“The results of your actions speak louder than words. You can read a million motivational sayings to pump yourself up — or regurgitate them to others until you’re blue in the face — but that won’t change anything unless you take action and consistently change your behavior. Don’t just read it or preach it and expect it to make a difference in your life. Knowing something is not enough. You have to act upon it.”

(Day 837: 10+ things I’ve learned about achieving personal goals)

“Most of us are our own worst critics. We beat ourselves up when things don’t play out as we planned. It may be disappointing, but that doesn’t mean what happened (or didn’t happen) isn’t of value. We can learn from it and change our behavior — and try again or try something else.

Life is hard enough as it is — we shouldn’t make it even harder on ourselves by focusing on our failures, lacks, or shortcomings. Sure, it’s excellent to know where are weaknesses are, and to find ways to compensate for them, but to beat ourselves up over not being able to do everything we attempt every time, that’s a waste.”

(12 ways to find encouragement)

“If you’re truly going after your heart’s desires and you truly believe in yourself and what you’re trying to accomplish, then you’re not doing it for others or what they think about it — you’re doing it for you.”

(20 things I’ve learned about determination & commitment in 333 days.)

“You can choose to look at challenges or difficulties as disruptive and something to dread or you can look at them as opportunities for growth and self improvement, because that’s what they really are. And if you get really good at facing unexpected challenges, then you might even be able to see them as a compliment that the universe is testing you and felt you were ready to handle it — like a coach saying, “You’re ready to take it to a higher level.”

(Day 533: This isn’t going to be easy.)

“I think the best thing we can do is simply be open-minded to our own and other’s interpretation of the world — and be cognisant of the fact that no matter how firmly we may hold onto what a person or an event taught us in life, it’s still just an interpretation. We can even change what we think about it  — and in some cases, we probably should!”

(Day 271: Why I’m in rehab)

“But then I thought about the man again. And I thought about how I always say “I want to make a difference” and how hypocritical it was for me to say that while driving away from an opportunity to do so. And even if I didn’t have anything to give the guy, it wasn’t about money.”

(Day 631: I was a jerk.)

“Now, I’m not going to bullshit you and say that some of the attention isn’t nice. Because it is. Everyone in the world likes to feel special, appreciated, or acknowledged at times. I’m no different. And I want to have a positive impact in the world — somehow — and if that means people read what I write, listen to what I say, or admire my artwork, then that works for me.

But anyone who thinks I ever for one moment consider myself more important, more special, or more deserving of anythingthan anyone else as a result of the attention I get is wrong.”

(Day 216: Time to be me.)

“People have the power to change — but often ignore it, because on some level, we take comfort in our self-imposed limitations. People will often set up their priorities in a way that limit what they are capable of — and then they willfully choose to live with that out of habit or of fear that any alternatives will be “hard”.”

(Day 184: A tough pill to swallow.)

“Every time you stress, worry, and battle with doubt, you send ripples into the future — not the kind you want. So relax, be patient, and have faith — I know you know these things — not only will this improve the quality of your life right now, it’s much better for you in the future — and “future you” appreciates that, too.”

(Day 238: A letter from the future.)

“There will always be someone better at something than you are. A wise person once said ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. Don’t let the success of others discourage you from your own endeavors or make you bitter. If someone has done or is doing something you would like to do, let it inspire you and be an indicator that you, too, can achieve great things.

No two people, businesses, or ventures are exactly the same. You always bring unique things to anything you seek to accomplish. There is room for you at the table, too, but you have to take action to get there. Getting discouraged and giving up gets you nowhere.”

(Day 837: 10+ things I’ve learned about achieving personal goals)

“If you want something “spectacular” or “extraordinary” — you either have to go out and get it or you have to let it into your life when it knocks on the door. And since it’s not “ordinary” that you want, what it is you desire isn’t likely going to appear just like everything else.

So before you go slamming the door on it, take some time to make sure it truly isn’t what you are seeking. Different does not equal “bad” — be smart, but stop fearing it.

Only change leads to progress. And change means different.

Everything we have is a result of someone who thought differently — and anyone who thought differently and pursued an unusual idea was first considered crazy or strange because of it.”

(Day 534: Fearing change is counter productive.)

“It’s the kind of “always open” place where the only people working are one cook and one raspy voiced waitress who probably smokes too many cigarettes. A place where you have to wipe the grease off of your silverware when you get it — and where they don’t put out condiments because they get stolen.

Where the cook is called “Grandma” and your eggs are greasy, your hashbrowns are greasy, and your toast is greasy — but they are all are somehow delicious. And when you get ketchup, it comes in a tiny paper cup on a greasy plate.”

(Day 565: The always open coffee shop in Memphis)

“It seems like society suggests that you find something you’re good at — and when you find it, you get on a track and pursue it — whatever it is. And you stay on that track. And many people do that — and for some it works out extremely well. But then there are others (such as myself) who are left with a sort of hollow feeling as we head further and further down the line — “I was meant to do something else“.”

(Day 308: The role I was born to play.)

“There is a battle being waged — not just in the Middle East — but right here, right now.

It’s the zombie virus — it’s real — and it’s an epidemic. The “living dead” are here — but they are not the walking corpses we’ve come to expect from the movies. It’s scarier than that…”

(Day 250: Pirates vs Zombies: Conformity kills creativity.)

“Stay focused. Stay hungry and work hard to accomplish your goal — you have to work hard, but rather than focus on being perfect, focus on being consistent. Do something every single day that helps move you closer to your goal — no matter how small the steps — no matter how you are feeling.”

(Day 215: Overcoming Fear)

“You are not what other people say about you. And you are not other people’s opinions unless you choose to accept them. You don’t have to let the stories that other people tell about you become your own.”

(Day 534: You are who you choose to be.)

“And I’m lying in the back — soaked. My shirt is wet to the touch, but it’s not water — it’s sweat. And I don’t know if it’s the heat, the dripping sweat, or the bug bites, but I’m itchy as all can be.

It feels like things are crawling all over my skin — or maybe there really are things crawling all over my skin…”

(Day 542: The hell with paradise!)

“Of course there’d be obstacles in my adventure — every good story has obstacles — and there’d be me overcoming those obstacles with a “I came here to kick ass and chew bubble gum — and I just ran out of bubble gum” attitude.”

(Day 182: Flip side.)

“Most of the things that hold us back in life are the things we’ve chosen to let hold us back. We decide to put up with things even when it isn’t in our best interest — we actually grow “comfortable” with those things instead of dealing with the discomfort of the unknown — rather than take the leaps of faith that push us forward.

These little leaps of faith outside of our comfort zone are what truly teach us what we need to know to better ourselves and our lives. No, taking a leap of faith doesn’t mean you will always get what you leap for. And it doesn’t mean that things won’t go badly — but every time things don’t go according to how we want (or expect) them to be, we learn something – and what we learn leads to growth, if we let it.”

(Day 626: It’s all there for you if you want it.)

“I remembered all the dreams and aspirations I had as a kid. I wanted to be a pirate, an astronaut, an explorer, a construction worker, and an architect (as a kid, I saw no reason why I couldn’t be all of those things!)

While I eventually realized there are limits to “what I could be when I grew up” (mainly because piracy on the high seas has gone out of style… and I’m also not great at math), I more recently looked at where I was in my life and realized I was no longer on a trajectory that made me feel good about where I was going.

I wasn’t unhappy. I was unfulfilled. There’s a difference.

I felt like a great deal of my life was being wasted and that there was so much more I could be doing and experiencing…”

(Day 76: Let me remind you.)

“There is no one else around – only trees and the sounds of nature.

And the gunshot — the ricochet — and the rock I’m standing next to that just sent a million little pieces into the air.

Blam!

There is now a tree next to me with a bullet hole in it.

Blam!

And now another.”

(Day 487: Everything to gain.)

“No, life isn’t always easy — but it helps if you remember that obstacles are placed in your path to test you and help you grow. It is by overcoming obstacles that you develop new skills and ways of handling what the rest of your life has in store for you. If you’d never had a problem in your life, you wouldn’t be very able to deal with… well, LIFE, would you?”

(Day 604: Who are you going to be this year?)

“I think sometimes we mistakenly give kindness with the expectation that we’ll be “rewarded” in kind by the same people we give it to (sometimes we are) — but if we are not, we think, “Well that didn’t work. I was nice to them and they weren’t nice to me!” and “Why even bother?”  and they become cynical.

But it does work — it just isn’t quite as “intuitive” as you may expect — your energy isn’t returned to you from the same sources you give it to. But your energy (again — which is very real) is contagious and as it travels around, it comes back to you.”

(Day 248: Kindness is contagious. So are zombies. Be careful!)

“And so, yes, I’d be willing to accommodate a serious relationship (or at least something that “felt right” — no sense putting unnecessary pressure on it!) if one came to be. And if that meant stopping my journey and settling somewhere to allow that to happen, I would.”

(Day 77: Dating on the road. Can it be done?)

“[The officer] says that he “doesn’t want to make a scene out of this”, but that he and the other officer — who I now notice standing guard behind him — would like to talk to me outside. They are in full gear. Guns. Everything. Very serious.

Without hesitation — and without a clue as to what this could possibly be about — I say “Sure” and get up. I notice that there are a number of people watching.”

(Day 389: Why I got escorted out of Starbucks by 2 police officers today.)

“If you ask me, I think most of my work is crap. But this isn’t a special distinction I contain to myself. I think most (as in 99%) photography out there is pointless — I’m a little opinionated about it (one day I might devote some time to express it).

It isn’t that I don’t think my work is aesthetically pleasing. I think a lot of what I share is. It’s the fact (that I think) very little of it is that compelling or meaningful.  I want to tell “stories” or say something. Most photography, in my opinion, doesn’t say anything these days — some of it’s pretty, but much of it is superficial and easily forgettable.”

(Day 146: Why I still might be a “photographer”.)

“But then when my stuff was gone, I felt liberated from all of the many unimportant things that were weighing me down. I felt free of that burden. So what if I didn’t have such-and-such — I still had what I needed (or as I later discovered, still far more than I needed).

Well, I’ve discovered that liberating one’s self of a particular outcome that one is attached to (or invested in mentally) is also liberating. I think knowing what you want out of life is good. I think having specific goals in mind is good. And I think dreaming about even some things that seem incredibly unlikely is good, too (why limit yourself?).”

(Day 100: “What is he doing?” … “He’s beginning to believe.”)

“I put everything I had on the line and poured everything I had into it — believing that if I kept at it, I could find a way to monetize what I’m doing or find some sponsors or at least offset the cost. I hoped that out of what I was doing, an opportunity that I could grasp onto would present itself. I took a leap of faith to make my life better.

It didn’t happen.

I had valuable things stolen from me. I accidentally destroyed things that were valuable to me. I was threatened. Screamed at. Scolded. I had health issues and no insurance. A broken tooth — still broken. I eat on one side of my mouth because it’s the only way I can without pain. I had to file it down with a metal file so it didn’t stab my tongue.

Dedicated to what I’m doing? You might say that.”

(Day 485: I tried. I failed. It sucks. Life goes on.)

“Folks have called me “an inspiration” — and I think it’s very flattering. But then I think about it and… I don’t know. I sit here and I ask myself, “What’s inspirational about anything I’ve done, unless I end up in a place better than where I started?” Because in my mind, anyone can quit their job. Anyone can terminate their lease and go live in their car. That’s not hard – and it doesn’t feel very “inspirational” — but it does feel a little stupid, at times.

What’s hard is consistently believing that doing any of the things I’ve done can be a catalyst that propels me to a place that is ultimately better than where I started from — that the sacrifices I’m making and the discomforts I’m dealing with along the way are worth it. That’s hard. That’s why it’s called a leap of faith.”

(Day 75: “I don’t feel very inspiring.” said the ‘inspiring man’.)

“But would that “spark” be enough to ignite things beyond that? I didn’t know. She didn’t know. There would be no guarantees (there never are). I’d just have to take the chance and “risk it”.”

(Day 108: I would drive 500 miles.)

“What driving around the country has done is isolate me from the world. It’s resulted in a lot of “me” time. I’ve gotten to know myself and faced and overcome challenges that I wouldn’t have otherwise. But none of this has been quite as “exciting” as I once suggested it would be — at least not from where I’m sitting.”

(Day 101: Mistakes…)

“Yes, it is a fact that the physical capabilities of the human body begin to decline as we get older, but the rate of decline is completely within our grasp to control. Your body adapts to the lifestyle you choose to live. And barring injury, most people are capable of doing far more physically at any age than they believe they are. Most people greatly underestimate their physical abilities. They believe they can’t, so they can’t. Most don’t even try.”

(Day 169: Think of it as getting better, not older…)

“I love(d) the idea of being a “travel host” — I mean, who doesn’t!? — so I couldn’t resist sending in my information and a silly photo that would have to pass as a headshot.

And then time passed — months, in fact — and I forgot about it.

And then — yesterday — I got a call from an assistant at the production company. My resume and letter had traveled through the channels necessary to arrive in the hands of the casting director who took notice — Would I be available for an interview [this morning]?”

(Day 243: When Casting Companies Call…)

“It can be quite difficult being “ridiculously optimistic”, but I much prefer it to the alternative.”

(‘Opportunity in every difficulty’)

“The one thing I can say with certainty is, no matter how highly one may think of themselves or where they see themselves fitting into the world, everything one thinks/believes will eventually be tested.”

(Day 181: A ton of feathers.)

“So I haven’t mentioned how many times I’ve wanted to quit. How many times I’ve questioned my own judgement. How often I’ve thought what I’m doing is absolutely ridiculous or a waste of time, energy, and resources. Or how absolutely gross I’ve felt after only 2 days without a shower (for the record, I’ve gone 5 — and I was too embarrassed to post about it at the time).

I haven’t mentioned feeling insecure about my appearance or whether the person standing next to me in line somewhere just distanced themselves because I smell (and I just don’t know it).”

(Day 61: The End is also the Beginning.)

“Who we are is defined by our actions in life — so in that sense, it is by what we “do”, but it isn’t by what people label us as or how we label ourselves.”

(Day 310: A matter of perspective.)

“The price we pay [for our wishes] is the journey and the journey is the reward.”

(Experience, Wants, Expectations, and Perspective.)

“And while it does suck to suddenly find yourself unable to whip up and down mountain trails or fly through the breeze with ease on two wheels, it’s not all bad. Because the good news is that this is something I don’t have to worry about anymore — because I will admit that before today, having my bikes stolen was a concern.

So as I sit here and type this, I am almost relieved. Almost.”

(Day 23: The Great Bike Robbery.)

“I’ve learned that there is only so much you can do (responsibly) on a daily basis to live as if you were dying. But when you do live as if you are dying, some things become far more important & significant than others… Such as worrying less & living more.”

(Day 95: Pop quiz hotshot. You’re dying…)

“Think of those times people made a difference in your life — and remember to tell them. A person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. Take the time to express your appreciation to everyone who has ever helped improve the quality of your life — even if it was only for a moment and even (especially!) if it’s been a while since you’ve been in touch.”

(30+ Ways to Make This Year Especially Awesome.)

“Now I hear bodies in motion, footsteps, they’re close — and then, “What about the Honda over there?”

The sound fades — no wait, it’s just muffled, as if it’s being blocked by something. There’s more talking. I make out only the occasional word — mostly profanity, and “dude”.

I’m nervous. Beginning to make sense of the situation — I think the door slamming into the side of my vehicle was a test to see if my alarm would go off.

The discussion shifts to the side of my car that I can peer out. But I have limousine tint, everything is darker than normal, my windows keep fogging up because I’m hot & breathing heavier than usual — but I see figures in the dark and the sinister glow of a cigarette.”

(Day 312: I wake up. Something’s not right.)

“Part of overcoming blind spots is simply education and experience — the more you learn and are willing to open yourself up to different points of view, the more you are able to see and be aware of in life. But gaining an education in a particular area doesn’t necessarily show you things that you consciously (or unconsciously!) gloss over or block out because you don’t accept them.

Research shows that people have a tendency to avoid information that contradicts what they already think or believe. It is also why we have a tendency to hear what we want to hear in conversations (for good or ill) and filter out the rest.”

(You don’t know what you don’t know.)

“And I’ve thought about what it means to be “me”. And what it means to be a “good” person. I’ve studied people in power, people I respect, and people I don’t. I’ve tried to figure out what it is about them exactly that makes others feel the way they do about them. I’m trying not to waste my moments thinking about things I have no control over.

I want to focus on being a better person — but I still make mistakes. I still react negatively in certain situations and I still judge people, the decisions they make, and how they live their lives — as much as I don’t want to — as much as I want to remain open-minded and simply be responsible for my own life. After all, that’s the only thing in the world I truly have control over.”

(Day 186: Why am I not a better person?)

“Even the most successful people in history have had their confidence rocked (video), their good ideas questioned & ridiculed and they have had the door of opportunity slammed in their face time & time again. Even the most successful, most attractive, and most beloved people in the world have felt tired, lonely, scared, ugly, stupid, and alone.

Even the most successful people in the world have set goals, made mistakes and suffered setbacks — but they persisted. They were determined in their will to succeed.

And that made all the difference.”

(The Enemy of Your Dreams)

“In yet another experiment to discover alternative ways to turn off my laptop, I dumped an entire cup of coffee all over the keyboard this morning…and table…and lap…and chair…and floor.

It was a lot of coffee…

I am happy to report that my experiment was a complete success! My laptop responded by making a “pop” sound and “shutting down” immediately. No waiting for silly programs to close or anything.

But — and while my laptop smells remarkably delicious now — upon further analysis, it appears this experiment may not have been entirely “good” for the sensitive circuitry and gizmo-thing-a-majigs inside — as what was formerly a “working” laptop is now entirely unresponsive to further stimulation.”

(Day 312: Catastrophic laptop spill!)

“At this point, I’ve calmed down — but now — and this was also a surprise — now he’s getting fired up.

Fired up and in my face. Agitated. Well within the no-go-zone of my spacial bubble. So much so that I can smell the beer on his breath as he speaks.

And he’s moving and speaking in such a way that — at that moment — I would not have been at all surprised if he pushed me.”

(Day 486: “The car thief.”)

“I want to talk about why I continue to remain positive & optimistic about what I’m doing — and it comes down to this: I am determined to succeed.”

(Day 182: Flip side.)