New Beginnings

Forgive me. I am long overdue for a blog. 

I've resigned from Afghanistan and currently in transition mode--soon to be in my hometown of Atlanta, GA. But it doesn't stop there. I'll keep you in suspense on that one. Hint: It has something to do with Joie De Vivre, Aging Sensationally, and being 6exy.

My hardwork, focus, passion, and the determination to be the best version of me continues. I'm learning to harness my forever twirling mind. The ladder of success has many rungs on it. I've backed up quite a bit and said it's best to take one rung at a time. The idea is to implement and establish whatever rung I'm on before I step up. I've mastered patience and will continue to be a master of such a rewarding virtue.

A star needs the darkness to shine and perhaps the butterfly is proof that one can go through a great deal of darkness, yet become something so beautiful. And even though I'm not looking to get it perfect, complacency is not in my vocabulary. 

I'll admit. I failed the ACE CPT Exam. A bit discouraging it was, but I can only blame myself. I didn't prepare as I should have. Lesson learned. A failure is step in the right direction to success. As a running back who fumbled the rock one too many times, he carries the football with him EVERYWHERE he goes as he prepares himself for the next game. These ACE CPT Course Manuals? I carry at least one of them everywhere I go.

I'm gonna fade to black and continue to work on me and my passions. I'm calmly excited about my transition, change, and doing real well turning 60 years young next year.

You'll hear from me soon via a website near you. In the meantime, take care and continued success in all your heart desires!

iA

Children's Safety

What's Good? Most things going on in your life, I hope

I felt compelled to share this one right away. It's excerpts from a Dr Ben Kim whom I'm subscribed to his newsletters. I added my thoughts at the end of this article. Very good information, especially for kids being home alone. I take children's safety very seriously:

"...A police officer told me about a recent break-in where a lady was home alone and ignored the chiming of her doorbell, thinking that it was a solicitor. As she peered out of her second story window, waiting to catch a glimpse of the solicitor moving on, she was startled to realize that he had gone around to the back of her house and was trying to break in through her patio door.

If someone knocks on your door or rings your doorbell, be sure to make your presence known. The vast majority of burglars will first approach a target house pretending to be selling something or looking for a friend, only to pretend that they had the wrong address should you open your door. Their goal is simply to find out if someone is home.

If you ask parents of children ages 10 to 17 who let their children stay home alone for a few hours at a time what their children should do if someone rings the doorbell, many will say that their children should not answer the door, which is precisely the worst thing to do if the visitor has malicious intent.

If you have children who stay alone at times, please tell them that the best response to someone at the door is to keep the door locked, but to say loudly through the door that their father or mother can't come to the door right now because they are taking a shower or you can have your children say that their father or mother is (in the basement) cleaning his or her gun. (as a deterrent statement)

Make your presence known through a locked door, because as soon as potential burglars know that someone is in the house, they move on. 

When in doubt, unsure, or uncomfortable, call 911..."

In the meantime, stay safe.

Still With 'Cha

Long time no hear, a true friend and reader of my blogs told me a few days ago. I chuckled.

I'm still with 'cha. Thanks to all the many people who do read my blogs. I've been behind the scenes working on me. Since my last blogs, I've tweeted and retweeted inspiration quotes, posted links that are beneficial to one's health, wrote a poem or two, and even created a couple of modern day, traditional smooth and nice jazz playlists with a touch of old school rhythm via You Tube videos, and I'm close to completing the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Course. Yay me!

How about I stop speaking of the next time I'll be here or even how soon I'll be back?

In the meantime, here are some quotes that are sure to inspire you, links to being healthy, a poem I wrote, and the links to The iA Jazz Collection, Intro, and TiAJC - Just Over The Horizon playlists.

Enjoy... until next time.

Where there is great love, there are always miracles. - Willa Cather

Do what you love and the money will follow. - Marsha Sinetar
  

You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted. Ruth E. Renkl

http://www.eatthis.com/sugar-and-heart-disease?src=twitter

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/32-health-foods-to-stop-eating-immediately/ss-BBpSqBU?ocid=iehp#image=1

In your eyes

there is 

a serene

tranquil 

pristine love 

 harmoniously transcending

 heaven

 and

 paradise

                                         iA... to be continued

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-1JsxUzlTX04-x1I-u3bucQDxH7Tjiyt

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-1JsxUzlTX1dmwj5osI6PYCNEl-qJJVE

I Can Feel It

Believe me when I say my absence from blogging has not included twiddling my thumbs. 

I've found myself quickly getting a napkin to jot words down at those times when even the smallest thing comes to mind about The iA Collection--the signature being, being active and staying healthy as one approaches 60 and the elderly years, especially men. 

My grinding, determination, focus, and preparing to take me to the next level has been tremendous. I do feel like God is in the mix. My faith in Him is strong. He knows my heart. He knows my desire is to build homeless shelters and feed the hungry.

Potential is not in my vocabulary nor do I want to be described as having potential. I intend to come correct, complete, and all so impressive. It's all coming together. My background is logistics. If you want to move people, product, or whatever from point A to point B and everything involved and included in doing so, I can rattle it off articulately.

Marketing and strategists type followers galore I do have. Obviously they see something in me that I don't see yet and that's OK. More sooner than later I'll meet with one of them physically or online and give them my story in helping me make the best of my multi-dimensions, creativeness, ideas, thoughts, and visions. 

As for maintaining my physique in ways I've spoken over the past few months, the mirror shows it's looking even better. Got me geeked and excited. Did I say I have every intention of coming complete, correct, and impressive? It's just a matter of months now as I still lean toward the virtues of patience. I do still find myself taking deep breaths at times when anxieties cause turmoil.

Extracted from a message I received this morning from an encouraging friend:

 
...then, as if out of nowhere, the path beyond that decision or leading to the decided outcome become so glaringly clear you wonder why it took you so long to get to that point...

 I smiled to myself when I read that and said, hhmm.

From Grind For Success, On Twitter @GFSuccess

 More to come in the days ahead. 

In the meantime as I love sharing and promoting good things, check out these links that some of my followers have tweeted about. Surely you'll find them worthwhile:

Are You A Maker Or A Taker? By #GeoffreyJames  Tweeted by @jeffreyshaw1

http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/are-you-an-maker-or-a-taker.html

8 Tips To Go From Interviewee To Employer, by Yahoo Style XE

https://en-maktoob.style.yahoo.com/post/133456285178/8-tips-to-go-from-interviewee-to-employee

7 Smart Steps Financial Steps to Take In 2016, by#JesseTorres on Twitter @jstorres

 http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/253690

Have a good and safe New Year's Eve and a most wonderful, prosperous, successful, and Happy New Year!

Until next time...please, leave me a comment to let me know how I'm doing. :_)'

Appreciated in advance...

iA

Life Goes On

It's a fact of life. 

If we continue to live, the day will come when we lose someone very near and dear to us. I've experienced the feeling for the first time in my life. I now know what's it like to lose that person. I lost my father on 3 November 2015, a date in time that I'll never forget. 

Love's New Dawn

I've been working on a short story about real true love and how it can make one feel. I have to admit that the more I intensely and regimentally exercise and diet, my thought process is opening up like never before. Reaching dormant depths of my mind as in the movie, Lucy. It has me excited, thrilled, giddy, and geeked, yet I remain humble and patient.

I've learned that someone invented a play thing for families with stairwells or staircases in their home with kids; a safe, durable, quality material, and fun-provoking slide for the stairs. Now that's creativity and imagination.

Thomas Edison's quote has inspired me too. "If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

I was like, OK. OK. Hhmm. I may run with that one. Giggles. In the meantime, live your life to its fullest. With God by my side and my support system, I'm about to kick it, whatever it is, into another gear.

Here's that short story I spoke of. Tell me what you think, and if you have a piece of writing that needs touching up, tightening up, or looked at, connect with me at theintlartcollection@gmail.com 

It won't co$t you a thing as I'm in the phase of self-marketing me; this positively mysterious and mystical element. Despite me following those on Instagram and Twitter, I consider myself more of a uniquely qualified, multi-dimensional, multi-talented leader who will be ready for the opportunity to shine when those moment comes. 

I am iA. I am No Ordinary Art.

In advance, know that you are appreciated! 

Diligently Working On It

Upon getting up this morning, I realized it's getting close to a month since my last blog. Truth is, while being just under the surface, I've been working on it. Hard. Intensely. Taking focus and determination to the next level. It's showing and I like it, thus the saying, "Plan your work and work your plan". 

Pork? You Decide

I read this article quite some time ago. Then I stop eating pork. Then I noticed how better I was feeling. Not that I was always feeling bad, but again, I noticed my energy level was better and higher. I didn't feel that sometimes strange feeling in my gut. I even began to think a bit better.

Another iA Promotion

I'd have to stay up around the clock to promote all the good things I read and learn about. Amongst all the bad things going on around us in our lives, there are good and positive things, which I focus on and want to be a part of.

Be A Positive Influence

Amidst all the evil, mayhem, chaos, violence, crimes, wrongdoings, corruption, lying, unfulfilled promises, unbelievable happenings, and negativity in our nation and the world, take some time on the regular to look at what's good in your life, our nation, and the world. I know. That can be a challenge. 

My Love And The Kite

Today I took a few minutes to look at some pictures of me and my wife on our summer vacation last year. They made me smile. From out of nowhere, I wrote something nice and poetic about her and us. She liked it and gave me the OK to post it:

Spending Plan

My pageviews are growing by a few leaps and bounds and I appreciate that. It tells me I'm saying worthwhile things and that those who read my blogs share and learn. It gives me feel good moments. Yes, I'm bouncing around and can't say if I'll eventually focus on one subject. Surely not because I am multi-dimensional. 

Exercise Your Lower Back

Whether it’s in a casual conversation with an acquaintance, friend, or loved one, or even in public places within hearing distance, I sometimes hear people speak of their lower back pain.

Fast forward. As much as I work out I tend to neglect exercising my lower back. Occasional slight pain instantly jogs my memory as a reminder to get to it. I do. Then I feel better. I’m not the authority on physical fitness nor have any indication what your doctor may tell you, but I have learned that the lower back is probably the most neglected part of the body when it comes to properly exercising it.

Submerged. Soon To Emerge

It's day 90 since starting my blogsite. What the future holds for me, I can't be sure, but I like what I'm highly confident about happening. It's mystical. Mysterious. I'll be ready. I'm excited about it. Those who know me well say I'm well-balanced, well-disciplined, well-rounded, have a zest for life, good to be around, and always smiling or laughing about something--compliments that warm my heart. I still walk like I did as a drill instructor--now with added positive swag.

Reach Higher

After exercising moderately to intensely today at two different times, (which is rare that I hit the gym twice in a day) and seeing these quotes on my Twitter page from a follower and one that I follow, I felt compelled to share them. I was inspired:

“To get to a point that you’ve never been before, you have to work harder than you have before. If you want …”

 “I didn't come this far to only come this far.”

 “If you aren't going all the way, why go at all?”

Full Range Of Motion

I just left the gym. Like you, I make my observations, but don't intrude. I see those who don't know the meaning or the effectiveness of a full range of motion when lifting weights. You've seen them. The ones who push, pull, raise, or lower the weight about halfway or three quarters of the way, then get up and beat on their chest like they've really done something. OK. My bad. They did do something, but then they wonder why their muscles don't stand out or become as defined as they are capable of being defined. 

Staying Young Contributes To Self Esteem

I'm one of the people who consumes a healthy portion of vegetables and fruits almost every meal. Note. I put vegetables before fruits. Just like I do on my plate. I'm always conscious of my sugar intake, even fructose. It's a big part of maintaining my good health. 

Upon stumbling upon and seeing the video I'm sharing with you, I just naturally thought to myself, Hm. I've been doing that for a long time. It shows.

Giggles.

https://en-maktoob.screen.yahoo.com/food-hacks/foods-better-skin-080049866.html

The Wonderful Benefits Of Lemon Juice

At no particular time every day, I consume about a fifth of a cup of straight lemon juice and a quarter lemon slice cut up in small bit and pieces. It works wonder for my skin and digestive system. I got the idea from my wife of 24 years. She's in her early 50s, looks 35. Really.

Wanna know about the wonderful benefits of lemon juice?  Take some time to research the subject. I have no doubt you'll like what you discover and within a short period of time of consuming lemon juice, you'll love the benefits.

Be well.

3-Phase Haiku About Our Nation

Our nation is

on a course that’s frightening

and saddens people

 

Where are we headed

What will become of us as

We travel through time

The future does not

Look good rather bleak evil

annihilation

About Protein

Ever had or now have a routine that is working very well, but didn't realize it? I fall in that category of people. I have to give all the credit to www.workouttips.net for this outstanding and well-versed article about protein as I share it with you.

Check it out, abide by what's said, and like me in my late 50s, you'll be well on your way to achieving a higher level of fitness and well being.

 http://workouttips.net/8-things-you-should-know-about-protein/