Integrity...what does it really mean?

Recently I've been forced to think about what it really means to be a person of INTEGRITY. Does it mean just to have good intentions, good thoughts or even just look good from the outside. I think these things are elements thereof, except the look good from the outside of course, but not in its entirety.

in·teg·ri·ty (n-tgr-t)
Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

What does this mean to you? Well, I know what this means to me. This means to not justify my actions when they fail to meet the standards in which I choose to live by only because it doesn't fit what I want to do at the time. Isn't it amazing how, even though we may have an amazing life, great family, wonderful job, beautiful home and honorable and helpful friends, that we still feel like we don't have enough? Through coming to this conclusion we can tend to alter our life thinking, as I spoke about earlier, justifying our actions that act against our standards we've committed to live by. Most of those standards are based off of our faith that we choose to live by or the laws of the land in which you live on. I choose to live by the law of my land and the Christian Judeo Faith of Jesus Christ, as I believe that my life is only justified by the death that Jesus paid for me.

I remember my grandmother and mother telling me at a young age, "now remember Daniel, God can see everything you do, even when it's behind closed doors." I've never forgotten that, I just forget sometimes that I actually care about what God thinks. No matter if it's God that we're worried about or our closest friends, parent or our spouse even, we should always remember that we'll always care what those people in our lives think about us based off of our actions. I am making this statement because I believe that we all need serious accountability. Now I don't mean have people rule over our lives, but more to help us stay true to our committments based off of the standards that we have chosen to live by. You and I both know that this person can't always be the closest people to us. It has to be someone that you trust and respect, but still really care what they think of you. I don't want a bunch of "YES" people in my life, always yes Daniel, whatever you say. I want them to get in my face and truly hold me accountable for the things I've committed to for my sake, family and friends as well. It's amazing how the majority of our selfish and un-integris decisions that we make, no matter large or small, they all directly affect the ones closest to us in some way.

in·teg·ri·ty (n-tgr-t)
Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

Always stay true to "you're code" and have others help, as well as you help others, no matter how large or small. It will always pay off.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32 (the holy bible)

Relationships - you got em?

Relationships...what do they mean to you?

Relationships to me are a lifestyle. We can either build a life off of relationships, or build a life on relationships. Now you might be asking what the difference is. What I believe the difference is related to building a life off of relationship is to take advantage thereof, only to serve you and your sphere of influence. To build a life on is to serve the other person by your sphere of influence as well as to receive.

I strive to stay connected to people that have been introduced to me with no agenda other than to merely stay connected and just see what happens. I am a firm believer that life (our creator) takes you down paths for a reason, ie: meeting new people for a purpose. We sometimes don't know why we've met someone and may never. However, I love staying connected if not for the sole purpose of seeing someone's life grow and mature. However, sometimes the other part of the relationship can tend to serve me in a different way by learning from their successes and/or their failures. I think that's how we all learn from other people. I also believe that we should be willing to share our our failures just as much, if not more than our successes.

Lately I've had something strongly weighing on me regarding relationship though. I know that when you meet someone for the first time, most can immediately snif out what I call "a fake." A "fake" is someone who generally calls themself a "networker." People can see right through someone like this. Now I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with networking, as our professional careers sometimes depend on this, but if it is for the sole reason of taking advantage of another person and/or potential relationship I personally don't believe in that. This is called a one-sided relationship. If one person is always the giver and the other is the reciever, then the relationship will eventually disintegrate. I believe that we meet people for a reason, but not at the expense of a persons feelings or needs in order to advance our own. I will say that this is my own personal conviction, but I try my best to stand by it and honor the people that I know or have met as we never know truly who we have just shaken hands with and how they may affect our lives and how we may affect theirs.

Just keep an open mind and remember, people are people just like you and me. There is nothing more important that should cause you to walk over someone elses needs to attain your own. We need to remember to invest in the relationships around us. Invest, invest, invest. It will pay off way more than your IRA or 401k ever will!

"If you treat every person you meet as if he or she were the most important person in the world, you'll communicate that he or she is somebody - to you."

- John C. Maxwell, Relationships 101

Thinking of my Mom on Mother's Day

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.
- Abraham Lincoln

This quote above really stuck out to me as I prepared to write about my Mother on Mother's Day. "All that I am or ever hope to be." Wow, what a statement, right?

My mother is an honorable women. She has worked so hard to take care of my brother and I by the talents that God has given her. She is not only one of the most beautiful women on this planet, but is truly one of the most talented as well. There's not a thing that my mom can't do. Well, maybe she has a tough time getting less than 10 hours of sleep each night, but who's keeping track.

My Mom and I had a unique bond growing up. I was not only her son, and she my mother, but we were buddies. I know that sounds funny, but we just got each other and still do. I didn't mind going anywhere with my Mom. I was never embarrassed by her. Whether it was the movie theater just to go in a buy her some authentic movie theater popcorn and leave, or the grocery store to buy her some milk and.....well...I'll just call them girly products. I just didn't mind at all. I think that's what my wife loves about me most.

My Mom was very focused on making sure that my brother and I grew up to be perfect gentleman. One of the stories that sticks out the most regarding her training us up this way was when she took my brother and I to the mall one time. As we approached the entrance door she quietly stepped aside and waited for us to act appropriately. Now, what do I mean by this? Well, she was seeing if we would respond to her comment earlier that day to "always open a door for a lady." She wanted us to open her door for her without her having to ask us to. This moment will forever stick with me when I open a door for a lady. I've had comments such as "never stop doing what you just did" after opening a door for someone. That's comment was from a lady that I opened a door for in Colorado Springs over 10 years ago. Thanks Mom for training us right and my wife thanks you too.

Mom's are so important in our lives. I'm telling you, as much as I love my Dad and appreciate the boyish and manly things that he tough me. I sure am glad that it wasn't completely up to him to teach me how to be a gentleman. Otherwise, I would have been taking girls to the local farm pond on our first date. HA!

This is just a reflection and snapshot of a few of the millions of amazing moments I had with my Mom and just a few of the millions of amazing things that she did for me a taught me in my life. She continues to encourage, inspire and enlighten me on so many occasions.

Mom, I would never be who I am today without you!
- Your Son