Walt Goodridge

Where to Find me!

2011-11-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

This site hasn't been kept current! The best place to find me is at Jamaican In China!

Bring Back the Life Rhymes

2011-11-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

I've decide to resume my life rhyme communications with the world, but before I do, I need to archive all the previous life rhymes. Over the next several weeks, therefore, I'll be transferring the 9 years of Life Rhymes to this new blog format. Until the task is complete, you can see the full archives in their current "drop-down box" format if you CLICK HERE. (These first two posts are an intro for new visitors. JUMP TO LATEST POST

The following story of how the Life Rhyme phenomena all started is excerpted from my book, Life Rhymes for the Passion-Centered Life:

The History of Walt’s Life Rhymes

My name is Walt F.J. Goodridge. On August 29, 1997, shortly after my introduction to the world of the Internet, I started a weekly email called Walt’s Friday Inspirations. It was a creation born of my desire to share words of motivation and inspiration with my email list of friends, family, customers and business partners. Every Thursday night, I would peruse different motivational books, poems, and the like in search of profound and uplifting thoughts that I could pass on to the then 800 contacts on my list.

By the end of December, 1997, however, the ritual Thursday night motivation hunt was becoming a bit of a drag. And then I had an idea: Why not, I asked myself, write these inspirations myself and save myself the hassle of the usual search? After all, by that time I had already written a few books and even a few poems of my own, and felt that I could do just as good a job communicating positive thoughts as anybody else.

So beginning on Friday, January 2, 1998 with Inspiration #19, I took the chance that my self-authored inspirational thoughts would be appreciated just as much, if not more, than the tried and true words from the masters. I was right! Walt’s Life Rhymes started to catch on. I started getting email requests from people wanting to be put on my list. I received support from newspapers and others who wanted to include them in their publications and websites and even read them at weddings.

My list grew to 20,000 people, and for nine years, I faithfully channeled inspiring, motivational thoughts of success to my list.
I'm really proud and blessed to have been part of so many people's Friday ritual for all that time. That moment in time has passed, but the words and the energy of the Life Rhymes live on.

So today, I proudly present to you the result of 468 *consecutive weeks of inspiration in this online anthology of Walt’s Life Rhymes. Enjoy them, be inspired, make the words part of your own silent inner performance, and let your greatness be expressed through them...and always remember....

...success is a journey, not a destination.

WHAT ARE LIFE RHYMES?

“If the still small voice within
communicated its wisdom in rhyme,
this is what it might sound like!”

Have you ever noticed that you can remember the words of a favorite song even years after you’ve last heard it? Whether as song lyrics or poetry, rhymes have the unique power to stay with us throughout our lives and affect us in many ways. Whispered as lullabies, they have the power to soothe. Recited as nursery rhymes, they impart wisdom. Shared as limericks, they can entertain. Studied as proverbs, they have the power to teach everything from morality to frugality. And sung as lyrics, they can inspire, enrage, depress and excite.

Life Rhymes are rhyme-based expressions of the thoughts that create success in life. They are part affirmation, advice column, inspired observation, proverb, prayer and life lesson all rolled into one. They are meant to guide your thoughts so that you see the world differently, interpret your situations effectively, think critically, and then make choices that support your greatest aspirations. And like the rhymes of your favorite song that stay with you for years, they can act as rhymes that guide your life.

The Bible speaks of the “still small voice within” that guides us (1Kings 19:11). The promptings of this voice often come in whispers, so our greatest challenge in life is learning how to listen well enough to hear them. Life Rhymes are a way of turning up the volume, and giving a louder voice to the divine guidance we’re always receiving. In fact, it’s been said of the Life Rhymes that if the still small voice within communicated its wisdom in rhyme, this is what we might hear. They are the voice of your highest self.

This timeless collection of Walt’s Life Rhymes offers guidance on everything from relationships, marriage and divorce, family, job security, business and romance. They reinforce a philosophy of personal accountability, self-help and spiritual growth as the foundation for success. They can help to

• Motivate and inspire
• Create order out of life’s chaos
• Conquer personal fears
• Understand your own as well as other people’s actions
• Build relationships
• Master the art of thoughtful living, and
• Live a passion-centered life

And, as thousands of fans worldwide who’ve received them via email can attest, they always seem to come at just the right time, and can literally change your life! So, like the words of your favorite song, let these rhymes and occasional commentary stay in your mind to help you live the best and rest of your life!

Jamaican in China!

2009-05-11T00:48:00.001-07:00

It seems my new new calling may be to provide travel tips by way of personal adventure to potential corporate, rat-race escapees and the hyper-employed (hyper=beyond). My Jamaican on Saipanbook has spawned a sequel: Jamaican in China! You can check it out at JamaicanInChina.com

Photos of Me in Paradise

2008-10-09T06:43:00.001-07:00

Click on the images to see a larger version which will open in a new window.

Who is Walt?

2008-10-08T18:55:00.000-07:00

Entrepreneur, author, poet, public speaker and world traveler, Walt F.J. Goodridge is one of those rare lights who has remained under the radar for the past several years. However, once people discover his 12 books, his 468 unique life rhymes, Passion Profit workshops, websites and unique Passion Profit Philosophy and Formula, they often wonder why they've never heard of him before, and why he isn't more famous!

While his expertise has been acknowledged by editors and magazine writers who've sought his input and quotes for articles in the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Black Enterprise, Essence and Billboard magazine among others, as well as by other authors who've used his work in their own books, he's never been in the public spotlight to the degree many feel he deserves.

Walt's Story

Walt, a Columbia University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering was, like many people, destined for a career in his profession of training. He accepted a job working in the Design Division of the Port Authority Engineering department on the 73rd floor of the World Trade Center Building 1. However, within the first fifteen minutes of this his first job in corporate America, Walt, frustrated by the monotony, restrictions of nine-to-five employment, realized beyond the shadow of a doubt that he absolutely hated it!

And though he ended up working in the towers for 7 years, Walt eventually found the courage to walk away from his career to pursue his personal passion for helping others.
After many ups and downs (lights turned off, telephone disconnected, several evictions), he developed a unique philosophy and formula anyone can use to discover the unique value hidden within ANY passion. Walt's ideas have appeared in Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur's Be Your Own Boss, Time Magazine, Black Enterprise among others.

He conducts workshops around the world empowering others to follow their own path of greatest passion to prosperity and purpose.

Walt's Escape from America

Not only does he help others live their dreams, he's also a living example of what he teaches. In February of 2006, Walt embarked on a nomadpreneur adventure to live out his own dreams! He's now residing on the South Pacific island of Saipan helping others turn their passions into profit!

Read the entire adventure on Walt's Escape From America Blog
Walt's Philosophy and Formula

"Walt's PassionProfit Philosophy and Formula provide a level of clarity and a degree of specificity that are effective in (1)raising your belief level, (2)demystifying the entrepreneurial process, (3)removing real and perceived obstacles, and (4)actually put money in your pocket."
According to the Walt_s philosophy:
Everyone has a passion. Whether you realize it or not, you have a unique personality, interests, knowledge, experience, natural talents and a spiritual calling that sets you apart from the rest of the world.

Every passion has value. It_s a fact. ANYTHING you enjoy doing has inherent value for which people will pay to have in their own lives. The challenge is first, how to harness your own skills to create a product or service that captures the essence of that value, and then, how to tell the world about it.

You don_t need an MBA to succeed in a passion-centered business. Desire is your degree. There are powerful natural laws that can help profitize your untapped potential as a writer, singer, designer, chef or even shopaholic!

There_s really no good reason to work at an unfulfilling career or job you hate when you can get the world to pay you to do the very thing you_d do for free! Discover the formula, and TURN YOUR PASSION INTO PROFIT!

Walt's Passion Profit Cycle of Success_ shows how to
Step 1. Find Your Purpose
Step 2. Discover Your Passion
Step 3. Create a Product (or Service)
Step 4. Market it for Profit

Walt's Books and Audio
Walt has written 12 books on everything from music industry success to eating right all with the underlying goal of helping others live a passion-centered life. Perhaps his most popular book (also available as 6-cd audio) is Turn Your Passion Into Profit which offers the not only the essence, but provides the step-by-step execution for doing just what the title promises!
Walt's Life Rhymes

Walt is also the creator of an entirely new genre of motivation. His unique "Life Rhymes" are designed to help you think in ways that support your highest calling and the pursuit of your passion. Every Friday Walt has composed a brand new life rhyme EVERY SINGLE WEEK without fail for an unprecedented 468 week stretch! (That's 9 years!) This may just be one of the longest-running ezines on the planet!

Many have been helped

Walt's philosophy and formula are helping people here in the US as well as people in other countries profit from the pursuit of their passions. The philosophy is simple: Everyone has a passion. Every passion has value. Find it, and you can make money doing what you love. The formula is what he's spent over 7 years developing, tweaking, sharing and using to help people become PASSIONPRENEURS, a term he coined to describe someone who has used their passion as the basis of a PASSION-CENTERED BUSINESS.

I am a business owner working on taking my business to the next level. I use Turn Your Passion Into Profit like a daily guide. It motivates me when I am feeling low and strengthens my knowledge in areas where I am weak. Walt's desire for that "perfect day" spurred him in a direction to make that day not a dream but a reality. I have made the visualization of what the perfect day will look like for me a part of my morning ritual. I cannot stress enough that Turn Your Profit Into Passion has helped me to turn my DREAMS into PLANS for my not so distant future.
--Gayle E. Santana, PVS Network/Professional Virtual Services

Hey Walt, When I first heard your personal story of the experiences that led you to the path of the passion pursuit, I knew you were achieving what many people think is out of their reach. You made me see that achievement had never been out of the reach for me. After attending your seminar and purchasing your book, I knew that the passion within me could only be profitable once I decided to take the necessary steps to success. I saw you as someone I was able to connect with and it made me think, "If he can do it, so can I." I am currently turning the passion I have of creating artwork, photography and dance to that next level. No longer are these just hobbies but a way of life that is invigorating, challenging and fulfilling. I feel a deeper connection to the purpose of this life path I am on. By focusing on this passion of creation, I am liberating myself from the limits of doing something I had no passion for. Getting Turn Your Passion into Profit was one of my first steps to acknowledging my own purpose, power and freedom. Thank you! And this comes straight from the heart because that is where passion truly lives. Peace and blessings,
--Nicole Woo, DC

"Walt, thank you so much for writing Turn Your Passion into Profit. Like you said, you_re never really happy until you_re pursuing your passion. So I want you to know that I stepped out on faith, quit my job and wrote the novel I always wanted to write. Now I_m on tour all over the country and I_m finally living my dream. I am very proud of me and you should be too!"--Hallema, author of Mass Deception

Walt FJ Goodridge, Passionpreneur Author, Nomadpreneur, Jamaican on Saipan! on Facebook

180. Yet Another Test

2001-02-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

When the weather is sunny and clouds are away
that's when all come to watch the parade
It's when rain sleet and snow start to threaten the day
that you see the committed who stayed

Any building can stand if the tremors are weak
any ship will fare well in the port
It's when trials and hardships reach an all time high peak
that you see who and who will abort

Even turkeys can fly if the tailwind is right
even underdogs win by default
But when threatened by forces that put up a real fight
then all pretenses come to a halt

Make your courage such that it will harden with heat
gain your strength and resolve from each test
Let life's challenges force you to stand on your feet
let adversity bring out your best!

Yet Another Test
Walt’s Life Rhyme #180
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Don't think that the tests will ever stop. They just get more appropriate for your “grade level!”

179. The Price of Admission

2001-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

If success said “Members Only,
show your pass, or move along!”
What proof could you present, my friend
to show that you belong?

If getting rich meant first
you had to answer “Tell me why!”
What story could you tell
to make it clear you qualify?

If joy said, “State your case
before the jury has its say!”
What closing statements could you make
to sway the vote your way?

And if you ask with each new day
“I'm waiting, why not me?”
The currency of time or talent
is how life takes its fee

Admission to your dreams
is not through luck or rolling dice
The door will open wide
when you decide to pay the price!

The Price Of Admission
Walt’s Life Rhyme #179
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
If things aren't moving forward the way you wish, it might be because you don't have the right ticket for the journey. But how do you get that ticket? What's the price, and whom do you pay? The answer is you pay with your time and/or your talent. Could it be that you need to invest more of your time in a project or to a cause? Maybe it's your talent you need to develop and offer to the world. With that outlook foremost in mind, you'll always be adding value to the world, you'll keep busy as you move toward the thing you desire, and no one will be able to deny you the right to gain admission!

178. BIGGER DAYS

2001-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bigger days are coming soon
don't ask me how I know
I feel it deep down in my gut
no way to prove or show

Brighter days are on the way
and I can hardly wait
With twice the sun as those before
I can't predict the date

Smoother days are on my path
goodbye to all the stress
A month, a year or by tonight
no clue, I must confess

I know it for the simple fact
that life's a ball they say
Sometimes it rolls to others and
sometimes it rolls my way!

Bigger Days
Walt’s Life Rhyme #178
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

177. Can You Wait That Far?

2001-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's plain as day to those who see it
but hidden in the dust from some
The thing I'm seeing in the distance
my eyes tell me will soon come

But those who lack the vision
will think me psychic or seer
My only trick is how I pass time
until the thing I see draws near

Step by step the thing approaches
and lest you think it comes too late:
Image comes first and then thing follows
and good things come to those who wait

Yes, those with vision must have patience
it's just the way things are
The only question that needs your asking
is “Can I wait that far?”

Can I Wait That Far?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #177
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Think about it. In the real world, as you travel along a path, you can usually see a thing approaching long before you are close enough to touch it. And the better your eyesight, the longer you may have to wait between the time you first see it, and the time it reaches you. And so it is in the realization of your dreams. The image of the thing you seek will usually be evident long before the thing itself. So, the question is, do you have the patience to wait until reality catches up to your vision?

176. Whooops!

2001-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Watch where you step for the ground is real slippery
watch where you sit for the paint's not yet dry
When there's trouble in Eden every move brings you danger
you just can't avoid it as hard as you try

Watch what you say for every topic is loaded
look but don't touch for the wound may be sore
And don’t ever point for everyone is a suspect
beyond what eyes see you can bet there's much more

The best thing to do to avoid sure disaster:
keep thoughts to yourself so there's no cause for strife
Some battles are best fought by the ones who declared it
so back away slowly, and then run for your life!!

Whoops!
Walt’s Life Rhyme #176
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a war you didn't declare? Have you ever walked into an already charged situation, said something innocent, then wished you could just hit rewind and walk back through time? Well, there's no way back, but there's always a way out! Don't walk, RUN, before it's too late!

175. The New Year Promises

2000-12-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

Now what can I do different
in this new year that arrives?
What habits might make impact
in my own and other lives?

I promise that I'll smile more
at the people who I meet
I promise to remember names
of all those who I greet

I promise in my days
that I'll spend more time socializing
I promise in my thoughts
that I'll spend less time criticizing

I promise to remember
that life is not just about money
I promise to relax each day
and find at least one thing funny

I promise to forgive
at least one person every day
I promise compromise
and let one person have their way

I promise that I'll pay my debts
and never incur more
I promise to start saving
and keep it up, unlike before

I promise that I'll view the world
with love not out of fear
I promise that I'll treat myself
in ways that show I care

I promise that these promises
won't be just idle show
I think, therefore, I'm ready
on my mark now, get set, GO!

The New Year Promises
Walt’s Life Rhyme #175
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

174. Guess Who's Coming To The Rescue? Part I

2000-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

They say you've reached adulthood
when you come to terms with this:
If you don't come to rescue you
your knight will not exist

No armor-plated savior
riding in to save the day
No cavalry with guns ablaze
to chase your foes away

Don't think the world's indifferent
or can't see that you're in need
But history shows the passive
are the last ones to be freed

Help finds those who help themselves
so choose to right your plight
Wait for the world to come to you
and you might just wait all night

Who better than you to plan the escape?
who's more equipped to be the star?
Only you can find you in the fortress
for only you know where you are!

Guess Who's Coming To The Rescue? Part I
Walt’s Life Rhyme #174
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

173. Nourished from Within

2000-12-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

The fish you catch when hungry
are a sad and sorry breed
You'll think the thief your savior
when you're in a state of need

You'll sell your soul for pennies
when resources are depleted
Your cause will go unchampioned
when you think yourself defeated

With hand outstretched and eyes cast low
what treasures can you gain?
When all that you project
is just a sad picture of pain

No, life rewards the one
who shows a constant will to win
Who knows through feast or famine
that she's nourished from within!

Nourished From Within
Walt’s Life Rhyme #173
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

172. OK, But Is It Getting You What You Want?

2000-12-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

(Time for a New Refrain)

Put away the ego and act like you want it
put away the microscope and go with the flow
Put away the crutches and walk like a champion
stop being a critic and be part of the show

Drop the dead weight now and fly like an eagle
lean off your neighbor and stand like you're grown
No one brings gifts to a friend’s pity party
the guests are just there to find guests for their own

Don't wait for perfection to show your commitment
don't wait to take action 'cause no one showed how
There'll always be flaws and a cause for excuses
so close the back door so there's one way out now

It's true that old ways give a good deal of comfort
and when you feel stressed yes they come back to haunt
And I know you have more than a short list of reasons
that's all well and good, but is it getting you what you want?

Ok, But Is It Getting You What You Want?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #172
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
“I won't do THIS until THAT happens.”
“I've been hurt before, so I don't trust too easily.”
“I need to know everything up front before I take a chance.”
“What do you think he/she meant by that?”
“This is what you need to do in order for me to consider you.”
“If only someone would help me, I could do this.”
Do any of these refrains sound familiar? They, along with many other things we tell ourselves when faced with new opportunities to trust, risk, and step forth on faith, are the crutches we use to feel comfortable and safe in our decisions NOT to do the thing that needs to be done. They are the “liner notes” with the lyrics of our lives that we've gotten used to hearing ourselves recite. Now listen. I understand your history, your fears and your concerns completely. But is that way of thinking and way of being getting you what you want? If not, then “put away the ego and act like you want it....” (repeat and fade to end)
Inspired by Dorothy P.

171. A Club Called Me

2000-12-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

In a crowded room I stand
with members only just like me
I look at who's invited
and I'm surprised at what I see

For every word of sorrow spoken
someone there says, “Me too”
The jealous meet the hateful
and share the selfsame point of view

But in the very room we gather
seems other clubs meet here as well
The bright and cheerful find their members
we're all mixed in, how can they tell?

You'd expect just mass confusion
when all these clubs at once do meet
The truth is that we find our peers
whether in clubs or on the street

For ski clubs don't draw golfers
and humble clubs repel the vain
The miserable and their company
attract the ones who think the same

So if I look at how I'm living
and don't like the things I see
I can't throw blame on those around
they're just members of a club called me!

Commentary:
I can always count on Gary Zukav (author of Seat of The Soul) to give me something interesting to think about. I'm now reading his Soul Stories and happened upon his analogy of life being like a club you join. I won't give away much more than that (you'll have to pick up a copy for yourself) except to say:

“In a club called whatever you're wishing for, you'll find others who wish for it too. But you only get to join the club with people who think like you.”

A Club Called Me
Walt’s Life Rhyme #171
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”

170. You Can't Get it Back

2000-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

No refunds, no cash back
no two for one split
It's a one ticket journey
no u-turns, that's it

No recounts, no rewind
no instant replay
No chance to do over
or re-live this day

No recalls, no upgrades
no trade-in for you
Take care of the rental
you can't ask for two

One shuffle, one deal
and one throw of the dice
Play your hand like a winner
you can’t play it twice

Time passes and heeds not
the choices you make
By choice make the most
of the time that you take!

You Can't Get It Back
Walt’s Life Rhyme #170
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Arguments for reincarnation notwithstanding, it's generally agreed upon that this journey is not a practice run, but a one-time chance to get things right. So while you may have the time to review, rethink, revise, react, and remake your life from one day to the next, you don't have the option of getting back the time you lose in doing so! Dedicated to Christine S.

169. Undecided? (for US Election 2000)

2000-11-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

What if each vote was like a thought in the mind
of a single individual facing the challenge of making
a decision. What would a conversation between
one's two selves sound like when one is undecided?

I'm leaning more towards the left
The right's inviting too
But what of this vote over here?
Now what on earth are we to do?

Ok, let's start this thing again
Here's one for you and one for me
Let's get this done once and for all
And keep your thoughts where I can see

No compromise, no halfway point
No suspect shades of gray
Each thought to go this way or that
casts one vote into the fray

When pros and cons are tallied
the course I choose will then be clear
My destiny awaits
I step forth bold and have no fear

I'll thank the stars when this is done
to end this hesitation
A confused mind remains at rest
and claims no destination.

Undecided
Walt’s Life Rhyme #169
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary
....now was that two million and seven or two million and seventy???......
oh, heck...>sigh<......one for me.....one for you.......two for me....two for you.....three.....

168. Interested? bw I Must Have Missed That Day

2000-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Interested?

I need to know who's interested
so I can make a move
If I only knew the cues and tips
successes might improve

I've noticed when there's interest
that they sometimes make the call
But then they'll stop and wait for days
so I can't use that at all

So then I thought I'd make the call
and see who calls me back
“Pursuer makes the calls”, I'm told
“don't rail against this fact”

I've learned that if they're open
that I'll be allowed to touch
But then they'll pull back
claiming that they're not inclined to such

Some tell me that in dating
that the man should always pay
Trade dollars for affection?
hmmm...is that the game we play?

Then, even if they SAY “I am”,
minds change one day to next
Consistency is not the norm
I end up feeling vexed

So tell me once again, dear friend
(it doesn't have to rhyme)
How do I know who's interested
so I don't waste my time?

“I Must Have Missed That Day”

I missed that day the teacher said
“Ok, class, settle down!
Today you learn your roles in life,
so please now gather 'round

The dating game is easy
once you know just what's expected
If not, you'll just keep striking out
and risk feeling rejected

Your roles as boys and girls are these:
pursuer and pursued
He opens doors, he pays the bill
she cleans and cooks the food

He'll be the one to ask her out
she'll be demure and shy
You listening you there in the back?
No Johnny, don't ask why.”

It seems most learned the dos and don'ts
much earlier in life
Well on their way to find and be
that nice husband or wife

But those of us who missed that day
quite often feel like fools
How thrilling it must be to know
the game and all its rules

Interested? I Must Have Missed That Day
Walt’s Life Rhyme #168
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

167. Still Keeping Score?

2000-11-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

There was a time
not long ago
I kept a mental list
of all I spent
and all I got
so nothing would be missed

Who paid for what?
how much is mine?
make sure it evens out
In time I learned
the tally's not
what this is all about

While keeping score
I missed the things
no ledger can record
like love and trust
and friendly hearts
that can't be saved or stored

So now I give
straight from the heart
no invoice, notes or pad
and find this life
and times with friends
the best I've ever had!

Still Keeping Score?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #167
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
The more you love, the more you give
the less you will keep score.
The more you give, the more you get
you'll never end up poor!

166. What Will It Take?

2000-10-27T00:00:00.001-07:00

What Will It Take? Walt’s Life Rhyme #166

What will it take to raise the bar
and give it all you've got?
Will habits keep you stagnant
'til the fire gets too hot?

Or will it take the loss
of everything that you hold dear
To push you into action now
despite that inner fear?

Or will you wait until your back
is up against the wall
To finally say, “You know what,
I can do this after all!”?

Perhaps you'll have to look back
on a life filled with regrets
Before you break the cycle
and no longer hedge your bets

Or, maybe in the morning
when you see the world anew
You'll just decide to do it
and show yourself what you can do!

What Will It Take?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #166:
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

165. The Short List

2000-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

There's a real short list of friends I call
to be my helping hand
For help must be condition-free
and this few understand

There's yet a shorter list of those
I tell my troubles to
Who share new ways of thinking
and enlightened points of view

The list is even shorter still
of those I really trust
What pain it is to find your values
trampled in the dust

You enter on this list of mine
to find your rank and station
Not via public thoroughfare
but special invitation

Choose NOT your love or friend
from just the free, fine, fit and able
But ask of who would be with you
“What do YOU bring to the table?”

The Short List
Walt’s Life Rhyme #165
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Of course, in fairness, you too should have a clear idea of what YOU bring to the table. What do YOU have to offer those who would have you in THEIR lives. It's not enough to simply want the right person. It's often more critical to BE the right person.

164. The Elephant Under the Rug

2000-10-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Perhaps we can avoid it
and it just might go away
Perhaps you'll read my mind
and hear the words I want to say

We wouldn't be the first to use
this tried and true technique
It's often easier to avoid
assume rather than speak

It's like there is this elephant
we're pretending isn't there
We talk and walk around it
treading lightly and with care

You'd think it near impossible
to ignore something so huge
That's begging for attention
and has taken up refuge

We trip and fall and stumble
as intentions meet with doom
For no real progress can be made
while this “thing” is in the room

A misread cue or act, perhaps
an unmet expectation
Requires some word or deed now
in defense or explanation

(Or maybe it's the fire
of a strong physical attraction
You say it's just a friendship
but you feel the mounting tension)

This thing's too real and heavy
to dismiss with just a shrug
So speak the words and dare to face
the elephant under the rug!

The Elephant Under The Rug
Walt’s Life Rhyme #164
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Closure. Resolution. Intention. Revelation. Clarification. The “elephant under the rug” takes on many forms in our lives. There's something in your life that has gone unsaid and unaddressed for too long that is casting a shadow of doubt and uncertainty, and leaving itself open to misinterpretation. Stop avoiding it. The only way to move it out from under the rug is to put it in plain view so it can be addressed, discussed, seen for what it is, and ultimately resolved. Give it a try. Words are the best way to move the mighty elephant. It might be heavy at first, but if everyone involved does some lifting, you'll make it work!

163. What if?

2000-10-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

What if that sense of emptiness
is not based on fact at all
And help and love are waiting
and all you have to do is call?

What if the rejection
is just all in your own mind
And folks are not all evil
but are mostly good and kind?

What if all their actions
are not really out of hate
But caused by thoughts arising
from a confused and fearful state?

What if all the doors that slammed
were just not yours yet to explore
And opportunities await you
with more abundance yet in store?

What if all the barriers
are really there for your own good
And someone's keeping you safe and sound
like a guardian angel should?

What if the delays
are no real reason for alarm
But interventions from above
that keep you free from harm?

What if all the pain you feel
is just a passing thing
And makes you that much stronger
and has lessons it could bring?

What if that winding gauntlet
were really fans lined up for miles
Who wait the chance to cheer you on
and shower you with smiles?

And what if your perspective
is what decides your every day
What changes could you make
if you just see things a different way?

What if?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #163
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Choosing to accept the “what if” of our dreams is the universal challenge. In the acceptance of what might be, we must give up the comfort of who we are, and face the uncertainty and vulnerability of who we wish to become. At other times, we battle with negative “what ifs” and ask ourselves, “But what if I lose?” “What if they're really rejecting me?” “What if there's really no one there for me?” Well, there's no right or wrong. There are simply choices to make. Some choices will be easy. Some will be hard. Make the choice of which “what if” will rule your every day by choosing the “what if” that empowers YOU and those you love.

162. A Private Conversation

2000-09-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Of course I value your opinions,
I have to, 'cause mine don't seem to work
My views of how and why things are
cause me too much pain and hurt

Each time I think I have a handle
turns out I really hold the blade
And cut after cut my heart reveals
the fragile stuff of which I'm made

But before you start to pity me
or throw me a rescue rope
Rest assured I'll always bounce back
for one thing I always have is hope

And know that even in the darkness
when things don't seem to go my way
I know my future isn't tied to my past
so I start fresh with each new day!

A Private Conversation
Walt’s Life Rhyme #162
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

161. The Benefit of Change

2000-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

I tell myself and others
I'm just too set in my ways
They say that I can change
and live life free these later days

But what of the excuses
that have kept me safe from fault?
The comfort of my failures
that brought dreaming to a halt?

For how would I then manage
with no designated foes?
No “them” or “they” oppressors
I can blame for all my woes

These tried and true beliefs
are like my friends I love and know
They comfort me by telling me
“That's just the way things go.”

But have I crafted for myself
a world of my own choice?
Are all the fears and pain I know
just echoes of MY voice?

I need to see the benefits first
before I let it go
Perhaps this final verse reveals
the words I need to grow:

Don't ask to see the benefit
as if incentive, bribe or fee
The benefit is you now can choose
the way you wish your world to be!

The Benefit of Change
Walt’s Life Rhyme #161
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

OUTTAKE: ALTERNATE VERSE 5
But have I crafted for myself
a world of my own choosing?
Are all the fears and pain I know
just me intent on losing?

Commentary:
The benefit of change is not something you search for to justify the decision to change. The benefit of change is that by changing you get to create the world of your choice.
Dedicated to J. C.

160. But That's What I Heard

2000-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

What I meant and said was this, my dear
too bad you didn't hear it
It's not what you now think at all
I'd never say that, I swear it

I thought I said it plain as day
perhaps I wasn't clear
Or perhaps you simply heard again
the thing that you most fear

I'll tell it to you once again
don't let your ears deceive
But listen without bias now
and try hard to believe

I said that I would never leave
until the end of time
You heard that I was bound to go
it's just a matter of time

I said I think you're special
and that others can't compete
You heard that there are others
and already fear defeat

It's funny how you heard the words
despite their best intentions
To fit the world you've always known
the world of your invention

No words of mine are ever meant
to limit, harm or slay
But know what it may say of YOU
if YOU hear them that way!

Commentary:
It happens quite often that I'll get a compliment or some words of praise from friends or strangers, and then hours later can't remember what they actually said. Seems I turn a deaf ear to compliments since I never learned how to accept them as true. Or sometimes during a conversation, I'll interpret something someone says in one (negative) way, only to find out that they meant it in an entirely different (often complimentary) way. Are you the same way? Do you brush off, act undeserving of, or nullify good tidings? If you hear a statement that might have a dual interpretation, or if you miss a few words in a conversation, do you often fill in the blanks the way you think things are, or have always been for you?
Well, from now on (especially in your close relationships), learn to REALLY hear, accept and believe the compliments and praise people offer you, and learn how to REALLY listen to what that special person is saying so that you won't have to say:

But That's What I Heard
Walt’s Life Rhyme #160:
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

159. On Fire (A Dream)

2000-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

I was awakened this morning by a dream I'd like to share with you.

I saw a homeless man on fire
by that I mean he was ablaze
Oblivious to his condition
asleep he was and in a daze

I rushed to offer my assistance
and used his clothes to out the flame
Then splashed him full and whole with water
lest heat from it should scorch or maim

Now drenched and soaked and fully wakened
none wiser to his almost fate
Mistook my act of human kindness
to be an act of callous hate

He chased and cursed me through the streets
now pelting me with rock and word
For so intent on retribution
my explanations went unheard

But to my protests he soon listened
then saw his charred and smoldered clothes
The dream ends there without conclusion
what does this mean do you suppose?

On Fire
Walt’s Life Rhyme #159
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Remember: you can't effectively help another, or expect their full cooperation or appreciation for pulling them out of misery unless they feel the fire of their condition and in fact WANT to be helped.

158. In the Interest of Time

2000-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

In the interest of time
I'll cut right to the chase
Please don't sleep on your dreams
now's the time to make haste

Yes, each day is a stride
every year like a lap
Don't choose the final stretch
to start closing the gap

(You're not competing with others
let's get that clear from the start
But for how much you live
within the beats of your heart)

It's no fun playing catch up
to make up for lost time
Seize the day and the moment
the waste of life is a crime

My best advice then is this,
as you dash through this race:
Don't wait for the final bell
before you step up the pace!

In The Interest of Time
Walt’s Life Rhyme #158
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
The reason more people change careers and/or start their own business later in life has more to do with a sense of urgency than anything else. As years progress, many people start to evaluate their accomplishments, their sense of fulfillment and the purpose of their lives here on our little planet. And just like in a long distance race when that last bell rings signaling the final lap, many people hear their own internal bell reminding them that they'd better get going, or else. Don't wait for the last bell!

157. Freshwater Yearnings

2000-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

(aka, The Little Fish That Tried)

I'm swimming in saltwater
and I'm choking on the brine
Immersed in an environment
that's poison to my kind

The waves may shine and glitter
and the eye the lake doth soothe
But thick it is with obstacles
that slow my every move

I long to live in waters
that support fishes like me
And swim unbound in schools of thought
that lift and set me free

I know that I will get there
for I've made that silent vow
Freshwater is my destiny
someday, someway, somehow

I fight an upstream battle
yes, I swim against the tide
But freedom waits I'm sure
for I'm the little fish that tried!

freshwater yearnings
Walt’s Life Rhyme #157
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Sometimes being in certain relationships can feel like you're drowning in an ocean that's getting saltier and more toxic every day. If you need fresh water to survive, but your “other” is a deep sea dweller that thrives on salt water, can the two species cohabitate successfully? Or must one or the other seek their natural habitat? What's a fish to do?

156. O Circles and Lines |

2000-08-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Some people walk in circles
every day the same old track
Some people walk in lines
from A to B and don't look back

Some people talk in circles
their points far between and few
And others' lines of reason
block all other thoughts from view

Some people live in circles
much too small to let life in
And some draw lines to tell you
where you end and they begin

Well if those circles stretch a bit
their reach they might extend
And lives distraught may turn to joy
if rigid lines would bend!

Commentary:
Circle of influence. Circle of friends.
Line of thought. Boundary line.
All have the capacity to imprison or free.
Success comes from knowing when to widen
the circles and bend the lines that
govern your life.

Please share this with someone you love who needs to widen and bend. And if that person is you, then simply take heed.

Circles and Lines
Walt’s Life Rhyme #156
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

155. Casting Spells

2000-08-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

For all our lives unconscious
now it's time to take control
No such thing as magic?
Just forget what you've been told

Casting spells is easy,
let the lesson now begin
To have all that you wish for
it must first exist within

Choose your best obsession
or one you think stands in your way
What words would make your dreams come true?
or love to hear them say?

Next script the words exactly
As a playwright writes a play
Then feel the way that you would feel
And practice what you'd say

Now do this often every day
at day's dawn and at the close
In time the words will find their home
expressed by whom you chose

The secret's that your thoughts
awaken thoughts in others too
(So who's to say your actions
are not another's thoughts of you?)

And know that this will always work
in no uncertain terms
For every word that's spoken
will create what it affirms

No magic wand, enchanted brew
or potions you need sell
Just focused thoughts with feeling
casts the world under your spell!

Casting Spells
Walt’s Life Rhyme #155
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
The laws of the universe apply to all things. So whether for a business conquest, more customers, artistic recognition, investors, or for true romantic love, create the words that reflect your success, hear them being spoken in the voice of your partner, investor, customer, or other intended, and respond to them just as if you were engaged in a real conversation. Once these words are sent into the ether, know that they must, by law find their physical counterpart and objectify to the degree that your subject can see the same for themselves and to the degree that you in fact are convinced of their reality.

Spiritual author, Neville, likens this to a radio transmission which starts as words, are transformed into radio waves, finds a receiver tuned to the same frequency, and are then transformed back into the same words but now emanating from the receiver. So cast a spell by writing the script for your desired scene, and while you're at it, send this Life Rhyme to that one person or to as many people as you want to enchant!

154. I Ain't Goin' Out Like That!

2000-08-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

HOW are you going out?
with a whimper or a roar?
Basking in the light of your best
or always knowing you could have been more?

How ARE you going out?
With a flicker or a flame?
A has-been that never was
or as the Tiger of your game?

How are YOU going out?
Dressed to impress or to spread gloom?
Will others be brightened or will they frown
when you walk into the room?

How are you going out?
Intent to conquer or set to bow?
Living the life of your dreams
or never making that silent vow?

I say go OUT the way you came in
a gift expected, celebrated and wished
Rise to the heights of your you-ness
And live your life so you'll be missed!

Commentary:
“I ain't goin' out like that!”

When I first heard a friend utter those words in response to a challenge in his life, I realized that—despite its offensiveness to students of proper English, it summed up in a unique way my own feelings towards success, failure, accomplishments, fate, my work ethic, and my ability to control my outcomes.

Since then, it's been my silent mantra whenever faced with a situation or challenges that threaten to keep me back, or an event that seeks to write a chapter in my story that I don't want written.

“I ain't goin' out like that!” says that when the final chapter is indeed written, that “That's NOT the way I want my story to go! That's NOT what I want people to say about me! That's NOT how I want to be remembered! That’s not what I will allow to take me out of the game!”

And when faced with a challenge that is poised to relegate me to obscurity or to second place, those six words give me the energy to dig deep inside and pull out the necessary energy, stamina, thoughts, words and deeds to do what must be done, and then I do it. 'Cause I mean it, I AIN'T GOIN' OUT LIKE THAT!!!! (Ah, if my High School English teacher, Mr. Arcari, could hear me now!)

“I Ain't Goin' Out Like That!”
Walt’s Life Rhyme #154
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

153. Mental Coup d'etat

2000-07-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

(An Allegory for Revolution)

Charge the hill and take it
while the sentry is asleep
The time to launch attacks is when
the world's in slumber deep

The guard is down and weakened
and the doors are opened wide
When walls are left unwatched
then is the time to shift the tide

By day the troops are active
but by night when all do rest
You’ll catch the world off guard
and win the day without protest

Like soldiers habits linger
intent to keep you down and low
But a single dream empowered
is all it takes to overthrow!

Mental Coup d'etat
Walt’s Life Rhyme #153
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
The Key to the allegory:
The “world” is you. The “soldiers” are your old thoughts you've empowered to keep watch and maintain things as they are. They are the appointed sentries of self-imposed limitations, standing ever watchful to block your uprising. The “rebels” are your dreams and desires intent on overthrowing the established order. The rebels seek a moment when your own guard is down to successfully stage the mental coup that will set you free.

The “night” represents such a time of lowered defenses. A time brought about by pleasant experiences, uplifting conversation, positive associations, or simply the silence of your own meditation. Give your dreams the “cover” they need to work in your favor. Make the most of those days when you feel like you can take on the world. Make the most of your time with those who strengthen and empower you. Your rebel dreams will recognize that the sentries are “asleep” and the coast is clear to win control! Now read the allegory again and go onward to your personal mental victory!

152. Seller's Market

2000-07-21T02:33:00.000-07:00

When markets close and scores are tallied
“sellers” always win the day
The ones who hawk their wares eternal
always know just what to say

But “buyers” meanwhile wonder
if what they're getting is pure gold
No matter how the purchase pleases
they only choose from what they're sold

What's true for stocks and bonds and products
holds true for love, ideas and thought
Yes, any thing you have of value
was sold FIRST, and THEN bought

So set a worth that makes you priceless
then make your pitch and make it count
And every part of you that's selling
endears you by the same amount

(So you can wait and then be sold to,
or you can be the one to sell.
They'll never know your wit and wonder
unless it shows or 'til you tell)

Commentary:
How will they know just how valuable, and lovable, and wonderful, and witty, and caring, and loving and likeable you are, unless you sell it or tell it? Don't be above selling. You do it every day, and in every way. You sell your skills to an employer, you sell your product to the world, you sell “the joy of getting to know you” to the one you fancy.
It's been shown that most businesses fail, and most hearts go untouched, because their owners don't know how to sell, or somehow they feel they shouldn't have to sell. Don't make that mistake. Sell! Sell! Sell! (Note: Not to be confused with “selling out” or “selling yourself short” or “selling your soul.”)

Sellers Market
Walt’s Life Rhyme #152
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

151. In Final Preparation

2000-07-14T02:29:00.000-07:00

If Success today knocked at your door
would you be ready to let it in?
If the life you want said, “Come let's go!”
would you know where to begin?

If the journey you prayed and hoped for
was yours to take with ease
Would your bags be packed and waiting
or would you say, “Just hold on please?”

Well don't wait for invitations
to write your ticket to the ball
Prepare for good in all its guises
so you'll be ready for the call

Make room for all the visitors
buy the clothes that you will wear
And if you dream of fame and fortune,
then write the words you want to hear

Between hope and preparation
There's a difference by design:
One's the light you'll use to guide you
one's the switch that makes it shine!

Commentary:
It's often been said that it's better to be prepared and not have an opportunity, than to have an opportunity and not be prepared. The act of preparing for your dreams can often be the single step necessary that brings them to reality. So have your ticket waiting!

In Final Preparation
Walt’s Life Rhyme #151
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

150. The River and the Rock

2000-07-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

What would happen if you placed a wall
in the middle of a river? Try to block it
and the river will stop, rise to the level of
the obstruction and flow easily over it.

Would that I too were just like a river
rising surely to the level of the rocks
I would meet any challenge before me in life
and then surpass any and all of the blocks

For whatever terrain I encounter
whether canyon or rocks bent on wrath
They would never affect the way to my goal
but would mean I just alter my path

Nor would I fear any precipice
nor any cliff no matter how tall
But leap self-assured that the best is to come
for water shows much beauty when it falls

And in the process of seeking my level
eventually I would reach the sea
And reunited with the source from whence I have come
I'd become the very thing I seek to be!

The River And The Rock
[Excerpt from The River And The Rock by Walt Goodridge, an unpublished manuscript]
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

The Moral Of The Story:
The river rises to the level of any obstruction.

The terrain only affects the river's path, not its progress.

The river is not afraid to fall.

The river seeks the path of least resistance.

The river eventually becomes the thing it seeks.

149. What Are You Rehearsing?

2000-06-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

What scenes do you rehearse each day
when idle thoughts prevail?
The power scenes in which you win
or ones in which you fail?

Is your mind wrapped up in “what if” thoughts
in practice for a fight?
Do butterflies abound inside
when you go to bed at night?

“Oh boy, I just can't wait 'til then,
Show her a thing or two!
And this is what I'll say to that!
and this is what I'll do!”

Rehashing scenes that have since passed
and what you should have said?
Or pining for a rematch
though the moment's gone and dead?
Instead of “no”, “not”, “never”, “can't”
let's play a different game
Affirm “I have”, “I will”, “I can”
“I love you just the same”

The funny thing 'bout life is this
(and please take this to heart)
When you practice roles first in your mind
you often get to play the part!

What Are You Rehearsing?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #149
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

C0mmentary:
So whether it's that expected call from a creditor, or that impending showdown with your boss or coworker, or the ugly upcoming scene between you and your significant other, think about how much time you spend affirming, reinforcing and practicing your lines for undesirable scenes. Consider how much strength you lose when you mentally “show up for the showdown”, instead of putting your thoughts to better use.

Think about how much more productive and empowered you would be if you used the same energy instead to affirm the positive. It takes about the same amount of energy, you know, but will make your days much less stressful! Try it!

But, if you feel you really need to be prepared for that scene, then here's a tip: plan what you'll say, and write it down so you won't forget. THEN spend the rest of the time rehearsing the ideal desirable scene; the one in which you have the money, the one where all goes well, the one where all is healed and everyone is happy. Steep your thoughts in that reality and notice how you feel today.

You may find that when you practice the success script in your mind, that you never have to use any other in real life.

148. The Game

2000-06-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Caught up, wrapped up, blocked and barred
in a desperate bid for the ball
It's easy to forget sometimes
it's just a game now after all

Bruised and battered, tossed and turned
feels like persecution of some sort
But you're no more victim of this life
than a player is victim of sport

You chose the game now play it well
opposing teams will do what they must
So dodge and leap and overcome
with some teammates you know you can trust

Spectator and player both you must be
step back and watch yourself score
Your mortal trappings are yours to transcend
Yep, that's really what it's for

The strategy then is play to win
aim to do more than just simply survive
The goal is to recover your greatness in life
the final objective is to learn how to thrive!

The Game
Walt’s Life Rhyme #148
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Here’s a quote from Do Less, Achieve More by Chin-Ning Chu:
“The rules of business, life and sports are
all about overcoming strong oppositional forces.
The ball game becomes a metaphor for life.
Problems occur when we forget that stress is
an inevitable part of the human condition. Have
fun playing the game of your life.”

147. Your Right

2000-06-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

You have the right to freedom, yes
and all that means to you
You have the right to be yourself
let none choose you for you

You have the right to speak your mind
let none suppress your voice
You have the right too NOT to hear
and exercise that choice

You have the right to disconnect
if someone holds you back
You have the right to prosper now
despite a past of lack

You have the right to keep your toys
away from harm or theft
(But sometimes in this world of things
your right is all that's left!)

And anything you say or do
can be used to bind or free
So use these rights to live your dreams
make them your new decree!

Your Right
Walt’s Life Rhyme #147
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

146. The Right Question

2000-06-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Your life is the answer to a question
you'll find responding is not the real task
No, the trick to living life with purpose you see
is knowing which question to ask

Some ask “Why me?” in frustration
and respond with a life filled with pain
Some ask “What's next?” with elation
and on happiness they seem to make gain

“What's in it for me?” others query
and seem forever on a self-centered quest
“What more can I be?” a small few wonder
and show others their personal best

“What's wrong with the world? Oh, how tragic!”
Some see with eyes of woe and despair
“What's wrong with the world? Let me fix it!”
And those strive always to heal and repair

So all in all it's a question of answers
that determines if you win or you lose
For when life is an answer to a question
your life depends on which question you choose!

The Right Question
Walt’s Life Rhyme #146
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

As an expert in five business categories on several popular expert websites, I receive dozens of questions from people wanting to know the answers to various business concerns. Yesterday morning, I received a question from “Stromie.” I'm not sure whether Stromie was a child asking an innocent question, or an older person in a prankster's mood, but I took the time to answer seriously.

stromie asked:
“what will i be when i grow up???”
“how much money will i make??? “

Stromie's questions arrived in my inbox a full day after I had completed what is now today's Life Rhyme #146. Although it arrived a day after the fact, it seemed the perfect question to the Life Rhyme I had written! So here then, is my answer to Stromie, along with today's Life Rhyme which was already prepared and waiting for him/her to ask just the right question.

Hi Stromie,
That's an EXCELLENT question! Whether you're a child or adult, remember you're always growing, and what you will be from one moment to the next is completely under your control. It's great that you're asking these sorts of questions, because many people never start to really ask the right questions until they're quite unhappy in life. But instead of asking ME what you will be when you grow up, ask yourself instead “what do I love to do?” “What is it that excites me and how do I want to spend my days?” Those questions will lead you in the direction of your passion, which as you may know, is where I always direct people.
How much money you will make is not as important as “what sort of difference can you make.” It's been said that you should “Do what you love and the money will follow.” I sincerely believe that and I am also a living testament to that philosophy. Keep asking the right questions, my friend!

145. If Only for a Moment

2000-06-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

No sugar coats, no candy wraps
no lens of rosy hue
What mountains could you move my friend
what magic would you do?

If things were seen for what they are
without the smoke and mirrors
Transparent would the takers be
revealed would be the givers

And lies would shrink in light of day
and truth would not retire
And eyes that could decipher
would spot wolves in sheeps’ attire

The distance between who you'll be
and who you think you are
Once seen as but a single step
just wouldn't seem that far

Just for a moment work with me
allow yourself to see
And know in all its shapes and forms
the truth DOES set you free!

Commentary:
The truth of your situation, the truth of another's intentions towards you, the truth of what you've been allowing people to get away with, the truth of what you could really accomplish if you accepted the truth of your greatness--recognizing the truth in all its manifestations in your life is the key to responding in your own best interests and moving forward in love instead of fear! Don't you see it?

If Only For A Moment
Walt’s Life Rhyme #145
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

144. Ask the Inspirer: Restless

2000-05-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Walt,
I am a 27 year old female with a Master's in counseling education. I am restless! My interests include traveling, watching sports, writing, and sleeping. Yes, sleeping!! I am an avid football fan, and I love working with teen-agers. Because I don't like my job and I don't possess as much money as I desire in order to do the things I like, I find myself unmotivated and caught in the monotony of work. Sometimes people ask me what it is I want to do, and my response is “I don't know.” To be honest, if I had my way, I'd have enough money and influence that I would not need to work for money, but instead travel, have fun, sleep, and volunteer my time to nonprofit organizations that really serve in the best interest of children, especially teen-agers. Several people have encouraged me to go back to school and get a Ph. D. I have no desire to add another degree to my resume. Right now, I just want to have fun and enjoy life; I don't see going back to school factoring into that equation. Please help me make sense of what I am feeling! Thanks -Restless

Hi Restless,
Personally, I think you're a quite normal human being. You're simply feeling the tug of a quite healthy realization that there must be more to life than this. I felt the same way for years when I was caught up in the corporate day-to-day. It wasn't until I decided to pursue my passion and walk away from my job that life, with all its ups and downs, started to take on a new thrill.
I'm sure the sleeping is just a reaction to the absence of passion in your life. It's quite tiring to keep up the facade, don't you think? And sleep is a great way to escape from having to face the frustration. I agree with you that a PhD may not be the way to go. The pursuit of higher degrees is often just a way for frightened folks to delay the inevitability of facing the reality of a life of quiet desperation.

When I ask passion seekers “what do you want to do?”, I'm not asking “Who do you want to work for?” I'm asking “What adds passion to your life? If you didn't have to work for money, what would you rather be doing?” Your letter reveals some clues as to what that might be. You've already said that what moves you to action is to do something in the “best interest of children.” I suggest you head in that direction. You've got to start living life from the feeling of the wish fulfilled. I followed my passion for music, and was first a radio deejay, then I managed artists, then started a record label, which eventually led me to start writing books to share my music industry knowledge with others, which has now led me to sharing my insights online and in workshops to help others find their passion. I believe I'm on the right track now, but I wouldn't have gotten here had I not taken that FIRST step in the direction of my passion, and been willing to change course as required. So take a step towards your passion. It may not be the final answer, but it may be your first direction.

Eventually you'll discover things about yourself you never knew. You'll get to know your motivation, your mission, and the underlying feeling that you seek to have in your life. You'll be able to harness your talents to devise a passion-centered life that brings you the fulfillment you seek. Now it may not be that you'll start a business around your passion, though I believe you could easily do so. But an end to the restlessness you feel starts with taking that first step.

Living a life of false pretense
can make you feel so tired
You've got to find a passion, friend
to make you feel inspired

Some people think the answer
lies in higher education
But that may simply be a way
to hide one's true frustration

So ask yourself: With all needs met
what would I rather do?
What value can I add to life
that may help others too?

Don't think in terms of profit first
for money's not the thing
What matters is the journey
and the growth that it will bring

The restlessness you feel
is your desire to be more
Decide then to jump into life
and all it has in store!

Restless
Walt’s Life Rhyme #144
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

143. What if I Shine Too Bright?

2000-05-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have a friend whose greatness shows
who holds herself in doubt
When others give her praise
prefers they whisper but not shout

Afraid she just won't measure up
the way that others see her
She shrinks from praise and accolades
the consummate self-deceiver

Genius concealed, greatness denied
her power held at bay
Her greater self: a lesser self
afraid of what they'll say

In fearing that our flaws
will much too soon be brought to light
We douse our flame, and dim our beam
and dare not shine too bright

But heed not words, both good and bad
(we fear both first and latter)
Embrace the truth of who you are
so others' words won't matter

What If I Shine Too Bright?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #143
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
I told her that it's not the responsibility of others to downplay their admiration for her because she is afraid to burst their bubble by being human. The key is to center herself in the single truth of who she is so that neither others' good nor bad opinions will displace her core, and to know that, in the words of George Clinton, “everybody's got a little light, under the sun!” So let it shine for others to see!
Inspired by and Dedicated to Denise C., Z.O., & O.F.

142. The Hidden Whole

2000-05-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

It might seem paranormal, yes
to those who don't believe
But those who see beyond the veil
create what they conceive

If all minds are connected
then no thought can stand apart
Your dreams and mine are really one
we share a common heart

We see ourselves as separate
when we miss the hidden whole
The place where we're just faces
of a single seeking soul

Impossible is real
for those who hold it to be true
When you see the whole in every part
this and greater will you do!

EXTRA CREDIT-BONUS VERSES:

Most people paint with brushes
dipped in palettes of self-doubt
Illusions of their weakness
block their secret powers out

What is and was is everywhere
and everything is everything
Repeat these magic words
and watch the power that they bring!

The Hidden Whole
Walt’s Life Rhyme #142
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

141. A Tale of Time for the Tardy

2000-05-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

She said she needed a system
but I had none I could offer
no tried and true way to make passing time bend to her will

I said the answer's much deeper
than any pilot or planner
it's about self-expectation I'm afraid there's no magic pill

“I try so hard to be on time
for each appointment”, she added.
“But I keep missing the boat, so tell me what should I do?”

When YOU see yourself as a winner
you'll act in line with that self-image
and do all that you can to make that vision of you be true

For those who don't show up on time
are not their own first priority
they've devalued themselves and placed something else up above

For you will notice in life
people make time for what they value
and they never need a system to be on time for what they love

Time it's true is just illusion
but can be servant or master
It can come when you beckon or it can flee and ignore

It seeks out those with a purpose
and favors those who are focused
Time even seems to pass slower for those who love themselves more!

A Tale of Time For The Tardy
Walt’s Life Rhyme #141
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

140. New Words to Live By

2000-04-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

We choose to live our lives each day
by rules that we've been taught
And put our trust in dos and don'ts
that often come to naught

It's by such rules we live life
choosing safety over sorrow
We lose control of each today
and doom each new tomorrow

New ways, new rules, new people too
are yours to pick and choose
So keep the ones that serve you well
and others you refuse

The life lived in the present
comes from choices in your past
Each moment brings the chance to make
new choices that will last

So find new words to live by
yes, new thoughts that come from you
When free to choose another view
there's no telling what you'll do!

A New Words To Live By
Walt’s Life Rhyme #140
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

139. You Didn't Know?

2000-04-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

You must not know just who I am
to try to keep me back
I'm not the one who shrinks in fear
or runs from an attack

Apparently you hadn’t heard
I've not come here to bow
I've come this way to conquer
and show others their way how

Fear not the man who digs a pit
it's the digger who falls in
But blessed is he who sets his sail
then makes his very own wind!

(BONUS VERSE):
For no man exists that by himself
holds the keys to all your doors
Proceed with faith and have no doubt
you'll ALWAYS get what's truly yours!!!

Dedicated to Terrie Williams

You Didn’t Know?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #139
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

138. The Rules

2000-04-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Be clear on what you want
then take the time to set some rules
You'll build a life of dreams
if you will use these rules as tools

Don't make the rules then break them
then commence your daily whine
When others through their actions say
“These rules are yours not mine”

No, don't expect the rules to change
the things that people do
The rules are there for just one soul:
They're made for guiding YOU!

Commentary:
Decide what's acceptable and not in your life. Set your boundaries. Then let others know your rules. But know, most of all, that the most important person who needs to respect them is you!

The Rules
Walt’s Life Rhyme #138
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

137. All of Me

2000-04-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Some will love your beauty
and will crave you for the view
Some are wooed well by your ways
and little things you do

Some want you for reasons
based entirely on lust
Some you’ll win through honesty
you’re someone they can trust

Inner charm, intelligence
your elegance and grace
Express themselves in outer ways
like features, form and face

And though you think these parts
are not in fact the real true you
All parts are part and parcel
of the you that’s shining through

So fault not men for looking
shrink not guilty from the light
Say, “this I am and more “
And say it proud, with all your might!

For diamonds show all colors
when they’re offered to the light
Each looker sees it differently
and everyone sees right!

Dedicated to O.F.

All Of Me
Walt’s Life Rhyme #137
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

136. Interview with an Inspirer

2000-03-31T04:27:00.000-08:00

Transcribing words the truth is
that I merely hold the pen
And what I write are often truths
that help my own life mend

Is it because of who you are
you do the things you do?
Or is it through the things you do
you're molded into you?

From choices made it's said
that we too are made in turn
You always teach the best
the thing that you most need to learn!

Interview With An Inspirer
Walt’s Life Rhyme #136
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary: Interview With An Inspirer
[an online interview conducted by an Life Rhyme reader]

D: Walt, do you write a new inspirational poem every Friday?
WALT: Yep. Usually Thursday night, but lately they've been coming Friday mornings.
D: (they've been coming)...I take it that means the thoughts right?
WALT: Yes, I sometimes get knocked out of my sleep early Friday morning with an idea that I need to communicate. If I want to create one on demand, I can do that too, but the more effective and poignant ones are the ones that create ME.
D: Interesting. How does that work?
WALT: The Life Rhymes are lessons that I need to learn in my own journey. I find that as I go through a particular challenge in my life, there's a Life Rhyme that guides me towards a new way of thinking and being. They're often cathartic, and instructional in addition to being inspirational. So, in effect, they are creating me. They are my becoming—my path to becoming more and more of who I am. I simply move the pen.

135. The Missing Ingredient

2000-03-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

In love it seems I'm wanting
though I wait with hopes held high
Still nothing seems to come my way
and I've got to find out why

I expect the best in all I do
so why does love elude?
What change should I enact then
in my current attitude?

I'm happy in my business life
yes, that's where I have more
I expect, then GIVE, then wait and then
the sales come to my door

Perhaps the fact that love's not there
reflects on how I'm living
Perhaps in love I'm hoarding me
and am not truly giving

For when it seems you still don't get
the dreams for which you're meant
Consistent acts of kindness
might be the missing ingredient!

Commentary:
Often, when I would compare my business life and my social life, there would be a great disparity and imbalance between the two. What was I doing wrong? In both these areas of my life I have great expectations. (And I knew that expecting the best was the key to success!)

In both it seems I often wait
for the appearance of my good.
In one rewards come every day,
while in another not as they should.

It then became clear to me that in my business ventures, I was constantly creating and giving of myself in ways that bent the universe in my direction. In my personal relationships, however, I wasn't creating (giving) with the same energy. At first the recipes seemed similar (expect, act and wait). But upon closer examination, I noticed there was a little extra ingredient (expect, act, GIVE and wait).
So, in which area of your life do you seem to waiting in vain? Perhaps you should try giving more to prime the universal pump!

The Missing Ingredient
Walt’s Life Rhyme #135
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

134. Running on Empty

2000-03-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Just enough time to get where I'm going
Just enough gas to reach there and back
Just enough water to put out the fire
Just enough money to solve this new lack

Seems I live just at the border of barely
moving from one dire need to the next
With nothing left over to save for tomorrow
with nothing to give others and that makes me vex

Wouldn't it be nice to live always in extra
tasting the froth and cream of my cup
Living life full on the other side of having
sharing earth's wealth now before time is up?

So why do I keep all my cups as half-empty?
It's always been so and I've searched to find why
My concept of love became how I viewed money
an endangered resource in limited supply

But others have taught me like air for the breathing
that love is abundant and never is spent
There's always a place to return and refill
so drink and be merry to the full heart's content

Life's gifts are abundant and there for the having
around you is more than enough so don't fear
But know first that how you view love and it's giving
determines if you'll have your extra to spare!

Running On Empty
Walt’s Life Rhyme #134
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

133. Lemonade

2000-03-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sail high and wide where others fumble
remain safe and sound above the fray
The road is sometimes rife with thorns
that others cast right in your way

For when you're three feet high and rising
others may try to make you trip
Fear not the traps that may beset you
but go now forward with this tip:

“Use their arrows to fight your battles
use their cloud-filled thoughts as shade
When they try to sour you with lemons
use their gifts to make lemonade.”

Arm in arm with competition?
it's often the best place you can hide
For they can't wage war successfully
with their opponent by their side!

Lemonade
Walt’s Life Rhyme #133
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

132. You First

2000-03-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

From the moment that I saw you
I felt my heart starting to reel
But if I let you see me look
you'll know too soon just how I feel

I'm aching to approach you
with some words to break the ice
But if I make the first move now
you may respond just to be nice

I'm thinking I should call you
and put my ego to the side
But if I throw my mask away
I leave myself no place to hide

I'm feeling that I love you
and that those words I too will hear
But if I'm bold and say them first
I'll never know if you do care

But if I go on waiting
never risking ‘til “you first”
I'll be safe that's true, but so alone
and I don't know which one is worse

Well I've decided to be happy
and live within this simple truth:
“Never be afraid to go out on a limb,
that's where you'll find the sweetest fruit.”

You First
Walt’s Life Rhyme #132
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

131. Who Wants to Marry A Million Fears?

2000-02-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

If all that you think about is silver and gold
then happiness for you is a thing bought and sold

If the dreams of your life simply stop with the buck
then your quest for fulfillment is based purely on luck

Is it any surprise those you attract feel the same
and will ransom your beauty for fortune and fame?

For to them life and love is a game to be played
and their fear they could lose is what makes them afraid

For on opposite sides of the same coin of tears
are the people who marry based on self-doubt and fears

So seek first to be rich in your view of yourself
and be more than a prize to be picked off the shelf!

Inspired by the “reality” game show Who Wants To Marry a Millionaire?

Who Wants To Marry A Million Fears?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #131
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

130. The Currency of Your Life

2000-02-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

Pay with money for the lessons
if that's the thing you hold most dear
Pay with time now gone forever
and maybe now your ears will hear

Pay with happiness and laughter
and then you'll choose a different way
Each day's experience holds a lesson
and every time you'll have to pay

But when your own deep inner value
exceeds the world's beyond a doubt
Your currency will be a different kind
and you'll never do without

The Currency of Your Life
Walt’s Life Rhyme #130
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
You always pay for what you learn. The marketplace of life is such that you trade the thing of most value to you for the lessons you need to learn. So what do you most value? Is it your reputation, your money, your time? If time is your most valuable asset, then the lessons you learn will almost always rob you of time. If money is your most valued possession then your particular life lessons will always be quite expensive. The currency of your life buys you experience and wisdom. But you can get all you need for free if you simply value the right thing!

129. A New Way to Relate

2000-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

It takes some getting used to, yes
this new way to relate
For years we've known things as they were
what now shall we create?

It means new definitions
and a shift to new from old
A chance to be a different me
and play another role

Sometimes we see things as they were
and fear there’s more in store
Sometimes we see things that might be
which scares us even more

It takes new eyes to see the world
beyond the past you know
With open mind the task will ease
What better way to grow?

A New Way To Relate
Walt’s Life Rhyme #129
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
The past does not equal the present nor the present the future. Who you were or who someone else was just a minute before can change in an instant. Keep an open mind to life's miracles of change that can help you move into the future. Give it a chance to become what it could be. Things are only as real as your faith in their reality.

128. Solutions

2000-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

It makes no sense to speak your woes
and not want to overcome
Some people wear the troubled brow
for company when glum

They seek advice from “never wills”
who just don't have a clue
While others look for “shoulda dones”
and ask them what to do

The best advice is “what I did”
combined with “follow me”
For those you ask for guidance
should be where you wish to be!

Solutions
Walt’s Life Rhyme #128
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Too often, we seek advice not from people who know, but simply people we know. We take direction not from people who've done it and now know what to do, but from people who failed and don't really have a clue. For the best teacher is experience, and the best advice is “follow me.” Learn your lessons from others who are now where you wish to be. --Excerpt from Turn Your Passion Into Profit by Walt Goodridge

127. The Return of What Never Was

2000-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you get a chance to revisit the past
with the opportunity to close or to clear
We all grow beyond who we once thought we were
and should share it with those once held dear

You may find new chances to reconcile
open chapters you once left unread
You can finally close doors that you once left ajar
and say words that you once left unsaid

Your unresolved past often lingers and looms
and casts shadows on any path that you see
The point of power in life is right here with you now
so accept, learn, forgive and be free

Yes, paths that diverged can unite once again
that's the way it seems life often does
Life gives you a chance to recreate in the now
the longed for past that never quite was

The Return Of What Never Was
Walt’s Life Rhyme #127
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Achieving the future you dream of often depends on first letting go of something or someone in your past. At other times, you may find that the people you just weren't ready for back then are back again to give you another chance! Look out for these golden opportunities to grow!

Dedicated to RJ, CTGII, MS, CS, MR

126. Not Destined to Repeat

2000-01-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

I think I used to know what it was like to feel true love
when who and what I was became perfection in their eyes
But then I came to think that I was just not good enough
and hid myself from view within a cold dark world of lies

I saw that those around me lived for years without a touch
and smiles and hugs and kisses too need not be part of life
These images affect me still and haunt me just as much
and make me fear commitment and result in days of strife

But someone told me recently some words I've longed to hear
that other people in my life are really loving me
And just because some chose to live entrapped in loveless fear
that doesn't mean that I will too and thus I can be free!

Not Destined To Repeat
Walt’s Life Rhyme #126
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

125. The Next Soul Step

2000-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Is it time for me to move on?
Is that what this is all about?
For it seems the clues I'm getting
have gone from whisper to a shout

Should I explore some other options?
See what lies out there ahead?
Or should I give this one more chance
work on reviving it instead?

Maybe I've learned all I can learn here
seen all that there is to see
Elevated my mind's awareness
took a soul step from A to B

For when the journey seems too stressful
beyond the normal ups and downs
The path of least resistance
is where your next step can be found

The Next Soul Step
Walt’s Life Rhyme #125
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
What are the clues you're getting about the journey you're on with your job, your home, your friendships or your partner? Is the business interaction strained? Are you always at odds with each other? Are you being constantly disappointed? Is it getting harder and harder to do what used to be so easy? Sometimes when the hill gets steeper, you might be nearing a plateau of personal growth, or you might be wise to seek another path to get to the top.

There's a difference between struggle and stress.

The struggle of necessary growth feels different from the unnecessary stress of people and processes you've outgrown. You tell the difference by asking yourself: Is there another way to reach my goal without the stress? Is this struggle helping or hindering me? Is this person supporting or sabotaging? Is the experience making me a better person in any way? Or is it a sign I need to find a better path? Ask. Answer. Act.

124. Echoes from Within

2000-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Is it the same relationship
but just a different face?
Do you feel the view's not changing
'cause you're just running in place?

Take some time to grow
so you don't make the same decisions
You're where you are by what you know
so make needed revisions

When the questions feel like deja vu
and you get the same replies
See what need is filled
and ask again with different eyes

Until you move beyond
and let true love of self begin
Everything you meet without
will remain echoes of within

Echoes From Within
Walt’s Life Rhyme #125
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
There is nothing that you encounter in your life that is not simply a reflection of something within you. Until you discover the reasons why you keep creating the same reality over and over again, it might be wise to hold off on making choices until you're sure that your actions are based on self-love and not further expressions of self sabotage.
The only way to be sure that you're moving in the right direction is to ask the right questions and answer them honestly.
Assume you are writing the scripts of your day to day experiences, and ask yourself why would you create the scenes you do? What purpose or plot is being served by the drama you allow yourself to experience?

123. Countdown to Perfection

1999-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's the countdown to perfection
the dawning of a new age
A chance to make a new beginning
the chance to turn a brand new page

It's the season of adulthood
a focus shift you must begin
No longer guided by the outer
seek now your guidance from within

It's the flowering of your potential
set higher goals and raise the bar
No longer bound by your excuses
free to become all that you are

It's the harvest of abundance
fret not thyself no need for tears
All that you need will be provided
so don't give in to all the fears

It's the milestone you've awaited
t minus 3... 2... 1... and then?
After this calendar moment passes
why not just simply start again?

For what of days beyond tomorrow?
Will each be viewed with equal weight?
When you see each moment as perfection
you become the master of your fate!

Countdown To Perfection
Walt’s Life Rhyme #123
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

122. Keeping Perspective

1999-12-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

In the heat of the moment
your vision can often get blurred
Responses miss what was said
and instead hit what’s heard

In the maze of inner anger
you get lost with no way out
Actions lead you nowhere quickly
love gets cast in shades of doubt

So step away to gain perspective
to see anew when you return
When time is used to wait for answers
you'll be surprised at what you learn

Keeping Perspective
Walt’s Life Rhyme #122
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

121. The Life Tide

1999-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Against the tide at times in life
it seems that you will swim
When nothing seems to go quite right
and prospects start to dim

But know that days will soon be bright
it won't be always thus
So curse not the departing tide
try not to make a fuss

Like oceans life flows high and low
you'll never know just when
The tide of life will roll back in
and good times come again!

The Life Tide
Walt’s Life Rhyme #121
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

120. The Inspirer's Dream

1999-12-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Live it up hold nothing back
throw caution to the wind
In life and love that perfect chance
may never come again

Say what you mean, mean what you say
live life with no regrets
This game is one you play but once
no time to hedge your bets

I shared my dreams with one
and said don't let the secret out
But truth to tell my wish is that
the rooftops hear me shout

For some will wish and want and wail
while some will wait on fate
But the future that becomes your life
is the one that you create!

Dedicated to Khadijah

The Inspirer’s Dream
Walt’s Life Rhyme #120
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

119. How to Let it Go

1999-12-03T00:00:00.001-08:00

Insults are observations
that our ego's vested in
We strive to be what we are not
and cast ourselves in sin

There's struggle in opposing truth
For what's denied will last
Resist it and it pushes back
Accept and it will pass

It's what you say does not exist
that lingers on for years
What's railed against is given life
What's seen then disappears

The man who sees things as they are
can then be free to grow
For 'til you hold a thing in hand
you cannot let it go

How To Let It Go
Walt’s Life Rhyme #120
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

118. The Magical Moment of Truth

1999-11-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

In the magical moment of truth
the risks rewards outweigh
You often find that what you want’s
already on its way

In the magical moment of truth
provided you’re listening well
You might hear words of love from those
you thought would never tell

In the magical moment of truth
all the illusions disappear
For lies are walls that block our view
with truth we see things clear

Commentary:
Our daily lives are filled with big
steps towards happiness that come
as little magical moments of truth.

The Magical Moment Of Truth
Walt’s Life Rhyme #118
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

117. Judge Not

1999-11-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's the same life lesson once again
I'm learning not to judge
But habits can be mules sometimes
they just refuse to budge

When preconceptions take control
I don't accept all as I should
But everyone deserves a chance
so I'll focus on their good

I'm prone to discount others' worth
and judge by what I see
Since other's worth mirrors my own
I'm really judging me

My world is made by gifts of thought
I get that which I give
I'll judge not lest I too be judged
and learn well how to live

Judge Not
Walt’s Life Rhyme #117
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

116. Challenges of Scale

1999-11-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

To walk a thousand miles just take
one step after another
For some will freeze in awe
and with the trip they just won't bother

A river weaves around a rock
through paths which least resist
And leaves a canyon in its wake
which always will exist

There's nothing made that can't be seen
the sum of smaller parts
From projects large, to daily chores
to wishes of our hearts

And we who dream big dreams should know
that we can never fail
Once success is viewed as just
a doable challenge of scale

Challenges of Scale
Walt’s Life Rhyme #116
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Amassing a savings, losing weight, writing a book, managing a project, even cleaning a messy kitchen (my personal nightmare), are all doable tasks if you see them for what they are: the end result of a series of individual actions. Don't be intimidated by the sheer size of them, or the distance to the goal, or you may lose the will to venture forth. Similarly, long term dreams of who and what we want to be already exist within us on a smaller scale, and we just need to build on them step by step until they come true!

115. Keep it Simple

1999-11-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Someone asked me recently why the Life Rhymes are often so similar in ideology, and why
they sometimes aren't more complex. Well, you see

Most of us don't notice
the news we hear each day is sad
That someone's made a choice
to harp and focus on the bad

A Life Rhyme’s meant to counter
the flood of negatives each day
From people who don't realize
the power of what they say

Our lives, our jobs, our children
could use a boost and that's a fact
And like a single smile or hug
there's great power in simple acts

See, the solution is really simple:
we need to focus on the good
And few places can you hear
good words repeated as they should

As your situation changes
a new life-challenge is brought to bear
And that determines what it means
and interprets what you hear

So my mission here is simple
I'm simply sharing what I know
Giving thoughts of hope
that some may choose to use to grow

Keep It Simple
Walt’s Life Rhyme #115
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Consider the Life Rhymes your weekly smile in the face of adversity. A hug in a world that's been pushed too far apart. And remember, keep it simple! Don’t confuse simplicity with shallowness.

114. The Art of Creation

1999-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Life's all about creation
that's all we ever do
Even amidst destruction
we're simply creating something new

Don't let appearance fool you
the cycle's not as it may seem
The sequence we accept
is simply that which we deem

Relationships that come and go
and businesses that fail
Effects of one creative force
when seen behind the veil

Through actions or the lack
you're always building in some way
It's impossible to be non-creative
as sure as night will follow day

One creation follows another
and there's no one else to blame
For behind each carefully crafted scene
stands a builder with your name

Walt’s Life Rhyme #114
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

113. Restaurant of Wishes

1999-10-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world of wishes
I AM your waiter and your guide
So much exists here on the menu
it's sometimes tricky to decide

First dream at night to place your order
ask yourself how would it feel
What ways would I be living
if what I wished for was now real?

I'll take peace of mind for starters
with self-acceptance on the side
I've heard the love here is like heaven
and so I'd like to say I've tried

Bring success in 3 large helpings
for body, spirit and my mind
Prepared in love (my favorite dressing)
with lots of cash if you'd be so kind

A cup of wealth that runneth over
enough for those who aren't here
Success for all here at my table
and don't forget to hold the fear

And for dessert a bowl of memories
with wisdom sprinkled on the top
And experience to share with others
with refills of patience that don’t stop

(And if it's not too late to ask it
a bit of tolerance wrapped to go
So others know that I've been through here
and as my souvenir to show)

For in this restaurant of wishes
just know that all who ask are served
Your order's taken as you thinketh
and brought to you when it's deserved!

The Restaurant Of Wishes
Walt’s Life Rhyme #113
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

112. The Evidence of Truth

1999-10-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Until there are actions
that show you are kind
Your claims of your charity
are just thoughts held in mind

Until there is beingness
to express what you know
Then your knowledge is naught
but an unperformed show

And until you become
what you say that you are
Then the world is deprived
of one special bright star

For in physical form
do our selves manifest
And through experience alone
do we share of our best!

The Evidence Of Truth
Walt’s Life Rhyme #112
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Inspired by author Neale Donald Walsch who says, “You can know yourself to be generous, but unless you do something which displays generosity, you have nothing but a concept. You can know yourself to be kind, but unless you do someone a kindness, you have nothing but an idea about yourself.Until concept becomes experience, all there is is speculation.”

111. Never Again

1999-10-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today it came real close to me
but I paused and let it go
Tomorrow if it comes again
I will act and make it so

I thought it was for someone else
so I watched it slip away
And kicked myself in harsh regret
over what I did not say

But from now on I'll recognize
the chances as they near
And never shall my fire of wants
be dowsed by waves of fear

I vow before the week is done
I'll make a dream come true
And come the time when next we meet
good news I'll share with you!

Never Again
Walt’s Life Rhyme #111
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com!”

110. The Real Me

1999-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

and my appearance
no that's not me
that's just the me
that others see

my personality
no that's not me
that's just the me
I'm trained to be

and my decisions
could they be me?
or just the me
I choose to be

what of my thoughts
are they of me?
or someone else
I cannot see?

is my awareness then
the real true me?
that sense of self
that none can see?

Perhaps we're waves
within the sea
simply expressions
of a single ME

The Real Me
Walt’s Life Rhyme #110
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

109. What's Luck Got to Do With It?

1999-09-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

And for the man who lacks direction
no sign can ever show the way
And in the life which has no purpose
then random chance doth seem at play

For if they ask me how I did it
what quirk of fate on me did smile
It's naught but faith and preparation
that makes my dreams come true in style

What’s Luck Got To Do With It?
Walt’s Life Rhyme #109
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

108. In Relation to All This

1999-09-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

In circumstances life presents
clear moments not to miss
The chance to ask whom shall I be
in relation to all this?

Will I be left to this right?
Will I be up for this down?
Will I be good to this bad?
Will I be smile to this frown?

For I can never really know the cold
if things have never been hot
To know myself as what I am
I must first know what I am not!

In Relation To All This
Walt’s Life Rhyme #108
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
The nature of life is that we are defined physically, mentally and spiritually in relationship to others. We only know who we are in our interactions with other people. Our chances to learn about ourselves, and to choose who we will become only exist when we interact with others.

We can define ourselves as happy only if there is something we call sad. We can define ourselves as positive only if there is such a thing called negative. We can choose who we wish to be only if there are those we know who are where we wish to be, and those who are not.

So embrace the opportunities that interacting with others offers you. Accept the role that people and circumstances play in your life simply by being who they are, and instead of crying “foul!”, simply ask yourself, “Who do I wish to be in relation to this?” The answer you find will determine your reaction to life.

107. In the Comfort of Our Own Creations

1999-09-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

In the comfort of our own creations
we often find ourselves at rest
Content to laze away our lives
without the urge to do what's best

In circumstances of our choosing
or as they say “the bed we've made”
We dread the days and damn the drama
and often wonder why we've stayed

This life we live is like a picture
with scenes we brush from head and heart
When once you recognize the painter
your days become like works of art!

In The Comfort Of Our Own Creations
Walt’s Life Rhyme #107
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
The world you live in is like a picture. A canvas upon which you have held the creator's brush all these years. Despite appearances to the contrary, it's not a tacky “B” movie into which you've been cast against your will. Who you are and the scenes that unfold are a direct outcome of decisions you've made given who you were at those moments.
Denying your part in the drama that unfolds and refusing to move to safer more nurturing quarters is the recipe for continued heartache.

Here's how it usually works: You choose from a place of awareness and then move forward to another scene. Soon, the choices you made in Act 1 no longer serve you in Act 2. Since life won’t allow you to go back and re-shoot the first act. Your only option is to make new decisions based on who you are NOW in Act 2. However, many of us get trapped forever living out our Act 1 choices fearing to make new decisions simply because of the comfort factor. We hate the place we are, but are fearful of change simply because we've gotten comfortable.

Even if we're in pain, it's such a familiar pain that we often choose to remain in the “comfort of our own creations” even when it ceases to support us in our growth.

The trick, therefore, is first to acknowledge your part in the drama, see yourself as the painter/director, forgive yourself for our earlier choices, then make new decisions from a now (hopefully) healthier mental space. Don't get trapped in the comfort.

106. With New Eyes

1999-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

With old eyes I see what's normal
and act out my tried and true
With new eyes I see what's natural
and forever choose to see anew

With New Eyes
Walt’s Life Rhyme #106
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Often when I'm in the midst of a negative emotion and am beset with fear, anger, resentment or other feelings of pity, victimization or self-recrimination, it helps to remember that the path to happiness begins with stepping out of what's normal and moving towards what's natural. If it's normal for you to feel unhappy, are you open to feeling differently? Many of us say we are, but often choose to replay the old mental recordings of self-doubt and fear rather than the more natural ones of love, peace forgiveness, and acceptance.

Are you willing to move to a new place from which to view the world? Or, are you a major shareholder and investor in the stock club of unhappiness--waiting for a return on years of regular investments?
If you’re ready for change, simply affirm: “I am willing to see things differently.” And don't worry if you don't have any idea just how a given situation can be viewed differently. Have faith that the answers will arrive in time. Sometimes the willingness to see things differently can bring a calm to an otherwise stressful set of circumstances in your life, that makes new sight possible. And it's from this place that all things can be seen anew.

105. Let it Be

1999-08-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

The floods that consume
make the dormant seeds grow
Life's turbulence can propel
if you go with the flow

Winds that shudder and shake
also work with your sail
Missed attempts only sadden
if you see them as failed

And the fire that burns
also strengthens the clay
Know that one man's dark night
is another’s bright day

Falls that batter and bruise
make us pause for a rest
And from the healing come answers
to help us pass the next test!

Ride it out
Dedicated to David O.

Let It Be
Walt’s Life Rhyme #105
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

104. Turning Points

1999-08-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

The people who affect us most
are those who make us think
For growth comes from the gusts of thought
that push us to the brink

In thought is where we find ourselves
if lost or on a quest
From thought is where the visions come
that make us act our best

Think long and hard on who you are
and what you've come to be
And trace it back I'm sure you will
to ones who helped you see

They made you think in different terms
your tide through them did shift
They changed your thoughts of you
and new direction was their gift

These people were your signposts
offering what can’t be bought
Life's turning points were people
who changed the level of your thoughts!

Dedicated to A Morrison and ERT
and to Isolene, Christie, Reina, Gurdeep,
Xino, Tony, Carlton & Zelda,

Turning Points
Walt’s Life Rhyme #104
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

103. Like Minds

1999-08-13T01:34:00.000-07:00

Like minds can move mountains
and fists from fingers are made
Real power's what results
when we come to each other's aid

When a shared goal is our mission
the whole becomes stronger than the parts
But commitment to each one's success
is the mindset from which it all starts

Like Minds
Walt’s Life Rhyme #103
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Poetsniche.com is a website I created where artists, poets, writers and other creative folk can come not only to meet others who share their interests, but launch their careers as well. It exemplifies what the power of a unified whole can accomplish! This group of online members pooled their creative and financial resources to publish the Internet’s first compilation of poetry from a web-based community, and host a successful offline event! Now all the members are feeling the effects of what they set in motion, giving each other not only camaraderie and support, but a practical way to earn money as well! It just goes to prove, you can get anything you want in life if you simply help enough other people get what they want!

103. Like Minds

1999-08-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

102. Six Billion to One

1999-08-06T01:33:00.000-07:00

The odds are one in 6 billion
that you'd be just who you are
Lost in a world filled with struggle
feeling not quite up to par

The odds are one in 6 billion
you'd get the hand you were dealt
Working with fears and frustrations
that countless others have felt

But because you're 1 in six billion
the game is stacked on your side
Your unique skills and talents
will be a marked source of pride

Yes, because you're 1 in six billion
you're like a star up to bat
And with none other quite like you
odds don't get much better than that!

6 Billion To 1
Walt’s Life Rhyme #102
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
With 6 billion people on planet earth at this time, some of us feel like overwhelmed, lost and insignificant souls struggling to make a difference. Always remember, however, that each and every one of us has the potential for greatness just by virtue of being here. Of the 6 billion now and the billions before you, none have ever been quite like you. And that, my friend, is the real overwhelming wonder of it all!

101. My Soul Intention

1999-07-30T01:31:00.000-07:00

I'm here to learn a lesson
that's the mission, that's the goal
A choice was made, a journey chosen
the part was cast to play my role

These circumstances that befall me
not random happenings I'm told
But carefully constructed chances
to fulfill intentions of my soul

My Soul Intention
Walt’s Life Rhyme #101
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Some spiritualists say that we are here because we made a choice to be here from on the other side; that we're here in order to learn lessons that help our souls grow. While here, some of us choose to learn the lessons, while some doom themselves to repeat the classes over and over. The challenges you habitually encounter in search of these soul lessons fall primarily into one of 7 areas of growth I call your soul intentions. They are
1. health,
2. career,
3. spirituality,
4. love,
5. finance
6. social life and
7. family
Once you know what your “sole intention” is for being here, the journey makes more sense, and life becomes easier. You stop fighting against the tide and instead look for the opportunities to move with the flow to new levels of awareness, understanding, thought and action when it comes to matters in your area of growth. You recognize that the challenges are not a “just your bad luck” but ingeniously devised and disguised events you've attracted to use for your personal development. So what's YOUR soul’s intention?

100. The Inspirer

1999-07-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

There seems to be some interest
in these thoughts I have to share
It's nothing but encouraging words
we all do need to hear

From the universe to you my friends
the messages get sent
I have no part in what they say
or know for whom they're meant

Some say that I speak just to them
with words they need to hear
When woes are glimpsed through Life Rhyme eyes
the path gets crystal clear

Some say my words cause higher thoughts
when life looks much too bleak
The truth is that your soul attracts
the words your teachers speak

When someone in your life appears
as friend, foe, mate or mother
They bring a daily lesson to you
one way or another

It's not FROM us no, but THROUGH us
that other people's lives we bless
When once we choose to share the wealth
through talents we possess

Your smile, your touch, your words a laugh
even your email as my admirer
In turn you too will play the role
of someone else's INSPIRER!

Dedicated to all the Inspirers in the world, and to Adrienne H. whose email sparked the thoughts! In turn you too will play the role.

The Inspirer
Walt’s Life Rhyme #100
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

99. Ask the Inspirer: Quandary

1999-07-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

When your interest and desires
are quite obvious to view
You fear a big rejection
is what lies in store for you

You know and feel inside
he might be way out of your league
But thoughts of possibilities
spark yearning and intrigue

You feel your chances slim
that he too might feel the same way
You want to get to know him more
but don't know what to say

Just follow with your heart, friend
but don't marry expectations
When wedded to an outcome
that’s what leads to great frustration

What he offers might be friendship
what he offers might be bliss
You've got to strike it now
or this great chance you’ll surely miss

And know above all else my friend
the odds are really with you
It’s often true the thing you seek
is also seeking you too!

Quandary
Walt’s Life Rhyme #99
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Dear Walt,
There’s a guy who came to my church last fall to instruct a musical workshop. I've never really met him, but he's constantly on my mind. He really impressed me with his singing, his demeanor, and his sense of humor. I know and I feel like he might be out of my league, but as stated earlier he is constantly on my mind. What should I do? I've prayed and asked the Lord to reveal to me why I keep thinking about him. I know the Lord, if he hasn't already, will answer me. Perhaps the answer is not what I want to hear, but I'm in a quandary right now and would love some printed answer or something I think is concrete. Thank you for listening! –In a Quandary

Dear Quandary
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. Not knowing is the hardest part. There are a host of proverbs I could offer you as to why it's in your best interest to initiate some sort of interaction with this fellow. I know, however, that this can be quite a scary thing. Check out Life Rhyme #97 (“Lights, Camera, Action”) to read more advice on taking action.

Now, the most telling part of your letter is the phrase “I know and I feel like he might be out of my league.” That little bit of self-depreciation is what's holding you back. Remember this: When it comes to your fears, it's NEVER really about the other person. It's really ONLY about you. No one else really exists but you. (“I live in a world filled with fears, foes and fancy. But there's no one else here but me.”)

Your gut feeling of a connection with this person might not be at all what you think. Maybe he has a message for you that has nothing to do with love and romance. Perhaps he is the missing link to an experience that might put you on a different career path. Don't think that just because you can't identify what you're feeling that it's an attraction for which you risk rejection. Fear not! Go forth boldly in search of your good!

98. Finals

1999-07-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

“Under pressure to perform”, he said
“and then the time runs out.
Prepared was I or so I thought,
but then I fill with doubt.”

“It's just a game, my son”, I said
“a sport that all can master.
A race that's won before it's run
no need to run much faster.”

“The what and how and why of it
are basic rules you know
For life won't test on what you've learned
but IF you've learned to grow.”

“Believe you can, and know you can
for this you've done before!”
“Just make yourself the problem solved
and final grades will soar!”

Finals
Walt’s Life Rhyme #98
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Every week, for a few hours each day, I tutor students online in Math.

Gerroll, an eighth-grader who came to my online classroom to get a head start on 9th grade Algebra, mentioned that he understood the material, but always seemed to perform below his abilities because he always gets nervous, doesn't believe he'll do well, and consequently does poorly.

In the few minutes we spoke, I explained to him that achieving higher grades had nothing to do with studying harder, or longer since I could tell he knew what, how and why he was doing things. It had to do with making himself the problem to be solved, and getting an “A plus” in a subject called “Gerroll” first, and that Algebra would take care of itself. I found out that there were times when he scored as high as 96% on his tests. So we reviewed those times when he did do well, we talked about why he felt nervous, and we solved problems of emotional expressions rather than algebraic ones.

I asked him if he would have to think twice about his ability to get up and go to the kitchen. He said no because he knows he can, he believes he can, and he's done it before. So we talked about believing in his ability to get 96% or better again with that same conviction and in those same terms. And though the final answer to this equation is yet to be written, I suspect Gerroll now has a little advantage that most of us wish we had at 13 years old.

97. Lights! Camera! Action!

1999-07-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

What bold thing would I do today
if I knew I could not fail?
If it mattered not what people thought
would I let my heart prevail?

What secret wish would I act upon
if success were guaranteed?
Which actions would I then give life
with all mental shackles freed?

Would I speak my mind and then some
say the words I should have said
Become the person I've always wanted
but acted out fears instead

If my days were caught on camera
for the world to watch and view
Would my role inspire others
who wish that they could too

Well I'll never know from wishing
for the thought alone won't do
The life I crave is brought to bear
by the things I choose to do

Like cast without lead actor
your dreams await director's cue
The results you seek wait in the wings
but won't ACT until you do!

Lights, Camera, Action!
Walt’s Life Rhyme #97
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
[Inspired by The Psychology of Achievement by Brian Tracy] Perhaps it's starting your business, quitting a dead-end job, approaching a prospect, or maybe it's simply asking that cute teller at the bank on a date. Maybe it's just saying “I Love You” to someone who needs to hear it. Whatever it is, you've beat yourself up long enough worrying about the consequences. You become more of you each time you conquer you. Don't put it off anymore. As you rise each day, ask yourself “What would I attempt today if I know I could not fail? You might be surprised how empowering that single thought is. Keep asking it right up until you do the thing you fear to do, and greet the new you on the other side!

96. Ask the Inspirer: Undecided

1999-06-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Walt,
I want to make a living as a DJ. But I don't like the idea of selling my product or playing for others, since I find it very personal. Should I go to school for electronics, (for which I have a slight interest)? Would this be considered being untrue to myself? [Being a DJ] is the only thing I've had a passion for, but an electronics education might [be the wisest thing to do]. What do you think? –Undecided

Dear Undecided,
Even though your first two statements are a bit contradictory, I know just how you feel.

When I was growing up, I LOVED to draw. I'm very good at it, and even drew my own line of comic book superhero characters.

However, like you, I did it for my own personal gratification. I don't think I would have like doing it to deadlines and on demand. However, as I matured, I realized that being creative in some way was my destiny, and I knew I wanted to do my own thing in life. I've done many ventures and loved the experience of them all. My greatest thrill, coincidentally, was being a radio DJ for 5 years. I got to play music for people, got to share my ideas on the air, got to introduce people to rare music
that they weren't hearing anyplace else. I was in heaven! Eventually, I moved on and as you may know, I've had my own record label, written several books, and I now have the "Friday Inspirations" that I do.

So why am I telling you this? Well, I always followed my dreams. I started doing the radio show while I was studying engineering in college. I was running my record label while I was designing roadways and bridges as a civil engineer. I wrote my first and second books while I was working in corporate America, and that finally allowed me to jump out on my own just
4 years ago to now where I earn my money on my own terms through exploring more aspects of my creativity.

My advice: Continue to do what you love. Make the time and the room to do it. Never let it die. You may not be able to pay the bills with it right away, but that fire you have inside of you must not be given up for something "more practical".

Ask yourself: what would be my perfect life? Would getting up each day running to the electronics lab be part of your ideal life, or would being known as the best DJ in the land make you excited to jump out of bed each day? Only you know the answer. What is it that gives you your greatest feeling of power, satisfaction, fulfillment and purpose? Find that thing and go in that direction. And live with passion! You've got but one life....How do you want to spend it?

Sometimes our dreams will lie in state
like lost loved ones at a wake
We never dare to take a chance
to eat and have our cake

So ask yourself when called to choose
the role that you must play
Is this the path my heart doth crave
or someone else's way?

With time as cash your dreams are bought
through fair and even trade
Your spend your time and in return
in memories you’re paid

Your precious days are dollars
that in time will all be spent
So purchase things that please
and own the life for which you're meant!

Undecided
Walt’s Life Rhyme #96
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
ww.LifeRhymes.com

95. An Out of Box Experience

1999-06-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Beyond what eyes perceive
exists a world of different rules
Apart from what the mind believes
that's formed with different tools

When searching for solutions
used to tackle any task
Quite simply the response you get
depends on what you ask

The masses watch their worlds collapse
and never find the cause
Unhappy with their answers
but the questions hide the flaws

With thoughts like eagles ever sure
but never seen in flocks
Success belongs to those brave souls
who dare to think out the box!

An Out Of Box Experience
Walt’s Life Rhyme #95
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Are you caught in the trap of poorly framed questions? Every question has certain assumptions implied in how you ask it. Are you asking questions that condemn you to the same old answers? Are you asking questions that limit your growth and experiences? When you need more money, for example, do you automatically ask, “What kind of job can I get? or “How many more hours do I need to work to make more?” trapping yourself in the assumption that you need to trade your time for it?
Many successful men and women think “outside the box”, framing their questions in entirely new and empowering ways! Here are some suggestions:

1. In business: Instead of “How come my mean boss won't give me a raise?” ask “How can I share the talents and skills I possess to provide value that people need at a profit?”

2. In love: Instead of “Why can't I find the right man/woman?” ask How can I create happiness within me first so that I'm not dependent on someone else to make me feel special?”

3. At home: Instead of “Where did this kid/husband/wife/mother-in-law from hell come from!?” ask “How can I provide a family environment that nurtures love and respect?”

94. A New Reflection

1999-06-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Someone showed me a different picture
of a me I'd never seen
That made me see my daily actions
for what they've always really been

Someone asked me different questions
which forced some answers to be said
And left new echoes of reality
forever spinning in my head

Someone gave me a new perspective
to change beliefs I once held dear
And helped me sort through all the conflict
and told me things I need to hear

And in that gift was a new beginning
a pool of thought from which to see
And from these crystal clear calm waters
come reflections of a brand new me

A New Reflection
Walt’s Life Rhyme #94
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
The reason we're not alone on the planet is so we can share in the wisdom, ideas, and dreams of others who are traveling the same roads we are. In a simple conversation, in a new book, or even in a weekly inspiration, you might find the answers you've always been looking for, hear a thought that changes your thinking, and sends you on your way changed forever. Let the people in your life and the messages from beyond affect you as they were meant to, and strive to derive the meaning, message and mission of all who cross your path!

93. On the Level

1999-06-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

My life has been a pattern
etched in place since very young
I've looked at life as if a ladder
and each victory as a rung

Collecting prizes, winning favor
I never stopped to savor the view
Always “taking it to the next level”
and finding a new challenge to pursue

So with each task that I accomplished
I pushed myself to go much higher
But of this endless restless journey
it seems in time I soon would tire

And then I looked around and saw
that I was blinded to my good
For the level I sought and envied
was here exactly where I stood!

So when the time comes in your journey
you find the thrill to climb is gone
Seek not to find new levels
seek more the level that you're on!

On The Level
Walt’s Life Rhyme #93
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Has the climb lost its thrill? Maybe what’s need is not a new mountain to climb, but to spend some time enjoying the view on the mountain you’re on. Stop and smell the roses along the way.

92. Move it Up & Motive and Means

1999-05-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Move it Up

Promote this wish to captain
make it yes beyond all doubt
Move it to the top of your list
that’s what commitment’s all about

Motive and Means

They say “how” is none of your business
that where there's a will there's a way
For means always follows motive
as sure as night chases day

Move It Up/Motive and Means
Walt’s Life Rhyme #92
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Suppose you got a call from a millionaire who said, “In exactly one year from today, I need you to meet me on the corner of Broadway and West 43rd Street in New York City at 5:00pm sharp. I'll have a briefcase with one million tax-free dollars for you, but only if you're on time.” Would you be there? Many of us can say, with unwavering certainty, an absolute, and emphatic “YES! I will!”

I learned many years ago that, regardless of what we perceive as life's hindrances, we all have the ability to commit to a course of action and stick to it and make it happen. Many of us, however, in our day-to-day lives have trouble keeping appointments, following through on promises and honoring our word. We've given our power away to uncertainty and doubt and feel at ease with answers like “I'll have to see,” or “I'll try,” or “I can't tell you right now” rather than “It's done,” “I'm there,” or “YES! I will!” The truth is, your ability to respond to life’s requests is a matter of deciding in advance what's important enough to commit to. You, and you alone, have the ability to assign “million-dollar” importance to anything in your life.
You'll find that all YOU really need is the “will to,” and the “how to” often takes care of itself.

91. How the Universe Speaks to You

1999-05-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

coincidence?
a dejavu?
perhaps that's how
it speaks to you

slip of the tongue?
a TV ad?
could be advice
you'll wish you had

a stranger's words?
lyrics in song?
might be a hint
of right and wrong

a nagging hunch?
a random thought?
a signal sent
a lesson taught

a misdialed call?
perhaps more true:
“Universe calling”
and it's for you!
So pay attention

How The Universe Speaks to You
Walt’s Life Rhyme #91
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Have you ever made a decision, acted on a feeling, set a goal or embarked on a journey, and felt certain that the universe was dropping clues in your path to let you know you made the right choice? Maybe it's just me, but I believe that there are no accidents. I believe that EVERY event, from a headline on a newspaper being read by someone in front of me, to the words I hear in a passing conversation, to the page my book falls open to provides messages for me. I receive validation of ideas and encouragement towards my goals from the strangest places. Sometimes even the typographical errors in what I write are giving me clues! Was that really a wrong number? Maybe it was a chance to learn some valuable information or make a friend I just might need. So when I see or hear echoes of my life on the news, on the radio, or in a song, I know that it's the universe telling me I'm on the right track! Don’t miss the messages.

90. e-turn

1999-05-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

e-turn: a path which traces the path of the letter e--starting out
like a circle or “o” and then, at the critical
moment, hooking a right toward the center (your goal)

Set a goal and launched my mission
constant motion. Yes, I'm nearing it!
Round and round though never reaching
for in truth just really fearing it....

....So take a look at how you're moving
as if in orbit 'round the sun
But the power's in the middle
hook a right and then you're done!

e-Turn
Walt’s Life Rhyme #90
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
There are certain thoughts and actions which, instead of taking your life from a to b to c, move you instead, as if by magic, directly from a to z. The essence of happiness and success is being able to identify and implement those specific actions, in the midst of all other choices, upon which success truly hinges.

In project management, those key actions are called the “critical path.” While there may be hundreds of tasks involved in completing a project, there are some that are the backbone of the project, actions which set the pace of the project and which MUST be done as they are essential for the timely completion of the project. In your own life, there's a critical path that leads to success! Once you find and follow it, your life can take an e-turn! So, today, resolve to eliminate the unnecessary steps and take a turn towards center.

89. Keep Deciding

1999-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Some decisions are sharper
and cut through the mire
And the fog of bad habits
that we find ourselves in

Some decisions are like rulers
that preside over our lives
And like statesmen for office
always campaigning to win

Some decisions are straighter
and like a path through the thicket
Lead us headlong to wishes
so we don't wander blind

Some decisions are older
collect years' worth of wisdom
But then wait to express it
as if biding their time

And if your decisions are found wanting, take heart:

They will grow sharp with the grind
they'll achieve power in time
Will too become a straight line
and will mature like fine wine, so..

…Keep deciding to do the thing,
reset your goals and be bold
For today might be the day
that your decision takes hold!

Keep Deciding
Walt’s Life Rhyme #89
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Personal growth is a process that may take years, and which you might never truly perfect. Don’t be too hard on yourself if it seems that you’re still making the same decisions over and over. There’s much that you have to do. There are habits to change, beliefs to replace, past experiences to overcome, fears to eliminate, and new ways of being to adopt. As long as you are committed to the journey, give yourself some time to make it happen, and you’ll meet with the success you desire. Keep growing.

88. My List

1999-04-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

The exciting sequel to Insp.#85 ("now that i've made it")

What good are all the treasures of life
without people to share them with?

I made a list just yesterday
of things I plan to do
Activities that hold life's joy
come far between and few

And though I wrote with eager heart
an emptiness descended
It seems that what I really miss
are friendships that have ended

For when I think of joyous times
what stands out more than places
More than the where and what of it
are others' smiling faces

So now my list includes much more
than things and trips and gifts
Beside them all are special names
of friends to share them with!

dedicated to Dawn Greenidge

My List
Walt’s Life Rhyme #88
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

87. the big picture

1999-04-23T00:00:00.001-07:00

one will paint it
few will see it
most will pass it by

all could have it
most won't bid it
few will actually try

one will own it
take it home and live it
why not more?
who knows why?

The Big Picture
Walt’s Life Rhyme #87
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
www.LifeRhymes.com

Commentary:
Do you know someone who’s missing the big picture? Health, happiness, love, companionship, friendship, fulfillment, and peace of mind are all part of the big picture that we sometimes miss because we're focusing on life's minutiae–live in the masterpiece called life!