The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me… Once:
Stories and Perspectives to Help You Unlock Your Amazing Potential
Introduction

This is a book of potential, faith, purpose, hopes and dreams. This is a book about the importance of time, the power of choice, growth, toughening up and having a heart, commitment, passion, and inspiration. This is a book that considers the ups and downs, life, and death – and what it all means. More than anything however, this is a book that considers a journey’s impact, a life-long quest for meaning, happiness and fulfillment, and the resulting stories, perspectives, and lessons that I have collected along the way.

As it turns out, somehow in the midst of years of just trying to survive the excruciating heartache, disheartenment and sorrow that come with having someone you love with all your heart taken away. Life began to take on a whole new meaning for me. I realized that life is fleeting. I realized that whether we utilize our time wisely, whether we believe in ourselves, whether we challenge our fears, whether we endeavor to reach for our dreams and aspirations, whether we strive to make a difference - one thing is certain: the sand will continue to fall through the hourglass, and one day will soon become the next.

So, in the time we have here, why wouldn’t we choose to spend that time purposefully, striving for that which matters? Why wouldn’t we want to live our lives dedicated to experiencing every bit of true happiness and fulfillment we could possibly acquire?

Perhaps you doubt that “true happiness and fulfillment” really exist, having long ago accepted these concepts as trumped-up illusions treasured only by people not living in the real world. A story comes to mind. Years ago, in passing, I asked a young boy how he was. He answered that he was doing “good” because he didn’t have to go to school that day, continuing that he didn’t like school and wished he were done. I asked him whether he realized the importance of school, adding that if he got good grades he could be anything he wanted to be. I asked if he could be anything, what he would choose. He responded, “You mean like a bus driver?”

Don’t get me wrong, a bus driver is a perfectly honorable and respectable profession. I think the boy was working with a very limited perspective about his universe of options. His thought process wasn’t along the lines of: not interested in becoming a CEO, judge, doctor, astronaut, or a governor… I think I want to be a bus driver. He simply wasn’t aware he had so many other options. Sound familiar?

Perhaps your perspective is, after years of trying, that true happiness and fulfillment just isn’t within you. Since I have a hard time believing that the Almighty indiscriminately gifted some of us with a magnificent, destiny-defining spark, and did not gift countless others, my suspicion is that we all have the potential within us. It’s just a matter, for some, of unlocking the door so that the potential can be released.

I’d like to think that, so many years ago, having presented that young boy with a more opportunistic outlook and additional career options, that he went on to improve his life. I’d also like to think that the stories and perspectives in this book will help unlock your amazing new potential and very own unique and winning mindset.

Make no mistake about it, we are all interconnected and most everything has purpose. What I do today has impact on your tomorrow. And what you do tomorrow has impact on others and me the following day—for good or bad. My mother was called home yesterday. Today I wrote, and you’re reading, this book. And if your heart and mind are open, if you possess a willingness to consider, embrace and incorporate – then happiness and fulfillment can be yours and we can all look forward to a brighter tomorrow.

The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me… Once:
Stories and Perspectives to Help You Unlock Your Amazing Potential
About The Book

Consider This...

What if the book of your life was supposed to be dramatically different? Perhaps it was meant to be more purposeful, caring, insightful, motivating, enterprising, hopeful, successful, eventful, inspiring, daring, humorous, inquisitive, uplifting, passionate, confident, charitable, ambitious, reflective, faithful, charismatic, creative, playful and audacious - not to mention significantly happier and way more fulfilled... or some combination of the above. What if it's not too late for it to be so? And finally, what if the path primarily is up to you? What if?

Here's another excerpt to give you a better idea of the motivational perspective you can expect from "The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me... Once";

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About The Book

On many occasions, the question has been posed whether (paraphrasing) the intended purpose of my writing is inspiration to seek a more enlightened spiritual path; or, instead, a call for greater personal enlightenment, a license of sorts, to release the motivated, dynamic, and empowered individual within. Without any hesitation, my answer invariably is yes.

If the thoughts, anecdotes, and perspectives offered here become the catalyst for a decision that changes the world for the better, I'm pleased with that. If instead, it is your world, or even merely a couple of your days, that are enhanced, I'm pleased with that also. If the result is enhanced perspective that causes you to tell a loved one how much you care, or to reconnect with a long lost friend, I'm pleased with that. If, instead, the result is to speak more often to the people you encounter on the street, I'm pleased with that also. If the result is a life considerably more committed to spiritual growth and a better relationship with the Almighty, I'm pleased with that. If, instead, the result is a more solid commitment to your aspirations, a solemn promise that your fulfillment and intended destiny in life you will more purposefully seek, I'm pleased with that also.

Whatever the derived message, whatever the useful insight, whatever meaningful perspective there is to be acquired, any positive impact is just that—a positive impact—for you and the world. And if you've ever found yourself pondering what's going on, doubtful as to how things can possibly be turned around, whether with respect to the quality and direction of your life or with respect to the lack of brotherhood and consideration in the world at large, the solution may very well be relatively simple. When it's all said and done, perhaps what it's going to take to change things is a growing number of us—altering mind sets, altering attitudes, altering paradigms, altering perceptions, and, thus actual, prospects—one individual, one day, one inspired interaction at a time.

And as we could all benefit from the use of a little enlightenment of spirit from time to time, you are encouraged to utilize this book as a readily accessible kick-start of inspiration when needed. You are encouraged to enlist this book as your very own life-affirming, life-enriching, self-empowering tool.

Before diving in, there are a few things worth noting to add a little context and further prepare you for what is to come.

• This book is comprised of thoughts, feelings, perspectives, and revelations about the purpose and relevance of life; a lifetime of happenstances and interactions, and the meaning ultimately derived.

• Just to be clear, I am not a doctor. I'm just someone who happens to be blessed with the need, from the time I was a child, to always ask why, and cursed with the need for a somewhat, at least, logical answer.

• The experiences, events, and assorted details related, intended to offer perspective and food for thought about the nature of life, are in no way presented in chronological order. As for the stories and passages, written over the course of numerous recent years: the first offered could have been the last written, and the last could have been the first. Intentionally, it is a testament to the randomness of life.

• Some thoughts, perspectives, and anecdotes shared will be reinforced many times throughout. The repetitive nature is purposeful, as increased exposure will lead to increased absorption and adoption; ultimately fostering an even more fortified new you.

• Last, but not least, given this book is a collection of individual stories and verses, the original intent was for each to stand alone. It was envisioned that each item would be separately read and appropriately pondered for the incremental insight and perspective that each separately could potentially bring. But just the same, you can read it straight through from cover to cover, seek out particular chapters when in need, select randomly day to day, earmark favorites and read them whenever the mood strikes, or employ any combination of the above.

But however you employ this book, however you choose to use it, do use it. For, as far as we know, we've got one life to get it right. And the power to change is in our hands. And now, so is the book.

It's time to turn the page.

The SomethingToShare Daily Affirmation

I affirm that on this day I will…
Take the time to listen to the rustling leaves,
And to the passing breeze that made them so,
Marvel at just a bit of the majestic beauty
In the world around me,
And in some way rediscover the innocence of my youth.

I will tell, or better yet show,
A loved one how much they mean to me,
Help someone in need,
Immerse myself in that, which inspires me,
Strengthen my faith in the Almighty,
And strive to be someone in whom
The Almighty can have faith in return.

I will smile each and every chance I get;
And, whenever I can, bring someone else along for the ride.
I will endeavor to be modest as a rule,
But audacious when called for.

I will always know that I am here for a purpose,
And I will respect and appreciate this day
For the blessed and amazing gift it is.
I affirm that the precious time I have this day
Will be spent wisely,
I affirm, this day, zestfully will be the way I live.