While society chooses to describe success in terms of money and material, the only true success that we can experience as people is that of relationships. How people describe you and who they know you as is more important than anything that you may own. Things will fade, but your reputation will be what you choose for it to be.
When a person can be seen as they want to be seen, they have achieved more than most people will ever know – even when what others see is only a facet of who that person is. (Click on the titles for a YouTube video.) |
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The Mickey Mouse Club March – Growing up, I was always associated with Disney. There was a time when I tried to hide the part that loved Disney. Fortunately, I realized the futility of such a move and have embraced an important part of myself.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – This is a song that my sister recommended. She says that there is no place like home, and she would like to see me there.
Playground in my Mind – This song represents a time in my childhood when stuffed animals were alive. Michael was a wooden wall decoration that I had. I am glad that I have been able to keep many of my childlike qualities including my imagination.
Lost in the Ozone Again – suggested by my stepdad, this song represents my idealism. Being idealistic in an ever decaying world is one of the most difficult things to achieve. I know how things could be, and I continue to hope and work toward a better world.
One Voice – there have been several instances where my voice was the lone voice raised against an initiative. Many times afterwards, I found that others were in agreement with what I had stood up for.
Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – I sang this song to my grandma when she would come pick me up for the weekend. As I grew up, I grew apart from that side of my family. I have been able to recover those relationships to experience a fuller life.
I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing – This song represents my Peace Corps service and one reason for going to Guinea. Maybe I was unable to teach the world to sing, but I made some friends and learned some valuable lessons.
The Celtic Collection reminds me of my geocaching adventures. Captain Angry Ballz and I would go to various places in Alaska just to find geocaches. We found a cache that had a Celtic cassette in it and that became our music for adventuring.
I began my college career in 1990. I met a group of people that loved Disney films, and we hung out in the cafeteria, had a Christmas with the “Little Mermaid” and generally enjoyed each other’s company. Our favorite game was to bring the conversation to the lowest common denominator. It was a game that I continually won because I could bring the conversation down without using any swear words. It was that year that I learned that I didn't want to be someone who used words to make the world worse. I wanted to use them to make the world better. Under the Sea represents that lesson for me.
I have a friend who has a wonderful gift – she can see people not only for who they are but also for who they want to be. Cultivating her friendship has allowed her to lift me up through her vision of who I see myself as becoming – Secret Agent Man
Growing up, I was ‘merican. If people wanted to speak to me, they should speak ‘merican. Then I went to the Soviet Union and experienced a culture that at the time was thought of as belonging to the Evil Empire. The people were so friendly and loving toward us ‘mericans that I had no choice but to come back and learn another language, so that I could communicate with people on their own level. The language I learned first was German – and part of the German culture is their love for David Hasselhoff. Limbo Dance was a huge hit when I was in Germany.
Each of these songs has an echo in me that is sometimes louder and sometimes quieter. It is their echoes that remind me of the successes I have achieved in relating to others and cultivating those relationships that are important to who I am as a person.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – This is a song that my sister recommended. She says that there is no place like home, and she would like to see me there.
Playground in my Mind – This song represents a time in my childhood when stuffed animals were alive. Michael was a wooden wall decoration that I had. I am glad that I have been able to keep many of my childlike qualities including my imagination.
Lost in the Ozone Again – suggested by my stepdad, this song represents my idealism. Being idealistic in an ever decaying world is one of the most difficult things to achieve. I know how things could be, and I continue to hope and work toward a better world.
One Voice – there have been several instances where my voice was the lone voice raised against an initiative. Many times afterwards, I found that others were in agreement with what I had stood up for.
Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – I sang this song to my grandma when she would come pick me up for the weekend. As I grew up, I grew apart from that side of my family. I have been able to recover those relationships to experience a fuller life.
I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing – This song represents my Peace Corps service and one reason for going to Guinea. Maybe I was unable to teach the world to sing, but I made some friends and learned some valuable lessons.
The Celtic Collection reminds me of my geocaching adventures. Captain Angry Ballz and I would go to various places in Alaska just to find geocaches. We found a cache that had a Celtic cassette in it and that became our music for adventuring.
I began my college career in 1990. I met a group of people that loved Disney films, and we hung out in the cafeteria, had a Christmas with the “Little Mermaid” and generally enjoyed each other’s company. Our favorite game was to bring the conversation to the lowest common denominator. It was a game that I continually won because I could bring the conversation down without using any swear words. It was that year that I learned that I didn't want to be someone who used words to make the world worse. I wanted to use them to make the world better. Under the Sea represents that lesson for me.
I have a friend who has a wonderful gift – she can see people not only for who they are but also for who they want to be. Cultivating her friendship has allowed her to lift me up through her vision of who I see myself as becoming – Secret Agent Man
Growing up, I was ‘merican. If people wanted to speak to me, they should speak ‘merican. Then I went to the Soviet Union and experienced a culture that at the time was thought of as belonging to the Evil Empire. The people were so friendly and loving toward us ‘mericans that I had no choice but to come back and learn another language, so that I could communicate with people on their own level. The language I learned first was German – and part of the German culture is their love for David Hasselhoff. Limbo Dance was a huge hit when I was in Germany.
Each of these songs has an echo in me that is sometimes louder and sometimes quieter. It is their echoes that remind me of the successes I have achieved in relating to others and cultivating those relationships that are important to who I am as a person.