How does it apply to you/make you think/make you feel? What does it make you think of? (This is just a great time to hear what resonates with the different people in the room.)

A goal-setting printable was provided at the end of the meeting so that everyone could take it home and work on it.

This format can be used for annual, bi-annual, and quarterly mastermind meetings, with a few variations. Hope you got an idea of what you can do! I'll be sharing the weekly mastermind format soon!

Note: When the discussions are taking place, although the flow is conversational, we try to let everyone speak one at a time.

2015: So Far, So Good

I added up my earnings for 2014, and I realized I'd made about the same amount I'd made in 2013. 

It's time to up the ante. 

This year, I want to see my income double, if not triple. So I went ahead and set my monthly, weekly, and daily income goals in order to achieve the yearly income I am after. 

If you haven't made time to do that yet, make sure you do it soon. Get back into the swing of things with your eyes on a solid monetary goal. Your income doesn't have to be as low as it was last year!

Apart from the financial side of things, how is your 2015 going so far?

I decided to evaluate the last 10 days, and I've decided that I've had an awesome start. I've been running (metaphorically) hard from the time midnight hit on the 1st of January. Hopefully, you'll begin to see the little baby ideas I have for myself take flight in the next few months because I've been working hard on setting myself up for success in 2015. I've been masterminding, improving this blog, choosing and building up new streams of income, preparing to phase out old ones, and working on being more organized and systematic. I'll be able to share some life-changing systematizing methods with you all some day soon.

(1,000 pageviews at last!)

On the faith, fun and health side of things, I've been able to go to Mass a few times, and I got to go to Adoration with the Catholic Apolos and introduce someone to the concept of wearing the veil. We also got to have a study session on the Eucharist. 

(Homeschool sessions)

I've been reading The Borrowers with my youngest siblings and doing some homeschooling with them, and I even had a friend and her daughter over for a homeschooling sesh!

(My brother working on his spelling skills)

I did three 10-minute yoga sessions by myself this week, which really helps me loosen up (yoga stretches are great for those of us who don't have much muscle or endurance, haha). I attended an open mic, I walked and swam at the beach, I attended a couple of fun fundraisers with my friends, and now I'm just hoping you got some kind of value out of this blog post.

(Thursday Night Open Mic at Java Junction)

(Fujita Beach)

(Cranberry juice with a splash of vodka. Yum!)

I guess I'm just counting my blessings!

It's within your power to create a powerful and happy 2015!

Q6:"What is your long-term goal?"

December 17, 2014 marked my first anniversary as an entrepreneur and college drop-out. I invited friends to ask me about my journey. Here is the sixth of the series of questions and my response:

Q6:"What is your long-term goal?"

Freedom. I'm pretty sure I knew that when I was a kid, but throughout the ambiguity of my teenager-hood to adulthood, my goal in life became rather unclear. I think I've spent the last two years digging it up again, and now, whenever I remember it, it takes me by surprise. Losing your dream for a while also makes it hard for you to believe in it, so I'm working on that, too: I believe I am meant to be free!

(Me posing at the "My cause is" wall inside the Amway Headquarters in Ada, Michigan, October 2014.)

Let me tell you what I mean by "freedom." I mean that I want to get to a point where money is no object and where I have time to do things that I actually care about instead of spending most of my time working on making money. The more money you have, the less time you spend worrying about how you're going to pay the bills next month. Money gives you options, the freedom to act on your dreams. 

(Read more here.)

When I get my freedom, I won't have to say, "I can't afford to go on that trip" or "I can't afford to build a house" or "I'll never be able to help other people in the way that I want to." There are hundreds--maybe thousands--of good, wealthy people out there who have that freedom, and the difference between us and them is that, while we're busy doubting ourselves, they're asking themselves, "Why not me? Why not now?" Ask yourself those questions, then ask yourself what freedom means to you.

(Click on this video to let Jim Rohn ask you a few important questions.)

These days we hear a lot of people talk about how rich people are evil and the poor are being cheated out of getting a piece of the wealth the rich enjoy. We hear a lot of people talk about how they think Communism is the answer and how Capitalism doesn't work. If you happen to be one of those people, I'd like to invite you to let Earl Nightingale change your mind. 

(Click here to let Earl change your mind.)

Need more convincing?

 

(Just in case you needed more convincing...) 

So, basically, if you aren't rich yet, it's nobody's fault but yours. And one of the best way to help other succeed is to help yourself succeed first. The best way to help someone climb a mountain is to lead the way. 

Aside from the common sense perspective provided in the excellent talks posted above, I'd like to explore the Catholic perspective with you a little bit. 

(Read more about St. Josemaria Escriva here.)

I myself have much to learn, but I get the idea that God wants us to take it upon ourselves to become saints, and sainthood isn't acquired by faith alone. It comes, in part, through works. "Works" doesn't just apply to charitable works (ie. Corporal Works of Mercy), it also applies to the work that we do to make money. So we must sanctify our work--offer it up for the glory of God and make sure it aligns with His Will. Perhaps God has led you to the work that you are doing now. If that's the case, quit wasting time, because He's waiting on you to make things happen. It is through us that He accomplishes many of His own works. Zig Ziglar says that he believes God wants you to succeed. 

(John Paul II giving both spiritual and practical advice, as usual.)

So don't settle! Claim your God-given freedom and don't let anybody take it away from you. There's a lot of work out there for us to do, a lot of people out there for us to help, and some really big dreams for us to reach in the process. Decide what your own long-term goals are and, as Dexter Yager says, "Get the heartbeat for freedom!"