Use What Works... Add Your Own

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Use what works (from various sources and teachers)...  Add what's uniquely your own.  This video (of less than three minutes) shows you how this simple philosophy will make you more successful in any area of your focus - whether it is writing, business, athletics, art, studying,...  Also, LL Cool J and Manny Pacquiao are in this video.

More life lessons are available at http://spirfit.org/Academy/#life

 

 

 

Peace Pilgrim

Peace Pilgrim was one of the most influential teachers of life to me.  She passed away more than thirty years ago, but her teachings live on.  The following are links to her teachings and to information about her.


Free Peace Pilgrim Book
http://www.peacepilgrim.org/htmfiles/freebook.htm

Video and Audio of Talks by Peace Pilgrim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx3oEOVgzyQ
http://www.peacepilgrim.org/audio.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIsgnlqrnxk&list=PLwEVoa9zbzfAe2vD_R9ZKcrlVtzCTrV4q&index=6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgCME-N5WX0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CAsjZqYPME
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjMCrydef2w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZKfjkpLLyA&index=8&list=PLwEVoa9zbzfAe2vD_R9ZKcrlVtzCTrV4q

Video Documentary about Peace Pilgrim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1PWxVnta9s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ySs2rLcPhU

Peace Pilgrim Website
http://www.peacepilgrim.com/pphome.htm

Friends of Peace Pilgrim
http://www.peacepilgrim.org/FoPP/

NPR Article about Peace Pilgrim
http://www.npr.org/2013/01/01/168346591/peace-pilgrims-28-year-walk-for-a-meaningful-way-of-life

Additional Articles about Peace Pilgrim
http://www.peacepilgrim.com/htmfiles/wqf.htm

Obamacare Consists of Two Acts

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Obamacare actually consists of two laws:

1. The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act  (document of actual legislation)
       - Simple summary of this act

2. Healthcare Education Reconciliation Act of 2013  (document of actual legislation)     
        - Simple Summary of this act

 Source: Affordable Care Act and Medicaid

More information on Obamacare at http://spirfit.org/Academy/obamacare

Obamacare: How the Government Pays Part of Your Insurance Premium

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Under Obamacare, the government can pay for part of your insurance premium through the Premium Tax Credit, if you qualify. Most middle class families qualify. This video explains this:


Document shown in this video can be found at http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/documents/36bfactsheet.pdf

FPL (Federal Poverty Level) Chart (to see if you are within 100% to 400% FPL) can be found at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13computations.cfm


For other important information about Obamacare, go to:  
http://spirfit.org/Academy/obamacare

Disclaimer: Consult a health insurance expert when using information from this site. The author of this blog is not liable for information here (especially when this is a new and unprecedented legislation where nobody knows exactly how it will all actually turn out, and changes will continue to be made by the government and the market .)

Obamacare Health Insurance Exchanges/Marketplaces in Your State

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What is the health insurance marketplace/exchange-place in my state?
https://www.healthcare.gov/what-is-the-marketplace-in-my-state/

Instead of providing you with impractical background information about the new law, I thought I will make it easy for you to get to what really matters.   The first thing that matters most is this:

Are there better choices than the health insurance you have right now?

If you are paying for your own insurance premium, the answer is most likely: Yes, there are probably better and less expensive choices.)

To shop in the insurance exchange/marketplace of your state, provided by Obamacare, go to:

https://www.healthcare.gov/what-is-the-marketplace-in-my-state/

For other important information about Obamacare, go to:  
http://spirfit.org/Academy/obamacare

Disclaimer: Consult a health insurance expert when using information from this site. The author of this blog is not liable for information here (especially when this is a new and unprecedented legislation where nobody knows exactly how it will all actually turn out, and changes will continue to be made by the government and the market .)

Your Energy

Some places drain you of your energy.  Some people drain you of your energy.  You could be completely drained and fatigued because of seeing a number of these people during the day.  You think it's from lack of sleep.  Then, evening comes and all it took was seeing one person and you are completely energized.  How do you explain that?  Shouldn't you be more tired after a long day if it was just simply lack of sleep?


BE COGNIZANT OF THE ENERGY (OR DRAINAGE OF ENERGY) BROUGHT BY PEOPLE AND PLACES.  MORE IMPORTANTLY, BE AWARE OF THE ENERGY YOU BRING.

Here's a simple writing exercise for you to do in your journal daily (or however frequently you want to do this.)  Write down and describe the places to which you've been today.  Describe your energy level.  Write down the people you came across today and describe your energy while you were in the same proximity of these people.

David Neeleman, JetBlue Founder

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Updated August 2014



David Neeleman who has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) struggled through school when he was young.  However, his ADHD turned out to be a gift when he directed his hyperactive creativity toward building something great for consumers while keeping costs low for them.  This allowed him to innovatively build four successful airlines.






Other Interviews and News with David Neeleman (Added on August 29, 2014)

David Neeleman talks about Azul and Embraer
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/major-mergers-in-the-sky-pNESolzyQ2Ww6lVe7GjWMQ.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/embraer-s-big-bet-the-kc-390-fSypdnfXS827s8_nMXzPdg.html

Elite Interviews David Neeleman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QybWxHdiSpk

David Neeleman Talks About "What Makes a Startup Soar"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoWB8yN7SAE


Books About David Neeleman and JetBlue

Blue Streak  by Barbara Peterson

http://books.google.com/books?id=X8W4AAAAIAAJ&q=blue+streak&dq=blue+streak&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vhgAUpCTAuv94AP194DgDg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA

Flying High  by James Wynbrandt

http://books.google.com/books?id=Eh1P-fJlniYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=david+neeleman&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qxMAUouvA_Gx4APxrYDgAg&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=david%20neeleman&f=false


What David Neeleman Learned as a Young Missionary in Brazil
http://books.google.com/books?id=VAfMJO11rWIC&pg=PA45&dq=david+neeleman&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qxMAUouvA_Gx4APxrYDgAg&ved=0CGIQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=david%20neeleman&f=false

Book Recommended by David Neeleman

The Mormon Way of Doing Business  by Jeff Benedict
http://books.google.com/books?id=wS34sBXb72YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+mormon+way+of+doing+business&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ChsAUvO_Drao4AOa7ICgBw&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=the%20mormon%20way%20of%20doing%20business&f=false


Other iconoclasts like (and unlike) David Neeleman can be found at 

 http://spirfit.org/Academy/iconoclasts

Feel free to join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpirFit/141881909215772

Relationships

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How many girlfriends does it take to change a light bulb?  One, but the light bulb doesn't want to be changed.

On a related note about relationships, do you know of any couple that after many years of marriage could still sing this to eachother:




"After all this time, I'm still into you..."

Paleo Diet

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Chobani Founded by Iconoclast

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Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya made Greek yogurt available in the U.S.  It's a product that five years ago was not available in the U.S. and Americans did not know they wanted it.  Now, Chobani has trouble keeping up with demands for their Greek yogurt and the "Goliath" yogurt companies are so threatened that they are making their own Greek yogurt selections available.  In the past, there would be no way a small start-up food company could compete with age-old companies.  As I've been telling my students and anyone willing to listen, we are living in a time where technology is allowing a little David with a great idea for a great product or service to compete with (and be a threat to) existing big Goliaths.  And if you understand the life principles taught in SpirFit that Hamdi Ulukaya also understands, your chances are even greater.

http://youtu.be/PksULWzDiVE

Social Media and Chobani
The technology of social media was essential in Chobani's growth.  More about how Chobani uses social media can be found at:  http://www.nbcnews.com/id/49084239/ns/business-small_business/t/how-chobani-yogurt-used-social-media-boost-sales/#.UXmqj7VwqSo


More of Chobani in the News

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Chobani on NBC News South Carolina
http://www.wcnc.com/news/business/Popular-yogurt-company-185998602.html



Disclosure:  Neither the writer of this blog or SpirFit Academy has any financial interest or any ties with Chobani or NBC.

Affordable Care Act - Tracy and Mark's Story

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Feel free to find other lessons and videos at SpirFit.org

Rachel Cruz' Story

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•  Mobile .MP4 file (480x272 / 24MB)
•  HD .MP4 file (1280x720 / 117MB)
•  SD .MP4 file (640x368 / 52MB)
•  Original .MOV file (1280x720 / 493MB)

For more on surviving and recovering from sexual abuse, go to - http://spirfit.org/Academy/sexualabuse

Sexual Abuse

Surviving and recovering from sexual abuse  - http://spirfit.org/Academy/sexualabuse/index.htm

Google Founder Spotted on NYC Wearing Hi-Tech Glasses

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So, this guy on Twitter just so happens to run into Sergei Brin (co-founder of Google) in the New York City subways wearing the $1500 high tech glasses Google is promoting.




If you ask me, I don't think it's a coincidence.  I think it's staged, and this Tweeter Noah Zerkin and Sergei Brin are probably collaborators.

Think about it.  This tweet and picture has gone viral being picked up and spread by many news websites.  If my theory about this "run-in" is correct, Google just got a lot of free advertisement for this pair of high tech glasses they are pushing.  This is just something that Sergei Brin is brilliant enough to pull off and it's very characteristic of him to do marketing in such an unorthodox way.  It's also very characteristic of him to be unlike other billionaires in willing to ride the New York City subways.

My Spiritual Awakening, MLK, and Obama

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Eleven years ago, on January 21st, 2002 (which also landed on a Monday like today that was also Martin Luther King's Day), I had a spiritual awakening. It was the first I had of its kind and I probably hadn't had one like it since.

Don't get me wrong. I've made a lot of spiritual progress since than, but that one was just so sudden and it came upon me with so much power and love from God. It was so needed as I was going through a major depression back then. (I've since spoken to someone who had been diagnosed with clinical depression and on medication. She told me that my case was worse than hers, and that if I would've sought medical attention, they would definitely have medicated me.) Anyway, that awakening brought me out of that depression without any medical attention or drugs. God can do amazing things.

Ever since that awakening, I've also been making progress in my life, in not following only what's "safe" but following God, and following what He has placed in my heart. I've made decisions that did not and still does not make sense to many (especially when many only know one way, one program,... with a one track mind. Not that that one track is wrong. When so many people follow the same track or same type of life, it's probably working (to a certain extent). But it's just not the only way or even the best way as most people think. Anyway, I digress.

Eleven years ago, when I had that abrupt awakening that God brought upon me, I was living by myself in San Leandro, California. The awakening came upon me shortly after 12am on 1/21/2002. Then I went to sleep probably with the best sleep I hadn't had for awhile up to that point. When I awoke in the morning, I drove down to the closest book store, Borders in Union City, and asked God to give me answers. (When I felt like I need answers, I go into a big bookstore, ask God to guide me, and start going through books. On that day of awakening in 2002, after going through a lot of books, two books captivated me on that day.  If I remember correctly, they were Not Your Mother's Life by Joan K. Peters and The Call to the Soul by Marjory Zoet Bankson.)

Despite gradual progress since then and despite having gone on a less traveled road, I still seem to have a long ways to go. Maybe you would like to hear me say that "I've come a long way" which may be true, but it seems to me that I have a much longer way to go. I won't say that I am tired but I do feel fed up on some days because I am not as far along as I had planned (although progress has been apparent).   Back in my awakening of January 21st, 2002, I did not know why God chose Martin Luther King's (MLK) Day to awaken me.  Since then, I can see a little bit more of why, but I probably do not know entirely yet why God chose MLK day And the mystery expands as this year, my anniversary of my spiritual awakening is again on a Martin Luther King's Monday and it coincides with Barack Obama's public inauguration of his second term as President of the United States.

Now I've been learning about Barack Obama even before he became President, just as I've been learning about a number of others who I consider to be iconoclasts (Sergei Brin, Larry Page, Rick Warren, Joyce Meyer, Steve Jobs, Taylor Swift, Matt Damon,...) From what I've read and what I've seen, Obama is someone I admire. (It doesn't mean I agree with everything he believes in his ideology, but I don't think there's anyone we can agree with entirely including those we admire or look up to.)  Well anyway (to conclude this journal entry), I will say that I've made progress since January 21st, 2002, but I have a lot more progress to make. May God bless me and be with me. I am sure more will be revealed in my life.


A small part of what I do is on the web for free to you.  If you like, feel free to check it out at:  SpirFit.org

Power You Can Rely On

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“The keeping of a believer from the allurements and the deceit of the world is a supernatural task.  No man is smart enough to do it on his own.  Nothing else is sufficient, only the power of God can keep us.”  - Ray Stedman

The above quote from Ray Stedman is to remind us that just because we do our part, we must not be mistaken that we can do it all from our own power, because our power is limited without God (as hard as this may be for our ego to take.)
Ray Stedman in his sermon actually goes further into saying that the mistaken tendency of relying on one’s own strength is the downfall of Judas Iscariot (the one who betrayed Jesus.)  You can read or listen to Ray Stedman’s entire sermon on this at:

http://www.raystedman.org/thematic-studies/prayer/christ-prays-for-you

However, do not misunderstand.  This does not mean that you sit back and do nothing and let God do it all.  A father would not be a good father if he does it all for his children, and his children never learn.  In the same way, Our Heavenly Father is the Good Father requiring us to do our part.  We do our part, and God will do His part.  Just be sure we do not erroneously think that it is all in our power.  We need Him.

Biz Stone Interviewed by MediabrandsTV

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Twitter is one of the outside-the-box pioneering companies that we all can learn from.  Here's an interview of Twitter co-founder Biz Stone by Mediabrands TV.

New Tech Gadgets in 2013

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Waterproof iPhones and bendable smartphones, more user-friendly
TV’s, iWatches (iPhone- like watches with iOS),
Wi-Fi connected eye-glasses, and phones that prevent texting while driving are
some of the items you may expect to be available in the market for the masses
in 2013.  More about it at:

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-new-year-tech-20121231,0,3839092.story

Feel free to find life lessons and academic lessons at:
SpirFit.org