I am living my dream!

September 28, 2011 by JD · Comments Off
Filed under: A Year From Now, Act On Your Dream, Dilbeck Marketing, Health, Murphy NC 28906, Musings, Site Build It 

Good morning, Earthlings (and visitors to this quaint little planet)! It’s another gorgeous day in my little slice of paradise. This is why I moved to Murphy. It’s beautiful here.

Happy WoooooHooooo Wednesday! It’s just about an hour until you’re over the hump for the work week.

Lots to do today. To-do lists waiting to be decimated! Websites begging me to write new pages! And some people have the temerity to call this work!

If I were wealthy beyond the dreams of avarice, I would still do what I plan to do today. That’s how I know it’s the right thing for me.

Those of you who know me, know I’m not rich — in finances — but I’m wealthy beyond my dreams in terms of freedom, doing what I love, living where I love, having lots of great friends all around the world, and being part of a loving family.

After staring Death in the face just over a year ago, I have a new appreciation for life and living and enjoying the adventure — including the uncertainty, the high points, the low points, and the unexpected joys over the next hill and around the next curve in my path. I will never — ever — take another day for granted and just go through the motions.

I am grateful beyond my ability to express it that I am steadily recovering, that the neuropathy is fading in my fingers and I can once again type rapidly and accurately, that my thinking is getting clearer and faster, that my memory is working better, and that I have new plans I’m working to rebuild my business, earn my own way, and get off of disability. A year from now, if not sooner, I’ll be standing on my own two feet and making my own way in this beautiful world, once again.

And, when it happens and I’m earning a good living, again, I will never again gripe about writing the check to pay my taxes. (I will fuss and fume about the difficulty of filling out all those dang forms, but I won’t gripe about paying my fair share.)

Without Medicaid, I would be dead now. I’d love to earn enough to be able to pay back to the government all that I received in medical care, medicine, and food stamps. I’m not sure, but it’s about a half-million dollars. Paying that back is one of my top goals. I intend to do all I can to make it happen.

Make no mistake about it. Cancer and chemotherapy are difficult to endure, but it was worth everything I went through to make it out the other side and enjoy watching the sun rise through the trees on a morning like this. The ordeal was made much easier by the support and love I received from so many people.

If you’re going through a difficult time, hang in there. Don’t give up. Life is worth the struggle. Smile through the pain and laugh for the sheer joy of being alive. Fight with everything you can to overcome.

And, knowing that all of us eventually lose to the Grim Reaper, make your last day memorable by looking him right in the eye socket and laughing so loud that it’ll push the hood right off his skull as he drags you away from us!

In a couple of minutes, I’m going to get another cup of coffee and go to work. I can’t pay that money back if I don’t work to earn it, first.

I have a marketing business to rebuild and expand. There is so much to do and I intend to enjoy every single step of the process. This is going to be a fantabulous journey.

I am very happy that I ran across Dr. Ken Evoy back at the end of the 20th Century and learned how to build websites that sell. It changed my life — for the better. And not just mine, thousands of us are happy we found him. You can see that nearly 40,000 of us like Sitesell’s Facebook page, and I’ll be spending the rest of the day using the tools in SBI to work on my online marketing business.

(I still can’t believe that Sitesell provides all the tools I need and all the training and support to help me build my online business for only $30 a month, or just $300 per year. I spend more than that on coffee. And you know that $30? It’s not an expense, it’s an investment. I earn a profit every month, and now that I’m recovering from the last two years, I intend to earn a much larger profit from my work. Some days I have to pinch myself to believe I’m not dreaming. I’m acting on my dream — I’m living my dream.)

(But, don’t mind me. I’m just a geezer working at home and being grateful for my good fortune. After the last couple of years, I take time to think about all the people and things for which I’m grateful — every single morning and evening. Today, it just spilled out from my mind, through my fingers, and onto this page.)

All my friends who use SBI to build their online businesses know what I’m talking about. Don’t you? I’m grateful that Ken believes in helping as many people as he can and that he works so hard leading the team that continues to add new tools we can use to improve the quality of our businesses — without raising the price. Some days, I really do feel like I’m dreaming. It’s a wonderful thing to know you’re awake, loving life, and acting on your dream — all at the same time!

Here’s a link to Sitesell’s Facebook page so you can see for yourself, if you’re interested.

Thanks, Ken!

Now let’s go play Build My Business.

I love my life. I sure hope that you love yours!

It’s a wonderful day — Let’s go enjoy it!

Act on your dream!

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The power of gratitude

August 24, 2011 by JD · 3 Comments
Filed under: Inspirational, Musings, YouTube 

About three weeks ago, I asked, “How do you start your day?”

I wrote about how I spend some time every morning, before I get out of bed, being grateful for the people, things, and circumstances in my life that have helped make me who I am today. This morning ritual has helped me truly appreciate the abundance in my life.

Today, my friend Michael S. Logan shared the following video on his Facebook profile. (Thanks, Michael!)

I wanted to share it with you, too, so here it is…

I’ve had a couple of people ask me how to feel grateful for the bad things that happen to us, and I don’t have an answer that satisfies everyone. For me, the bad things that I have endured have helped me find qualities and capabilities in me that I wasn’t aware of before the bad times. I find that to be something for which I’m grateful.

Some people “poo poo” this whole idea, and that’s okay. We have the freedom to approach life and living in ways that work for each of us, individually, and those approaches can be very different.

Being grateful works for me.

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. I hope you find something of value in it for you.

All the best,

JD

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How do you start your day?

August 5, 2011 by JD · 2 Comments
Filed under: Music, Musings, Self-Improvement 

For most of my life, I was a night owl. I’d stay up until 2:00 or later reading or watching TV or doing something creative. Anything but sleeping!

No matter how tired I was in the evening, sometime around 11:00 PM or so, I’d “get my second wind” and then I’d be wide awake for the next few hours. It was always when I was the most creative. People were asleep, the house was quiet, and I could really concentrate on what I wanted to do.

I remember decades of dragging myself out of bed, rushing through breakfast, and fighting traffic to get to work. I was always running late. In fact, when I was teaching college computer courses, I abhored morning classes. When I had my choice, I didn’t schedule a class before 10:00 in the morning, and tried to persuade the powers that be that all computer classes should be taught from midnight until 4:00 AM, because that’s when the best programmers were wide awake. One of my students, who was taking one of the rare early morning classes I taught, started referring to me, even to my face, as “the late Mr. Dilbeck.”

I hated the start of those days. It didn’t matter if I were teaching, programming, or working at a job. I hated early morning and I was always tired. That’s one of the reasons I registered need-sleep.com as my first domain.

So, eventually I changed it. Now, every day is a joyful adventure.

Now, when I get sleepy (afternoon, evening, night), I go to sleep. Sometimes I sleep for an hour or two, sometimes all night. Unless I have an appointment, I never set an alarm. I wake up when I’m rested. Most days, that’s between 4:00 and 5:00 in the (not quite) morning.

Two things helped me change. I got rid of my TV. I no longer feel the need to watch the news and then the Tonight Show, and whatever comes after it. I also threw away my alarm clock. Now I sleep on my own schedule. If I have an important appointment, I set my iPod to alarm two hours before when I have to be there.

Now, most days — almost all of them — I wake up and lie in bed while I think of at least five things (usually more) for which I am grateful. It can be people, things, activities, circumstances, or whatever comes to mind. I take a few minutes and really think about them, picture them in my mind, and immerse myself in being grateful that they are a part of my life.

One person in particular is always the first on my “gratitude list” and then other things just seem to pop into my consciousness. Several of my friends jump onto that list every morning. Often, music is in that list. There are many others that take their place now and then.

So, I lie there and appreciate each of them, in turn.

I find that an “attitude of gratitude” is a much better way to start the day than being tired, rushed, and late.

I almost always wake up several hours before I have to be somewhere or do something, so that gives me time to do what I want.

When I get out of bed, I fire up my computer, launch iTunes, and crank up the music. I dance (still not very well) around the kitchen while I’m making coffee and breakfast, and sing along with the songs.

Those two activities help me start every day on a positive note and help me build my energy so that I feel great when I sit down at the computer and start working.

Of course, I don’t have to face a morning commute or everything that is involved in waking other people up and getting everyone off to where they need to be. I live alone and work at home. Without a doubt, that makes my life much less stressful than it once was.

While I recognize this morning routine won’t work for everyone, it works very well for me.

I’m not trying to persuade you to adopt my habits, I’m just sharing with you.

So, how do you start your day?

Are you satisfied with it — or not?

Why?

Act on your dream!

JD

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How do you deal with stress?

April 25, 2011 by JD · 5 Comments
Filed under: Health, Musings, Self-Improvement 

From The Joy Project: Stress is a fact of life, it doesn’t have to be a way of life!

She makes a good point when noting that the meaning of “stress” in common usage has changed over the last 20 years from meaning “stimulation” to “distress.”

This blog post got me to thinking about my own life and how I’ve dealt with stress in the past, and how I deal with it now.

I used to be a real workaholic. Yes, I loved what I did, but I would sometimes bury myself in my work for months at a time. I’d work 100+ hours every week, and would frequently work around the clock for 30 or 40 hours at a time, before sleeping.

I think “bury” is a good word to describe what I was doing. I wasn’t living.

My recent battle with cancer has reminded me that life is a precious gift and living is wonderful. I’m working a bit more than I did for awhile, but I’m never going back to working the hours I used to. I’m not even going to get close to that lifestyle, again.

I’m grateful that I’m getting over the effects of the cancer and chemo and that I’m starting to be able to think more clearly. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to think as quickly and clearly as I once did, but I’m making progress in my recovery.

Every day, I take time to be grateful for at least five things before I get out of bed. I take time to listen to the birds, smell the flowers, hug my friends, appreciate my family, and enjoy this gift. I listen to the rain and dance with the lightning.

Lots of things used to stress me out. Now, I find ways to enjoy them, or laugh at them, or at least reduce the level of negativity I associate with them.

My stress levels are way down and my joy levels are much higher.

I did not enjoy nearly dying last year, but it was an important WAKE UP! call.

I didn’t wait until a holiday to get sick. I got so sick that I could do nothing and faced a choice: get better or die. I think my sense of humor played a large role in kicking cancer’s butt and recovering. I know that the support and friendship I received from family, friends, and acquaintances all around the world helped, too.

I sure hope you don’t have to go through anything as dramatic in order to destress your life and find ways to enjoy it more. It isn’t worth giving away your health in order to get more stuff.

So, how do you deal with stress?

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I am rich beyond belief

April 7, 2011 by JD · 9 Comments
Filed under: Musings, Personal 

By a lot of people’s standards, I’m poor. But, by my own standards, I’m rich beyond belief.

I have all that I need and some of what I want. I live in an area I love and I’m surrounded by wonderful people and the beauty of nature. I love my work and sometimes confuse it with play. It’s easy to be grateful when I’m blessed with so much.

I remember so many years of dreading the sound of my alarm clock and having to force myself to get up and get moving.

These days, however, I almost never set an alarm and usually wake up just before daybreak. I take a few minutes before I get out of bed to think about — and fully appreciate — at least five things in my life for which I am grateful.

Sometimes, it’s things like living in such a beautiful area. Sometimes, it’s enjoying the peace and quiet. Sometimes, it’s having a marketing business that reaches around the world, and I’m able to run it from my home office or when I’m sitting on the porch. Sometimes, it’s the people I love. Sometimes, it’s the sound of a rooster crowing in the distance.

Each day, I take as much time as I want, to think about and really appreciate these people and things that make my life so rich.

Then, I get up and start the adventure that each new day brings.

Even on the days that I’m hurting, or sick, or tired, or just don’t want to do anything, I feel better just by thinking about, and being grateful for, some of the things that makes my life worth living and enjoying.

Then, I smile, turn on the music, and make breakfast. Watch out world, here I come!

I just thought I’d share that.

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An attitude of gratitude

March 28, 2011 by JD · Comments Off
Filed under: Self-Improvement, Simple Truth 

There are a lot of ways to look out on this wonderful world we share.

Today, I want to talk about gratitude.

I am grateful to be alive and to have all that I need to sustain myself and to do a few of the things I most want to do.

I could look at it differently and say that the last year has been very hard and I still don’t feel very good. I’m too poor to travel the world, buy a new car, and get all the stuff I want.

The truth is, however, that I really am grateful to be alive and getting better. I have all I need and can’t think of anything I don’t have that I really want — except for an iPad and I plan to buy one this year.

Other than that, I’m pretty content with my life and where it’s headed.

I know from personal experience that when I complain, I become a crap magnet.

When I am grateful, happy, and supportive, I get that back, in return.

I understand and freely acknowledge that these statements are not 100% accurate and that there are exceptions. Good things happen to ungrateful people, and bad things happen to people who are grateful for what they have and are.

But for the most part, speaking only about myself and my experiences, I think those statements are more true than false.

I want to share a couple of salient quotes and a short video with you.

“When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives
but are grateful for the abundance that’s present…
we experience heaven on earth.” — Sarah Breathnach

…and…

“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
it’s about learning how to dance in the rain!” — Vivian Greene

So, with those thoughts in mind, sit back, relax, and enjoy this two-minute inspirational movie, Learning to dance in the rain…

Learning to Dance In The Rain Movie

All the best,

JD

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I am very grateful for all that I have – even in a bad year

November 28, 2009 by JD · 3 Comments
Filed under: Family, Friends, Holidays, Murphy NC 28906, Murphy North Carolina, Musings, Personal 

I’m not going to lie about it.

2009 has been a very difficult year for me, but it could have been much worse.

My home is not the home of my dreams, but it gives me a place to live until I can earn enough to buy or build the home I dream of.

This old house is where my parents retired in the early 1970s. They left Atlanta and moved to Murphy, NC. They loved living here, even when times were tough.

Pop died in the summer of 1991 and Mom died last year, just before Thanksgiving.

Both of them have been on my mind a lot this month.

Mom’s birthday was November 6; their anniversary was November 25; Thanksgiving was a couple of days ago. It’s been a month of memories and being thoughtful about what is important in life.

Both of them worked hard all their lives and were quite a bit healthier and stronger in their latter years than I am now. It gives me something to work towards – better health.

Both of them had serious health problems earlier in their lives and they still managed to mostly overcome them over time.

Pop broke his back when he fell off a crane onto a truck’s roof. For years he could do very little. Still, many years later, he could easily outwork me.

Mom had trouble with her legs for most of her life, but that didn’t stop her from doing what she wanted, until her cancer surgery caused nerve damage and she was no longer able to walk unassisted.

So, I can look back on my illness earlier this year and think “poor me” all I want, or I can continue to do what I can to get around and rebuild my strength.

Sometimes life just isn’t easy. It’s the challenges that make us stronger and help us develop real character.

So, maybe that’s what I’m working on now – character.

Money is tight, but I’ve managed to find something to eat for over 57 years while fending off everything that tried to eat me, so I guess that’s some measure of success.

(I’m not sure who said that originally, but I read it some time back and liked it enough to paraphrase it for myself.)

I love living here in Murphy. Sometimes it’s hard to earn a living here, but other people in other areas have had it tough, too. We do what we have to do to survive.

I’ve decided that I want to help others as I help myself and that’s why I’ve dedicated myself to building the best marketing system for locally-owned small businesses in Murphy, NC. You can see the start of it at Murphy Gold and Murphy Connections. Over time, it will get better and better and I look forward to helping small business owners in our little mountain town market their businesses to a wider audience.

While I may not have all I need right now, I do have a plan and I’m working on that plan every day. It gives me something to work towards and that’s important.

Thanksgiving was an interesting day. I spent the day alone, but I still had contact with family and friends online and over the phone.

Several friends called to see how I was doing and to wish me a happy holiday.

I was in touch with family even though I didn’t see them in person.

I was alone, but not lonely. Memories of past holidays gave me good feelings and I smiled quite a bit during the day.

Even though I may not be able to visit my brother and his family this year, I’ll think of them often.

I’m looking forward to Christmas breakfast at my daughter’s house and spending time with that branch of my family. Christmas will be here before we have a chance to turn around a few times.

Would I have enjoyed a house full of people and a table loaded with traditional Thanksgiving food this year? Of course, I would.

But, I’ve done that many times over the last few decades, so missing it now and then really isn’t such a big deal.

I’m grateful for all I have and I intend to redouble my efforts to rebuild my marketing business to where I’ll be enjoying prosperity instead of mere survival.

As we enter into this major winter holiday season, I hope you’ll reflect on all that you have and all the good memories of times and people who have helped shape your life.

We all have a lot to be thankful for.

All the best,

JD

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