special note from a friend.....passing it along to YOU!

This note was just sent to me and it gave me joy; so much that I wanted to share it with you because YOU also give me joy.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making
my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful but then again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? It is, however the broken hearts that give us strength, understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, in response to the oft-asked question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be and I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER! FRIENDS FOREVER!

Wow, what sweet thoughts - I just had to share it with you!

www.ChatwithChuck.net

It seems that many of us live our lives going from day to day just sort of existing. For some reason it seems as though the same things happen to us or involve us over and over again. Have you ever felt yourself saying "why does this always happen to me?" or "why do so many bad things happen to me?" or perhaps "if it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all!"

You may have heard the 'definition' of insanity: When you keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results!

Or another I think applies: It's like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

Everyone who hears that 'definition' giggles when they hear it and the idea of drinking poison hoping the other person dies is just as silly. Nonetheless, we live our lives in much the same manner as described in those two thought-evoking statements.

Think for a moment about your many trips to the movie theater. While you're waiting for the show to begin, you see the white lite that shines from the projector onto the screen. Nothing to see other than the white light spreading across the screen.

Then, a film strip is placed in front of the white light and what happens next is that the movie is thrown onto the screen for everyone to see.

For most people, life is just like being at the movie theater in that each of us has a vast library of "life movies" within us, from which to choose.

Unfortunately, most spend the majority of their lives placing the SAME film strip in front of the white light thus having no other choice than watching the same "life movie" over and over again and it always has the same, usually unhappy, ending!

Imagine, right now, how wonderful it would be to put an end to the same "life movies", the same unhappy endings. Imagine, having a choice as to WHICH "life movie" to watch. Imagine being able to create new, uplifting, happy, positive "life movies" to watch.

It IS possible. It CAN be done! How does that sound to YOU? What are YOU willing to do to change your life?

Please, share with me about your "life movies" and what it would look like/feel like/be like to have choices.

Chuck www.chatwithchuck.net

I wanted to share something that has made a big difference in my life. Yes, I am so very blessed and I am grateful for everything and everyone around me. Having said that, I acknowledge that life is not always easy and there are difficult and painful times that we experience.

It is quite likely that you've been to a movie theater at some point in your life and prior to the beginning of the show, you have probably seen the white light shining from the projector onto the screen. Nothing is seen on the screen other than the empty white light, correct? Then, when it is time, the projectionist places film in front of the white light and the show begins!

The truth is that we are much like the movie theater in that each of us has an extensive list of 'life movies' from which to choose. Furthermore, we have relinquished our movie choices to the projectionist, which is our mind. Even though the choice of life movies is vast, for some reason our projectionist insists on playing the same movies over and over again and even though the movies we're watching may cause us discomfort, pain and even anguish we sit there glued to our seats watching and re-watching the same movie even though it always ends the same.

It would seem logical that we would just quit watching those same movies thus putting an end to the suffering we endure time after time, right? Remember, however, that we previously relinquished our control to the projectionist (our mind) so we have very little choice other than to watch and endure.

How would it feel if we could take back control from the projectionist (our mind) and choose what life movies we watch? Perhaps we'd even make some NEW movies that are positive, fun, happy and enrich not only our lives but the lives of those around us and those we come across in our daily activities.

Does any of this resonate with you?

Perhaps you'd like to share about the life movies you're watching?

Are you ready for change?


It IS quite possible to change things, to take back control from your projectionist and make your own choices.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you and discussing this in more detail.

I can also be reached via my website: www.ChatwithChuck.net

Good afternoon,

This is my first ever attempt at blogging, so please, be patient with me! If you've read my profile or checked my website, www.ChatwithChuck.net , you should already have a little idea as to who I am and what it is I am about at this point in my life. If you have not done any reading, please, take a moment now.

What I hope to accomplish through this blog is for this to be a forum for the sharing of thoughts, comments, ideas and beliefs between groups of people.

I would like to see this site as the place to go when you have questions or when you are having difficulties or perhaps just need someone to share with or someone to listen to you!

It is my sincere prayer that this will be a safe and secure place for everyone to visit, share and generally exchange information with one another. This site will be a place where judgment is kept to a minimum, if not being eliminated completely!

Shortly, topics will be presented and I will begin from this side. In the meantime, if you have anything you'd like to discuss, feel free to begin as soon as you are ready!

Thank you for choosing this site and may we all serve each other as we serve Life!
Chuck.