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Wednesday, February 25, 2004

2/25/2004
6:55 a.m.

I know I should be posting more, but frankly I haven't felt inspired. I need to be inspired to write. I have a couple of things I would like to get to today, so bear with me.

#1. I won tickets off the radio, KFIam 640 for the Passion of the Christ. The screening was at the theater we always go to anyways, it is right around the corner. The movie was scheduled to begin at 7:30, we got there at 5:45, got our tickets, ate some dinner and then waited in line. The radio personality, Bill Handel was the host. First and foremost, my thoughts on the movie. I didn't know it was subtitled. For the most part, there was very little subtitles, as you knew what was being said even if you didn't understand the language. For that, I would say it was excellent. It is brutal. Towards the end as Jesus carried the cross, I was wishing the torture to stop. The imagery is amazing. The pain and agony is relevant and real. Did I like the movie? I really don't know. I left with feeling almost numb. Aware of what I saw, but not processing it fully perhaps. It is moving, anti-semetic it is not. I think it vilifies all humans. The disturbing thing that I think was brilliantly weaved throughout the film was the devil, and how he took on many faces throughout the movie.

#2. Jim & Rachel, this one is directed at you. A quote this morning from Jim's website, "Another actor (forget who) said 'hopefully it incites meaningful dialog between people with different beliefs'. That's really funny, as if that will ever happen, just a look at what happens on this site proves that wrong." Here it comes. Since you two have become masters at trying to piss people off, here is my challenge to the two of you. Either seperatly or together I challenge you to lay out in writing, "Your beliefs." I want it laid out for the world to read. That is my challenge. This is not intended to stir things up, but rather perhaps help others to try to see things your way in an effort to help understand and "incite meaningful dialog between people with different beliefs."

#3. Why can't I get my house to close??? The appraiser wasted 6 days to come back at $355,000.00. He only calculated the house at 1400 square feet, which works out to $253 per sq. foot. That dollar amount is perfect if applied to my actual sq. footage of 1632. Stupid idiot. I just want to get moved and set up. Plus, I am running out of money!!!

#4. I place the following challenge to my entire family, you know who you are in terms of what I write, so here goes. I want those of us who are guilty of "soap boxing" to retire our soap boxes. I want us to be able to talk without preaching. I want us furthermore to retire our pens that we all use so skillfully at attacking, and to forge meaningful relationships that others look at and envy. Now, I know that this request is in direct contrast to #2., however I think that #2. has to be done by Rachel and Jim to help address the soap boxes we all like to stand so strong on.

In my opinion, if we can accomplish #2 & #4 above, the Lukawitz family can stand stronger. I think that would be a tremendous powerfull statement, and one that we all would be proud of. Take this for what it is worth, but I think it would be great. It sure would make gatherings a lot more fun knowing we are all gathering together unified.

That is all for now. Take care...

Thursday, February 12, 2004

2/12/2004
6:50 a.m.

Try this thought out for size. The typical person who is pursuing a career tends to order things in their life as follows. #1. Career, #2. Family, #3. Friends, #4. misc. (hobbies, interests etc.) I would like to offer up that this order of things is the downfall of most, and will attempt to offer proof of my theory.

Look at the above list, with the agreed knowledge that it is relatively simple, which item produces the most stress and trouble. Obviously the answer is #1. career. I propose that if you change your thinking and re-evaluate the order listed above that in essence you can increase the enjoyment of your life.

What if you made family and friends numbers 1 & 2 on the above list. Presumably you draw a lot more positive energy from both of those two categories than you do career. If career became #3, think of all the positive energy you'd have to focus at career drawn from your family and friends.

What most people do is take the negative from career and transfer it down to family and friends thereby creating difficult relationships that lead to divorce and fights. Under my theory you take your biggest allotment of energy, direct it to building your relationships in family and friends, and use that positive to boost your career.

I think ultimately you will be more successful at career, if you can conquer family and friends first. Make family and friends your main priority, and career will fall into place.

This is a theory in progress, and obviously needs to be finetuned for your situation, but I think if you can re-think your order of importance, that all things in your life will start to turn for the better.

That's all for now...

Thursday, February 05, 2004

2/5/2004
3:01 p.m.

The prior posting was not an attack at anyone. It was simply a statement of facts and opinions as I see it. If you were offended, I am sorry.

2/5/2004
1:19 p.m.

Perhaps it is only when one can sit alone in complete solitude and silence that one can start to consider, or for lack of a better word, reflect upon all the things that one can or should be thank-ful for. I look around at the people in my life who seem to be stuck in a never ending rut that just seems like it will never end, and then I look at myself.

Life shouldn't suck. It really shouldn't. We are here on earth for only a short time and we should certainly make the most of it while we are here.

If your job sucks, quit.

If your life sucks, make it better.

I read a book last year, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki. In this book the author talks about his experience growing up in a fairly well to do family that was completely broke while his best friends father hustled his entire life and not only had a more rewarding fullfilling life, but also a wealthy one as well. Allow me to quote from the book for a moment...

"Because I had two influential fathers, I learned from both of them. I had to think about each dad's advise, and in doing so, I gained valuable insight into the power and effect of one's thought on one's life. For example, one dad had a habit of saying, "I can't afford it." The other dad forbade those words to be used. He insisted I say, "How can I afford it?" One is a statement, and the other is a question. One lets you off the hook, and the other forces you to think. My soon-to-be-rich dad would explain that by automatically saying the words "I can't afford it," your brain stops working. By asking question "How can I afford it?" your brain is put to work. He did not mean buy everything you wanted. He was fanatical about excercising your mind, the most powerful computer in the world. "My brain gets stronger everyday because I exercise it. The stronger it gets, the more money I can make." He believed that automatically saying "I can't afford it" was a sign of mental laziness."

Take what you want from the above paragraph. What I take from it is the idea of changing the way you think. Why can't you afford something? Could it mean you simply don't want it bad enough to make the tough decisions necessary to achieve what it is you want? Change the context of the question to fit your moment in life, "How can I make my job better?" ... "How can I make a relationship stronger?" ... "How can we buy that (insert your particular want here) on what we make?"

Change the way you think. I changed the way I think. Yes, I am still a spender. As a whole though we have more left over on a regular basis.

I just finished another book titled, "The Automatic Millionare." The amazing thing about the book is it shows you how to retire a millionare buy just simply making common sense decisions now. Six little steps to help you achieve the things in life you want. It doesn't get much better than that.

If you don't stop and reflect on your own things in life, and in particular the things you are thank-ful for, you will spend your entire life comparing yourself against others. Compare yourself to yourself. Set a plan in motion today to be better off this same time next year than you are now, today.

Set the plan in motion, and make it real. Commit to it. Make the plan your own. Don't worry what somebody else is doing or buying, worry about yourself. Make a plan of action, ask yourself, "how can I achieve the goals set forth in my plan?" And make it happen.

Ask a friend to hold you accountable to your plan. Ask a friend to grade you on your progress. Tell people who love you and care for you your plan, let them help you achieve what it is you want. Be accountable.

Accountability = Success

I am truly thankful for where we are today. But, I am excited about where we are going. I intend to be stronger and better in a year than I am now. I plan to be a better husband, maybe a father, a better provider, and hopefully a better person. I have the plan in place to do it.

And at the end, I intend to look back and be thankful for where I was, where I am, and where I am going.

Think about it. Life is to short to let is suck. The only person who can help you make your life stop sucking is yourself. Conquer yourself and make life better.

Tuesday, February 03, 2004

2/2/2004
1:45 p.m.

A lot of stuff happened this past weekend. I will start with the good news, we sold our house. This is great news because not only does it give Geta and I the money we need and want, but it gets us out of California.

On Monday morning, I was laid off from my job due to lack of money. In a backroom deal, I managed to collect on all my money owed me which was a much needed boost to our bank account. I then applied for unemployment.

Saturday night was the first ever (first ever amongst my group of friends) Poker tournament. It was a $65 buy in, no limit tournament. Unfortunately the "good" players all got knocked out early leaving the money for the "fish." Funny how that works!

Today I have been sitting around the house waiting for moving companies to come and estimate how much of my money they need to move us.

That is about it for now, I have a cold or at least the start of a cold. Will write again soon.

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