Dream BIG

When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by

dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing,

then we truly live life.

 - Greg Anderson

(This article is personal to me and shares a painful experiences I went through along with the life changing decisions made after.)

Wow I LOVE this quote! If you have followed me for long at all you know that I am a sucker for a good quote or catch phrase.I keep a little journal of them so that if I am ever in need of motivation I can just flip to it and BOOM, there it is.  In January of 2011 my ex wife and I separated to begin our divorce. I felt like every dream, hope, and love I had was being destroyed all around me. So for the next several months I went through a personal hell that I tried hard to hide, poorly, with alcohol and living a life very close to the edge. I had given up all my REAL dreams, REAL goals. And as for love, pffff! It did not exist. Then I had a life changing moment ,which is not the focus here, and began to immediately reevaluate my life, decisions, goals, aspirations, and relationships. What I saw was that I had given up on everything that mattered. 

It was in this moment of self-realization that I started to dream and make goals again. It was as if someone had lit a match in my heart that had started an inferno.  From this inferno came an intense desire to make a difference in the world. I could start to visualize all my dreams and desires and seeing how to obtain them. I started to see the good in people again. I realized that people do hurt eachother but they also are the source of so much love and support, that to become cynical and unresponsive to them is self destructive. Without dreams to live for and love to receive and give, life is hollow and holds little meaning. The beauty this is that it's NEVER to late for you to shed the cynical attitude and thick hide that we use as protection from hurt. And to begin to be receptive and  receive the blessings that this life holds for all who can dream to receive them.

Don't let life get shatter or get in the way of you dreaming big. If you have a passion, pursue it with all your heart. No one just magically attains their goals and dreams it takes hard work and sacrifice. But in the end would you rather ask "What if?" or say "Glad I did!"

Without goals, dreams and love to live for, what are you living for? Dream BIG, love BIG, and live BIG. God bless!

Ethan R. Ames

Your Life is a Story Waiting to be Written...

"Your Life is a Story Waiting to be Written..."

This is a powerful statement when you think about it. After all if you read between the lines it is saying a couple incredible things to us.

#1. It is YOUR life. Ever heard or said these words to someone "It's my life, I'll do what I want". Normally this is statement of rebellion against some authority figure in your life, like a parent for example. However, I think it is really empowering when you embrace the idea that you control the direction of your life. So all the successes and failures you experience are a result of the direction you are steering your life. Personally, I navigate life aided by my belief in God and his eternal love and wisdom for us. If you do not follow any theology, like an atheist, then this statement is STILL just as valid. You believe in man's power over his own life and his decisions to either embrace a life of goodness or evil directly correlate to his successes or failures.

#2. It's a story. If you have ever read any book you know that for it to be interesting it needs depth, twists, emotional involvement, plot, supporting characters, antagonist, protagonist, etc... Now think of how interesting this book would be: A man/woman goes to work, comes home, eats fast food, plays video games/shops, drinks/drugs, goes to bed, repeat for a year. I think after one page of that drivel we would all put that book away or use it as fire kindling. So, why is it that so many people live their lives this way? Is it exciting? No. Are there emotional connections being made? No. Are there meaningful interactions? No.

You get the point. Life is made to be experienced. We have five senses; sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. Use them for more than the basic mundane activities of simply getting by. This world is majestic and full of adventure and new experiences around every corner. Get out there and start writing the best story that anyone will ever read. LIVE your life, Don't simply exist.

#3. It is waiting to be written.  Imagine a blank page of paper that gets magically filled with a story as you act it out. There is no erasing what has been written on this paper once it is committed. But there is the endless opportunity for you to change the narrative and story to your liking. We all make mistakes in life. We all do things that we may look back on later and think were rash or foolish. We also experience so many magical moments that we want to remember. This is your life. You can not change what is in the past. We are blessed with great memories to recall the amazing with the bad. We are also given the ability to control the future through our actions. Nothing is set in stone. Some of histories greatest figures were individuals that pulled themselves up from their bootstraps and rose to great heights. You have this same gift.

"Your life is a story waiting to be written. So go out and write an epic one." God bless.


Ethan R. Ames

First Post

You have great potential, do not be scared to live up to it. Take risks, the bigger the challenge, the greater the reward. ~ERA. #truth

So, here's the deal. In a world with a 24hr news cycle and a constant barrage of celebrity news and gossip from sites like TMZ and others. We are constantly hearing about the unbelievable lives of people who are portrayed to be so much "better" than us. All you hear about is how to "look like SO and SO, get ABS like Joe, or Make Money like Donald". It is great to aspire to better yourself financially, mentally, and physically. In fact I believe that it is a key part of living a happy and fulfilling life.

But realize that YOU are special and that no one is BETTER than you. Life is full of battles and obstacles to overcome, but look at these as opportunities to become a stronger individual. After all, how strong can you know you really are until tested. A muscle grows stronger by tearing its fibers and then growing back better than it was before. This is how our lives and we as human beings operate. We are tested, sometimes torn, and then when you make it through you come out on the other side stronger and better than you were before.

The greatest tragedy that any man or woman can make is to avoid these struggles for fear of failure. All this does is make you weaker and less able to stand up tall and strong in the world. It breaks my heart to see people suffering. Sometimes your challenge is to lift up those around you and not be afraid to put yourself in there place. Sometimes you are the person needing lifting up. 

So be strong, have faith, and know that whoever you are, wherever you are, and no matter how alone or weak and afraid you feel. There is at least one person in this world that is praying for you to succeed. And we may have never met face to face but I have love for you and if I met you tomorrow I would be happy to see another AMAZING human being. You have beauty and worth inside and out. 

Don't be afraid to live up to your potential.

Ethan R. Ames