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Practice, Practice, Practice!
On a page I was going through, I came across a particular query that has had me thinking and thus, the reason for this essay—since I tend to think better when writing. The question in mention is: Have you ever asked yourself what is your purpose?
Well, the reason this question has affected me so much is because as a foolish youngster, I was quick to respond to it and say proudly that my purpose in life was to be a “thug” till death do me part. And since I did not plan on living very long, it seemed very simple and true to me at the time.
Fortunately, that is no longer my purpose and I have now committed myself on a 180 degree turn around and can now much more proudly and unequivocally say that my new purpose in life is to be at peace and content with myself, others, and surroundings.
Those that know me from the past may say: “he’s just saying that now because he’s in prison serving a couple of life sentences and more, and has no other choice.”
Well, to those naysayers I simply respond that is not the case, since prison is an ideal place to continue being a “thug” since one is surrounded by so many, if not the majority. So, yes, I do have a choice. Not only that, but from the moment I was arrested, I had the option to continue being a “thug,” and get a sweet deal, but chose not to.
Additionally, during my incarceration, the temptations have been many, since vices like drugs, alcohol, gambling, and opportunities to commit immoral and delinquent acts are plentiful. Hence, I thank God for helping me make the right choices and not allowing me to succumb and fall deeper in disgrace.
Now with the aforementioned being clarified, allow me to manifest how I plan to achieve my new purpose.
When this course began, I recited a very personal essay about an experience I had many years ago that finally caught up with me and transformed my life considerably for the better. In that essay, I alluded to how I allowed another person’s action affect and dictate my emotions in a negative way. Then how a very wise, older friend, whom I have since considered a father figure, God bless his soul, gave me one of the best—if not the best, advice I’ve ever received.
In essence this is what he advised me: “Son, under no circumstances allow anything or anyone to affect your emotions in a negative way. Once you allow that you cease control of your emotions and could no longer consider yourself a true man.”
Sure enough, due to my immaturity, ignorance, foolish pride, and ego, I chose not to understand him, did not adhere to his advice, and refused to follow through. Luckily for me, through very harsh occurrences (which were mostly brought about by my ego and foolish pride), many personal experiences, and not so personal experiences—I believe I have found my purpose in life to live at peace and be content with myself, others, and my surroundings.
I credit this accomplishment by seeing and treating life as a game or sporting event. Yes, gentlemen, I now see life as a game and my goal is not only to win, but also to enjoy the journey to its fullest.
Allow me now to explain my analogy between life and a game and how I plan to win. As a kid growing up and participating in various organized sporting events, I was always encouraged and obligated by the coaches to practice, practice, practice. And in that way, make myself a better athlete.
If the sport were basketball—I had to practice my ball handling, passing, shooting, free throws, layups, and so forth.
If it were baseball—I had to train in batting, catching, throwing, sliding, and other things.
If it were soccer—I definitely had to exercise dribbling to get past defenders, passing and receiving the ball, positioning and anticipating where the ball was going, my heading on the ball, and an array of other things to better myself and be successful in the competition.
Now that you most likely get where I’m coming from, in my game of life, I encourage and discipline myself to do the same—practice, practice, practice.
I practice the things that I feel will help me succeed and accomplish my purpose in life by doing the following: I meditate and reflect alone with frequency because it is in true solitude that I really identify and find myself.
I try my best to always think, speak, and act positively—practice the ancient discipline of yoga, along with its eight different branches to help keep me grounded and firm in my purpose.
I try to read good, entertaining fiction and non-fiction books, and when a self-help book falls into my lap, I devour its contents as well.
I challenge my mind constantly by doing very challenging numbered puzzles (sodukus), try to stay away from gossip—and if it finds me, treat it positively and minimally.
I try to socialize only with positive individuals—and when a negative one appears in my path—I run like hell! 🙂
I do my best not to tell lies, and if it’s necessary for one, I prefer to keep my mouth shut.
I try to keep myself, thoughts, and few belongings as organized and compartmentalized as possible. If I have something pending, I follow my dear mother’s advice to do it immediately without procrastination. And if there is nothing I can do about it—I do exactly that—nothing. And when I say nothing, I mean not even worry about it.
I exercise my body in a very intense manner and in doing so, prepare my heart to utilize its oxygen much more efficiently so that my resting heart rate becomes lower and can deal with pumping my blood more adequately—and in this manner, deal much better with stress.
When things do not go my way, I do not take it personal and I accept the fact that it could always have been worse to soften the impact.
I try to never jump to conclusions or make assumptions, since in the past I was wrong most of the times, if not always.
If there is anything I can do for someone less fortunate then I do so without thinking it twice.
I try to be very understanding, respectful, and considerate of others—procure not to engage in arguments or heated discussions, since they rarely, if ever, conduce to anything positive.
If for some reason I come across something that does not belong to me, I return it immediately. And if it is a borrowed item, try to take better care of it than if it were my own.
I also try to always be appreciative and truly say “thank you” for any assistance I receive, no matter how small. And I also make it my duty to never, ever, give bad advice, no matter how tempting.
Dear comrades, although there may be other practices I engage in to reach and accomplish my purpose in life, they seem to have escaped my thoughts for now. But I could not end this section without saying last but never least—a day does not go by without me getting on my knees and thanking the Lord for all my blessings and asking Him for more. Something that those who know me from the past would find extremely difficult to believe, but that is truly the case.
At this moment, my dear friends, please do not misinterpret the aforementioned and think that through such practices I aim to be perfect—never that. But it does imply that when I do “mess up,” I can be humble enough to accept it, learn from it, make amends and therefore, reduce my errors and live a much better and purposeful life.
After this very personal account on how I practice to win in my game of life, I would like to conclude that my aim is not to garner sympathy, praise, nor even your scorn, but simply to encourage all of the participants that have already taken the first step in this beautiful course to continue making the necessary changes in ourselves to be better men, simple as that.
PS—if in the future, we may cross paths and you see that I am not following through on these practices, please call it to my attention—it will be dearly appreciated.
Thank you for your attention and God bless.
Ernesto Cole
Throwing Starfish
Throwing Starfish
A man was walking along the beach after a storm when he came across an old woman throwing starfish that had washed up on shore back into the sea.
When he asked her what she was doing, she said she’d always wanted to make a difference and had decided that today was a good day to begin.
The man looked from her to the thousands of starfish that lay dying along the coastline and said, “For every starfish you throw back into the ocean, three more wash up onto the shore! How can you possibly be making a difference?”
The woman looked thoughtful for a moment and then she picked up another starfish and threw it back into the sea.
She smiled. “Made a difference to that one.”
Ernesto Cole
An Old Sioux Legend
An Old Sioux Legend
In ancient times, the Creator wanted to hide something from the humans until they were ready to see it.
He gathered all the other creatures of creation to ask their advice.
The eagle said, “Give it to me and I will take it to the highest mountain in all the land.”
But, the Creator said, “No, one day they will conquer the mountain and find it.”
The salmon said, “Leave it with me and I will hide it at the very bottom of the ocean.”
But, the Creator said, “No, for humans are explorers at heart, and one day they will go there too.”
The buffalo said, “I will take it and bury in the very heart of the Great Plains.”
But, the Creator said, “No, for one day even the skin of the earth will be ripped open, and they will find it there.”
The creatures of creation were stumped, but then and old blind mole spoke up. “Why don’t you put it inside them? That’s the very last place they’ll look.”
The Creator said, “It is done.”
Ernesto Cole
The General and the CEO
The General and the CEO
A four-star general was taking a tour of the company that had been hired by the military to complete a major defense contract.
Despite the CEO’s assurance that this particular project would be completed on time, the general felt that the CEO’s team was not 100 percent committed to getting the job done.
He argued that they should remain at work and do whatever it takes to succeed, even if it meant working much longer hours, taking extra time away from home and family, and putting themselves under additional personal pressure and stress.
He told the CEO that understanding personnel management was like eating bacon and eggs for breakfast — the chicken was involved and the pig was committed.
The contractor smiled and said, “Well, that’s true, General, but the pig is dead, and the chicken is still producing eggs. I want my people to stay involved.
The general backed down, and the project was completed on time.
Ernesto Cole
Why Does a Bird Sing?
Why Does the Bird Sing?
A teacher who had received much acclaim for his insights and discourses into the nature of the universe was asked by one of his students what the difference he hoped to make in the world through his teaching.
After a few moment’s thought, the teacher replied that he had no such hopes. “Those who can truly hear what I have to say don’t really need me to say it. Those who can’t hear could listen until I was hoarse and could no longer speak without changing in the slightest.”
The student was confused.
“But if you can’t make a difference with your ideas, why do you teach at all?”
The teacher smiled. “Why does a bird sing?”
Ernesto Cole
The Young Samurai
The Young Samurai
A young samurai warrior stood respectfully before the aged Zen master and said, “Master, teach me about Heaven and Hell.”
The master snapped his head up in disgust and said, “Teach you about Heaven and Hell? Why, I doubt that you could even learn to keep your won sword from rusting! You ignorant fool! How dare you suppose that you could understand anything I might have to say?”
The old man went on and on, becoming more and more insulting while the young swordsman’s surprise turned first into confusion and then to hot anger rising by the moment. Master or no master, who can insult a Samurai and live?
At last, with teeth clenched and blood nearly boiling in fury, the warrior blindly drew his sword and prepared to end the old man’s sharp tongue and life all in one furious stroke.
But at that very moment the master looked straight into his eyes and said gently, “That’s Hell.”
Even at the peak of his rage, the samurai realized the master had indeed given him the teaching he asked for.
He had hounded him into a living Hell, driven by uncontrolled anger and ego.
The young man, deeply humbled, sheathed his sword and bowed low in awe of this great spiritual teacher.
Looking into the master’s ancient smiling face, he felt more love and compassion than he had ever felt in all his life and at that point, the master raised his index finger and said kindly, “And that’s Heaven.”
Ernesto Cole
Love Comes First
Love Comes First
A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard.
She did not recognize them.
She said, “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.”
“Is the man of the house home?” they asked.
“No,” she replied.
“He’s out, then we cannot come in,” they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.
“Go ahead and tell them I am home and invite them in!”
The woman went out and invited the men in.
“We do not go into a house together,” they said.
“Why is that?” she asked.
One of the old men explained. “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends. And pointing to another, “He is Success, and I am Love.”
The he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which of us you want in your home.
The woman went in and told her husband what was said.
Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!” he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!”
His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?”
Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house.
She jumped in with her own suggestion. “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will be filled with love!”
“Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”
The woman went out and asked the three old men, “Which one of you has Love? Please come in and be our guest.”
Love got up and started walking toward the house.
The other two also got up and followed him.
Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, “I only invited Love, why are you coming in?”
The old men replied together, “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him.
Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!”
Ernesto Cole
The Waterbearer
The Waterbearer
A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full of water to his house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was mad.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
“I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”
The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?
That’s because I have always known about your flaws, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them.
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be beauty to grace the house.”
Moral – Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots.
But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
You’ve just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.
Blessings to all my crackpot friends.
Ernesto Cole
The Lion and the Fox
The Lion and the Fox
A man was walking through the woods outside his home one day when he came across a hungry fox who seemed to be at death’s door.
Because he was a kind man, he thought to bring it some food.
But, before he could go back to his home, he heard a fearsome roar and hid behind a tree.
In seconds, a mountain lion appeared, dragging the carcass of its freshly caught prey.
The lion ate its fill and then wandered off, leaving the remains for the grateful fox.
The man was overwhelmed by this example of an abundant and benevolent universe and decided that he wouldn’t return to his home or his job.
Instead working hard to provide for himself, he would follow the example of the fox and allow the universe to provide for him.
Needless to say, the fox wandered off, and as days turned into weeks, the man himself was hungry and at death’s door.
Despite his best efforts to retain his faith, he was becoming desperate.
In a rare moment of inner quiet, he heard the still, small voice of his own wisdom, “Why have you sought to emulate the fox instead of the lion?”
With that, the man returned home and ate his fill.
Ernesto Cole
I Asked God
I Asked God
I asked God to be first in line, but He placed me in the back so that I would have patience and know humility.
I asked God to be the center of the world, and He taught me that vanity sets me apart from the center of anything.
I asked God for fame and glory, but He gave me simplicity and comprehension so that my ego would not hurt others.
I asked God for a fast car, but He gave me a firm step through the right path so that I would not crash my feelings.
I asked God for a mansion, but He gave me a small home full of tenderness and love.
I asked God for lots of money so that I can have many friends, but He gave me something better – He offered me His friendship, not for money… but for my sincerity.
I asked God for good health, so I can conquer my wishes, but He gave me sickness so that once I experienced it, I would conquer patience and a dream or two and believe more in Him, so my ego would not get the best of me.
I asked God for handsomeness, however, He gave me sensibility and spiritual beauty so that I would not feel better than others.
I asked God to always make me happy, yet, He made me know sadness so that I can understand that life is not only composed of beautiful things and to have compassion for others.
I asked God for a strong character, but He gave me a soft heart and a gentle character so that I can love and help others.
I asked God to never let me cry, however, He made me shed a tear from my heart by feeling impotent when I could not help a loved one and express loving words to show how much I loved them.
I asked God for a very attractive woman to satisfy my ego and cravings… He gave me you to show me love and satisfy my needs!
I asked God to allow me to have the world at my feet, but He made me realize that it is better to have friends in my heart.
Because of all this, My Lord, do not give me all I ask for… only what up to this day you have given me!
Thank you!
Ernesto Cole
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