My Back 9

Hey there. It’s been quite a while since my last post. Yes, I know, I am not the typical blogger. I wonder if I could create a new trend for us folks who write longer pieces only once in a while. Perhaps, we could call it the “ back 9 nugget file ”. I welcome your suggestions, so please bring them on. I’m quite sure there are many aspiring writers who can’t seem to get their message across by pounding out piece after piece, day after day. For me, I can only seem to write when I get inspired to do so, and only when I really have something to say. I’ve never been one to journal, jot down short notes, etc... Nor do I have the time to write each day, due to the abundance of pressing items that occupy my time. Someday, I plan on carving out more time to write, and I very much look forward to those moments. I can see it now, sitting on my porch overlooking the golf course and the ocean, sipping my beverage, and knocking out line after line of my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books. OK, I’m ...

The concept of Stability’s Perception has been simmering in the space between my ears for about a week now. The connection and feelings that I have about the words I’m about to write are very strong, and I am hopeful that each of you will be able to glean something helpful from the following message. After all, this is what my writing is all about; helping others in their own journey as I draw upon references from my life, through thoughts, ideas, and perspective. This one feels really good, and the thought that immediately comes to mind has an interesting connection to the meatball recipe that my sister gave me a few weeks back. What?? Ok Tony, now you’ve really gone off the deep end man!! Stay with me. The recipe, which I can’t disclose ( sorry ), came not only with the ingredients, but also with cooking instructions. These instructions included the art of actually cooking the meatballs right in the gravy ( which is what Italians call Spaghetti Sauce ). The result is that th...

“ When your consciousness is directed outward, mind and world arise. When it’s directed inward, it realizes its own Source and returns home into the Unmanifested ” Eckhart Tolle The premise of detachment has been running through my cerebral cortex for the last several weeks. Accomplishing the most far-reaching goal of my entire life has had an interesting impact me, and it’s through this realization that I seem to have awakened in some way. I know that might seem a bit on the esoteric side, but bear with me for a while as I unpack my thoughts and attempt to explain. As many of you know by now, the goal I am referring to is the publishing of my first book, My Back Nine . It’s been about two weeks now, and I am still sort of numb to the fact that I actually accomplished this feat. Yes, I know, many people write books, but I have never really been that successful at setting long term goals, persevering through the trials and tribulations of a difficult endeavor, and ultimately achieving t...

The Sum of the Parts Equal the Whole I just spent the better part of the last three days goal setting for 2011. Sound familiar? Not sure about you, but I go through this painful exercise every year, and the endeavor is typically laced with trepidation. But this year was different; I think it just means more to me now and I planned for several weeks on giving this process the attention that it really deserves. I was aided by a very detailed and organized goal setting plan that I received from a colleague. This goal setting plan proved to be invaluable as it kept me aligned with exactly what I was trying to achieve. While I was plotting through the goal setting exercise it dawned on me that I was ( we are ) embarking upon an entirely new decade. That is, of course, if you start your decade’s correctly at the number one. In this case, the ten years starting with 2011 and ending with 2020. I should stop here, just for a moment of clarity for myself, and share some honesty with yo...

Where is home? Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with a million thoughts running through your head? I sure do, especially this time of year. My brain is so jam packed with thoughts about the upcoming Holiday season; I think I will explode if I don’t somehow figure out a way to get them down on paper. Thoughts of family ( mostly my children ), home, life stage, purpose, placement, and many others have kept me awake a few nights this week. I’m afraid it will last until 2011. At least that’s the way it has been for the last several years. I have no idea how this piece will turn out, but I do know it will be different from the others I have written. You see, mostly I write from a place of inspiration. Today is a bit different. Today I feel like asking questions, contemplating on this topic, working and writing through my own “stuff”, in an attempt to gain some insight on this strange place people call “ HOME .” Not sure if it will work, but I’m at least hopeful t...

As usual, the writing of this post comes to me on the heels of an inspiring message. A deep and meaningful message that usually starts in my mid-section, marinates a bit as it rises up through my chest and throat, and eventually finds it's resting place in my brain. Perhaps my brain size is smaller than some, because I inevitably need to release this matter from my brain; as it shoots down my arm, into my hands and fingers, and ultimately makes it way to my PC. The words I am writing have been in me for some time, but I have suffered from a serious mental block over the last several months. You know how it goes; life just always seems to get in the way. A new job, constant financial pressures accompanied by a bad economy, an over-whelming new travel schedule, another move ( yes…..again ), 5 children, etc...always seem to take center stage and the all important personal growth comes to a halt. Well, maybe it doesn’t, but it sure feels like that at times. This piece is bringing...

Have you ever said to yourself, “ How much more can one person handle ?” Or maybe, “ How much capacity do I really have ?” Do you sometimes feel that the magnitude of your circumstances are just too much too bear? Do you feel that your life has become so complicated and the hole so deep that the light at the end of the tunnel has become unrecognizable? Well, if you have ( or have had ) these feelings of despair, you are certainly not alone. Most people have these feelings at some point in their lives, especially those of us facing mid life difficulties. Children growing up, parents aging, people in our lives dying, career changes, financial difficulties, relationship difficulties; just to name a few. The bottom line is that everyone has a story, and everyone deals with pain and hardship. The real question becomes, “ How do we deal with it ?” To dive even deeper, “ Are we even built to deal with it ?” I was having lunch with the pastor of my church a few weeks back, and we talk...