Keep failing…eventually you will succeed…

Are you ever afraid of trying ? You should not be since trying and facing the risk of failure is what eventually will help you succeed. Great men and woman have gone before us facing the risk of failure. Today I took the time to read a little about one of them – a truly great man who has inspired millions over the years – a man whom made designs that would come to be build some 500 years after they were designed.

On April 15 – 1452 a peasant woman named Caterina gave birth to an illegitimate son. He would grow up first in early years with his mother and in later years together with his father Messer Piero the notary. The boy would not hold any formal educations as a scientist the boy did not attend university but now more than 500 years have passed and he is still on a daily basis an inspiration to millions of people.

Considering that he lived in what has now become the middle ages and considering the lack of formal education imagine what you can do today! Caterinas son studied arts he drew a lot and he was one of the first to really grasp the linear perspective in drawings. One of his drawings is still to this day one of the most replicated and it has inspired artist as well as scientist, doctors ordinary people around the world ever since. The drawing that I am talking about is “The Vitruvian Man”.

Still he did not stop - he moved forward even further to benefit mankind even more.  He studied the human anatomy disected more than 30 corpses and made detailed drawings of inner organs as well. He tried to reach a deeper understanding of the vascular system and made detailed drawings of the human fetus. His study of the human anatomy even lead to the design of the first known robot. The design was made as early as 1495 but only rediscovered some 50 years ago.

Still the art was one of his greatest gifts or at least it is as an artist that he is probably know the best. Every day thousands pass by his picture painted just about 500 years ago. A picture that forever changed the way that artist perceive and use light in their paintings. I have seen the picture twice when visiting the Louvre in Paris. It is a place you need to see at least once in your life

The illegitimate son however strived for so much more – or maybe it was just part of his nature. He made great works within the field of botany, geology and even cartography. He made accurate maps – town plans and he even produced a map of the Chiana Valley in Tuscany without the use of modern equipment, he simply paced the distances.KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid…

His abilities within the field of cartography even earned him the job as a military engineer and architect. One could argue that is quite the opposite end of the scale considering he also painted the Last Supper. Still he actually designed an early version of a tank. He designed something that was an early version of a diving suit. A suit that was since built and tested some 500 years later.

There is so much more to tell but I will leave you with just a few more of his inventions. A helicopter or something that would at least look like an early version of one. The parachute and well then he worked intensively with hydraulics, gears and came up with a plan for a movable dyke to protect Venice from invaders.

Leonardo da Vinci will forever remain an inspiration for millions and by reading this I hope that I have inspired you to try even harder. I hope that I have inspired you to face the risk of failing because I know that only by facing that risk - by just doing it – eventually you will succeed.

If Leonardo da Vinci or I have not convinced you then let me pass the word on to someone else who has inspired millions even though in a different way. Take a second and listen to one of the greatest athletes of our time – Michael Jordan…

Keep trying – just do it..succeed

Love

H. Gene

Keep moving forward…

It is a new day – a new year and it is time for us to move on – to move forward. Another year has passed and yesterday is merely history – tomorrow is the future  but today is a present. My advice to you today is: enjoy every second of it! Life is a present but so often we forget to appreciate it and end up worrying about tomorrow or being stuck in yesterday.

It has been said in many ways some more elegant than others. Today I stumbled upon one of the more – well let’s call it interesting ways. You might say it is not that elegant and I am sure that a lot of people might not particularly enjoy Sylvester Stallone – but you have to give him this – He is quite a motivator.

In other words today I will leave with a little clip from one of the classics – Rocky Balboa

I hope you enjoyed the clip and keep moving forward…

Love

H. Gene

 

Let’s make it a good one

Happy New Year ! I hope you have had time to reflect upon the year 2011. To me 2011 was a good year. I spent time yesterday celebrating with good friends – friends that have been there for me in the past months when things have been hard. Friends with whom I have shared hardships as well as good times.

When I entered the year 2011 I celebrated with my boys the two people that mean the world to me. We celebrated the new year in a small apartment – home made sushi – fireworks everything that you could want for a new years celebration. I started the day of with meditation as I woke up on the first of January 2011 not knowing yet what the year would bring.

I had plans for the 2011 – plans to spend more time with my boys. To spend more time with the people who mean the most to me. I was thank full that I had an apartment – even though it was small I was glad that I had some where to call my home. I was glad that I had a job it did not pay a lot but it was a job that allowed me to pay the most basic expenses. I was thank-full that I was in good health and in good shape – ready to face the challenges the new year could bring.

I had never realized the challenges that I would face as the year progressed nor had I realized the magnitude of “gifts” that I was about to receive. I went into the year 2011 expecting only the best hoping for even more – hoping for maybe an other shot at love and starting the year of with a pretty good feeling.

I was ready to face 2011 head on did so to the best of my abilities. Now 12 months later it is time to take a second look reflect and see what I learned in the past 12 months. Someone I once loved betrayed my to an extend that I can still hardly comprehend. It has been almost 9 months since I have had the chance to spend time with my boys. I have not been able to hold them or even tell them how much I love them for months. My abilities as a caring and loving father have been questioned. I have seen the inside of a police station – been questioned – had finger prints taken as well as DNA samples.

When riding my bike to work I was hit by a car. Fortunetly I wore a helmet but my shoulder was damaged and my plans for 1th Dan in Okinawa Goju Ryu was consequently postponed. I was hurt but alive – now there is a reason to be thank-full.

I experienced love but I did not recognize it before it was to late. I felt love and enjoyed every second of it. I did not do my absolute best and for that I am sorry but I know from that I have learned a lesson.

I was given a shot at a new job and I love it. I go to work and enjoy what I do five – six or even seven days a week. An angel helped my get a new apartment, an apartment that is close to the boys school – overlooks the Kings Garden and Rosenborg Castle.

I became a Reiki Master and have had increasing time to work with my healings. I made new friends friends whom I know will be there for years to come. I found old friends – most of them on Facebook and reconnecting has been great no matter where I found them.

2011 has been a year like any other – ups and downs alike. Now 2012 I wonder what you have in store for me but I decided this much. For the year to come I decided to make it a great one – My question to you is – what is your year going to be like ?

Love

H. Gene

The Stars

I see stars in the sky

That blow my mind

They have guided travellers

For places to find

But the stars that guide me

Are the stars in your eyes

I love when they laugh

I love when they smile

I love when they cry

I love your eyes

Your eyes never lie

Your eyes are a map

Of your heart and your soul

I know when you see me

Your heart will be whole

When you take the time

To look in my eyes

I know you will find

The eyes never lie

You can look in my heart

In my soul in my mind

My love for you

That’s what you’ll find

Can you handle the truth

All the love that you’ll find

I know that this love

Truly blows my mind

A Rainy Day

When you wake up in the morning

I know you might be feeling blue

I hope most days you will be smiling

Hope you know that I am smiling

When I’m thinking back on you

Know the fact that you are smiling

Their fingers running through your hair

It might be we’re not together

But in your heart you’ll know I’m there

Even though in fact it’s summer

You might see a rainy day

If you do then have some chocolate

Think of me and say

“Know this love will last forever

Though I’m not free to be with you

There is a light that shines within me

And I know you feel it too”

Early Mornings

Whatever was before

Or whatever will come after

It really doesn’t matter

When I only hear your laughter

When I wake up in the morning

Your body naked next to mine

I can’t belive that you are with me

Girl I wish that you were mine

But we are sailing risky waters

And we are facing any storm

I do not know what love is like here

I’m unfamiliar with the form

We might say it’s just desire

And nothing else is in between

But I’m not certain any longer

With the beauty I have seen

Felt your arms around my body

Felt my lips upon your skin

I want to know what’s underneath

I want to know the girl within

 

I Believe in Angels

Do you believe in Angels? I know I do. Actually it is not that hard for me since I’ve had quite a few Angels in my life.  The kind of Angel that I am talking about is human just like you and I but it the kind of person who means the world to you. the kind of person that have come in to your life at the exact perfect time in your life. Maybe he or she has been there for but a moment maybe they are still there. No matter what I know I believe in Angels I believe in the best possible version of other people and every once in a while I find it to an extend that leaves me with no doubt it simply must be an Angel

I fell in love the first time I so an Angel. For those of you who have not yet read the post First Love you can read about that particular Angel in my previous post. Still there has been so many other Angels in my life and I would like to mention just a few. In 1989 I went to Western Boone Jr.- Sr. High School and stayed with a welcome family. As an exchange student thousands of miles away from home I desperately needed a family where I could stay. One day Sony a local YFU area rep. came and told me that maybe there was a family or actually a single parent and her daughter that would take me in to live with them. I remember having to meet with the going shopping one afternoon being so excited an anxious as well risking having to go home if they were not able to find a permanent family.

I found more than could possibly have hoped for indeed I found an Angel. Despite the fact that money was a scarce resource love was the one thing that there was alway enough of in my newfound family. I will for alway be grateful for Sony spending his spare time doing everything possibly for all the local exchange students that came into town. Even more so I will always love my mother for that is truly what she has become. I came looking for a family and left having found an Angel an extended family a mother, sister and a brother that will always be part of my life.Now it has been more than twenty years ago since I graduated from High School and I still enjoy late night talks with mom – mostly due to the considerable time difference. (check out the blog Killer app. for iPhone on how to call long distance practically free).

Almost four years ago an Angel once again walked into my life. I was at a point in life where I felt the world around me crumbling. I had found that there was more to life than I had previously realized however who do you turn to when you feel that there is more between heaven and earth than meets the eye. Practically out of no where came a woman to whom spirituality was not a curse. A woman who at that time had spent more than 10 years simply trying to make the world a better place. A woman whom in her own way was indeed a part of the Good Fight. We have spent hours on the phone over that past years covering subjects like spirituality, religion, tarot cards, healing, tantra – you name it and I am sure we will have talked about and one point. It is not the fact that she travels the earth in search of greater wisdom. It is not the fact that she considers helping others cope with life and make from one day to the next. It is simply not just because she works as a volunteer at a red cross housing facility. It is simply because she is an Angel and the fact that she is in my life that I am thankful.

Today therefore I challenge you to think about who are the Angels in your life? When is the last time you called them or just talked to them ? Call them – talk to them – tell them how you feel. If you truly appreciate someone if you consider someone an Angel – let them know today.

Love

H. Gene