Inspirational Blog Entry

Motivational and Inspirational Stories: A Message For The Season

I originally wrote the following in March of 2000, however it’s a great message for the season – and it’s just as relevant and accurate now as it was at the turn of the century. Besides… inspiration never gets old. Enjoy…

A Little Faith

A recent newspaper article featured a story about a New Mexico mother who, last Christmas Eve, after being in a catatonic state for sixteen years, suddenly regained her consciousness - suddenly awoke to her loving awaiting family. As it turns out, she stopped breathing after suffering a blood clot in her lung during a Caesarian section. After resuscitation, doctors determined that brain damage had resulted from the lack of oxygen. This caused her to slip into a catatonic state - where she remained for well over a decade with no sign of communication. Yet on the Eve of Christmas, with no rhyme or reason, she blurted out to the attending nurse - "Don't do that". Since that incredible day she has been slowly but surely re-familiarizing herself with life again - getting to know her children… getting to know her friends… getting to know herself.

Two things struck me about this story. Most obvious of course, is the fact that the mother's sudden return after all these years is nothing short of miraculous. Every once in a while we are presented with a sign that there is something majestic out there… that our lives have meaning far beyond anything we can comprehend… Impressive too was the love and faith of her family... a family that refused to give up - or give in. A family that said no matter how long it takes, no matter the pain - we'll be there for you … we'll wait for you. This is the stuff that miracles are made of… proof that a lot of love and a little faith can go a long way.

A little something to think about the next time it seems like the deck has been stacked against you. Have faith, be inspired and don’t give up. Life isn’t done with you yet…

Talk to you soon.

D Anthony
Inspirational Author and Motivator

Inspirational Blog Entry

About A Motivational & Inspirational Book: The Gift of Inspiration

Here’s a thought… Now that all your Christmas shopping is all wrapped up (or more accurately unwrapped), the Yuletide spirit is beginning to wane and most houseguests have made their respective ways in the direction of home – perhaps it’s time you do something special for you… a bit of a reward, of sorts, for all the generosity and goodwill you’ve shown.

Alternately, perhaps there is an individual or two who, through noteworthy sentiment or deed, exhibited the kind of unadulterated spirit of the season that warmed the heart and made this holiday season so memorable and spiritually fulfilling. Imagine the feelings of joy and appreciation that would result from the unexpected presentation of a token of your heartfelt gratitude.

If either scenario rings true or otherwise sounds like a worthwhile objective, then perhaps you should consider giving one of the best gifts of all… the gift of inspiration. For it is the gift that offers incremental benefit, each and every day... For example, if the chosen gift was an inspirational book with motivational stories and inspirational poems such as “The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me… Once: Stories and Perspectives to Help You Unlock Your Amazing Potential”, a loved one or yourself could read a new passage or two daily… taking the time to fully absorb each passage for all it is worth… taking the time to let the perspective take you wherever, on that day, your mind and heart needed to go. Or, if your preference is for something of a more presentational manner, something to be proudly displayed and admired every day, the SomethingToShare Inspirational Plaques might be worth a look.

So, as the so-called season for giving begins to wane, consider presenting yourself and/or a loved one with the optimal gift - the gift of inspiration. After all, it is the gift that will keep giving. And there’s absolutely no better way to create the positive momentum necessary to give 2008 the early makings of a great year.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

D Anthony
Inspirational Author and Motivator

Inspirational Blog Entry

About A Motivational & Inspirational Book: What's In A Name?

“The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me… Once”, at first glance, probably sounds a little unorthodox as a title for a Self-help book. Which stands to reason since the book is pretty unorthodox in itself. You see the book is an inspirational book. And it is also a motivational book. So, when people ask me (paraphrasing of course) whether the book is inspirational from the standpoint of motivating readers to take charge of their lives, to overcome obstacles, to achieve and aspire to more and/or to become personally more confident, committed, focused and fulfilled… or is it inspirational from the standpoint of inspiring readers to fortify their faith in the Almighty, to find inner peace, to have greater spiritual awareness, to better understand self and one’s potential impact in the time we have and/or to become more Zen-inspired, finding the optimal balance between the internal and external – invariably my answer is yes.

In effect, the book is about life – and the balance necessary for us all to become more inspirational and motivational in the way we see ourselves, circumstances and events – and in the way we most often approach and respond to others. Ultimately the book is about the incredible potential for improvements we have the capability to make within our lives, on a day to day basis, to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today… and developing the kind of enhanced perspective and attitude that fosters better decisions, better outcomes and enhanced happiness and fulfillment. And that most certainly makes “The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me… Once: Stories and Perspectives to Help Unlock Your Amazing Potential” a pretty unorthodox inspirational book.

Taking us right back to the title itself… “The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me… Once”, as the first inspirational story in the book so colorfully lays out, represents the very first time in life that, for no apparent reason, and no apparent warning – life hits, slaps or kicks you. However, more importantly, what the story and this inspirational book as a whole emphasizes is - What are you ‘gonna do now?

I’ll give you a hint. If you want to be the most effective… if you want to have some stake, and more critically, some influence of the path and direction the future takes… it begins with perspective and attitude, and ends with better decisions, and thus, better outcomes. It starts with instituting the mind set and behaviors that will have you first look up – then begin to get up. After all, the nurse in the delivery room may have slapped me… but it was only once.

So, would you like to begin to institute the kind of perspective and real change in your life that can help you begin to see both yourself and the world around you in a new way that fosters considerably more opportunity and meaning? Well, have I got a motivational and inspirational book for you…

Each day, be inspired – then aspire to more…

Talk to you soon.

D Anthony
Inspirational Author and Motivator

Inspirational Blog Entry

Motivational & Inspirational Stories: The Gift

With the holiday now upon us, I’ve reached into the D Anthony vault in order to share another personal holiday treasure… one more of the passages I composed some years back;

The Gift of Christmas

As a child I loved the idea of Christmas
All the decorations and lights on the tree
But what the day was really about
Was the multitude of gifts given to me

I remember the words of my mother
A philosophy with which I could not agree
She said joy came from giving not receiving
That the meaning of the season was charity

Years have passed, understanding is clearer
Caring for friends and family I’ve come to see
Christmas isn’t about the decoration and lights
But about love inspired gifts that come from me

And on this December 25th, I can honestly say I know, with more certainty than ever before, that I am truly blessed. In part, because of the way events overall panned out… But even more, I believe, because of the perspective and attitude I’ve created and continuously strive to maintain, and the resulting decisions - this turned out to be a pretty incredible year. And because I wholeheartedly expect to continue to foster a mentality and existence empowered with passion, motivation, inspiration and the unquenchable need to aspire to more, there’s no reason to suspect anything less from the year to come.

And so this is the gift… the empowerment that comes with an uplifting perspective and enhanced attitude - leading to better decisions, more opportunistic outcomes, a better you and a better world, day by day… that I want to pass along to anyone who has a desire to improve. This is the gift that I want to pass on to everyone who wants to improve their lives… begin to identify their intended destinies… to begin to see the purpose and potential that is ours to grasp and utilize to improve and get the most out of each and every waking day.

So, I ask you… What if your time in this place was intended to be more inspirational, more purposeful, happier and more fulfilled? What if the power to make it so, by in large, could be in your hands? What if? Wouldn’t that have the potential to be just about the greatest gift of all?

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza and Happy Holidays… Be blessed, a little happier and a little more fulfilled this day - and the world will most definitely be a better place…

D Anthony
Inspirational Author and Motivator