The Learning Course

USER FEES, THE NEW TAX ($1.80 per gal. gas tax increase)

2009-03-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

For several years government entities from the federal level all the way down to small town U.S.A. have had a revelation. They know that they have to come up with fresh new ways to raise revenue. That’s much easier than actually having to follow a real budget like the rest of us simple folk. To government the word budget is simply a dirty little buzz word. If any private business tried to operate as government does, they would have gone out of business shortly after they opened their doors.
Sure, every once in a while the government will throw us a bone. I know it’s hard for some to understand, but tax cuts actually stimulate the economy. Just channel President Kennedy or Reagan and ask either one of them. Many elected officials seem to forget the only income they can depend on is produced by the people that vote for them. We broke away from England because of over taxation. Taxes in this country began as voluntary less than 100 years ago. Try not volunteering to pay your taxes.
So now we have a new “stimulus” package. Many people thought President Bush spent way too much money (with the approval of the Democratically controlled congress). This spendulous bill is incomprehensible. A commercial I recently watched says if you could spend $1,000,000 dollars each day for 2009+ years it still wouldn’t equal the cost of this gigantic tax payer obligation. Think about that for just a minute. One positive aspect of this bill passed by these so called leaders with the speed of lightning is that we will realize a profit on the individual level of $13 whole dollars a week. That’s before taxes! Please go out to breakfast once a week with your new windfall profit (that was yours to begin with). Do your part as a good American and go stimulate this weak economy. Eat slowly because we are going to pay for that omelet for a very long time.
Here’s an inventive idea. The beautiful state of Oregon is considering a new program to install GPS devices in every car in the state to track their mileage. Why would they do that? Well, apparently the tax on a gallon of gas isn’t enough now. The mileage standards congress has forced automakers to adhere to have worked so well that tax revenues have gone down. Oh damn it, they forgot to take that into consideration. As an added bonus the government will also now be able to track your every movement with this fine free new device for your car. Another state is seriously looking at the idea of installing an odometer counter to your vehicle to track your mileage. They are kicking around the thought of taxing their residents one penny per quarter mile. Quarter mile? B.S. I guess saying that they want to tax you four cents a mile just sounds way too high. I think their state officials are “too high”. If your car gets 20 mpg this example would be the equivalent of a new eighty cents per gallon gas tax. What if you invested the extra money to do your part for the environment and now own a Hybrid? Well, if it gets 40 mpg you guys are gonna get nailed really hard. They are currently trying to figure out how to make it fair for Hybrid owners. Well, at least they are trying to think of ways to make this idea fair for everyone. LOL, what a joke!
When are we going to say enough is enough? One thing I have learned from developing The Learning Course (as seen at www.thelearningcourse.com) is now is the time to start paying close attention to those who are running the show and take notes. Most of us live very busy lives and really don’t have time to stay focused on what happened a year ago or even two months ago in this fast paced society. The politicians count on that. At election time they make all these wild promises and know how to put on a real entertaining dog and phony show. If you as a tax payer and a voter are serious about your vote counting for something, anything, takes notes. Keep track of what these fools are doing so that you don’t have to try to remember the real record. They certainly don’t want you to. The biggest problem I had with McCain was his record and the biggest problem I had with the big O was his lack of one. That goofball can’t even speak without the words he’s supposed to recite staring him in the face. Clinton was a masterful politician. President B.O. is a masterful marionette until one of the strings brakes.

TO MY DEAREST MONICA

2009-03-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

I am so pleased to see and be witness to the person you are becoming. Our “date” at the Red Mill will always have a special place in my heart.
I was very excited about the thought of meeting the girl I have loved her whole life once again. When I spoke with her on Friday night she announced with pride that she earned 4 A’s and a B in PE (I personally think that she wants an A in PE also). The fact that all of her A’s are in “gifted” classes serves her well. She is very smart and she uses this realization to her advantage.
On occasion throughout her life I have given her fake flowers. She just has always appreciated them. She would play with them and they would last a long time (she would eventually give them all away and then do another good deed and earn more to give away). As a “gift” for Monica’s good grades I brought her a dozen silky red roses. She loved them. She looked at them for a moment as if she could smell them and then removed one. What she did next touched my heart. She wrapped the wire stem around my rear view mirror. I will leave it there and every time I focus on the rose I will instantly be taken back to that day we spent some special time together.
We have had this Saturday date for a couple of weeks so we confirmed a time. I scooped up Monica and we headed to Seattle. The Red Mill is a little burger joint I watched a profile on from the pigout expert Alan Richman on the Travel Channel. Bring your wallet but the burgers are good. Monica is such a grateful soul. She bit into that hamburger, looked me in the eye and said, “that is the best burger I have ever had dad”. I couldn’t help but agree, I was caught up in the moment. We paid the price of gold for those burgers but she was a happy girl and that’s really all that mattered.
We decided to see a movie. We had a wonderful time together. We had time to talk, time to eat together and time to just hold each other’s hand.
We have much to learn from the little things in life. To pay attention is free. Be grateful that we have the ability to focus on the things we desire. Please make a list of ten things you are grateful for at this very moment. I’m grateful that you have read this far. LOL
Geoff/TLC guy
http://www.thelearningcourse.com/
P.S. While I was writing this entry I was listening to my headphones. I just received a message from Monica via voice mail. She had a bit of sadness in her voice. She called to let me know that her pets had found her flowers and torn them to shreds. I’m sure she will earn more flowers very soon. It does go to show you though, keep the valuables out of reach of the animals.

PREJUDICE VS. RACISM

2009-02-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

It’s a documented fact that we judge a book by its cover. The two words in the tile of this blog entry do have two distinct and separate meanings. Prejudice is actually a fear based response. Even though fear is the last thing we should focus on, it is a defense mechanize. On the other hand, racism is a disease of the mind.
I want to expound on prejudice first. We are all the product of our environment and experiences. Right or wrong, we all make judgments on many aspects of our environment daily on conscious and subconscious levels. This can keep us safe depending on the situation. It also can move you away from fresh and new opportunities unfortunately.
What do you think when you see a person holding a card board sign on a street corner or a freeway exit? I think we all can be that guy or gal. Most people are just a few paychecks away from financial ruin. All it takes is one life changing event. It doesn’t even have to be a big one. It can be something small that snowballs into an unstoppable freight train depending on what you focus on. It’s true that some beggars make up to $20 an hour tax free and live a decent life. They give real homeless people without hope a bad rap. I have compassion for those who feel the only recourse they have to survive is to beg. They have lost the ability to realize they can make it.
Racism is a much more complex problem. I deplore this train of thought. I always have, even before I was old enough to understand what it meant. We are all people. PEOPLE! PERIOD! How can anyone be so pampas as to think they are better than another for any reason? We all come from different cultures, backgrounds, and histories but that is what makes life interesting. If we were all the same that would be so boring.
As I was growing up I experience many different examples of racism. When I was a teenager my step dad always labeled people that did or said dumb things with the “N” word. It didn’t matter what race they were, they were n...ers. I hated that. Every time he would say that word it cut through me like a knife. I understand why he was this way. He grew up in a very racist and ignorant environment. This was the only example he was shown of how to function in society. I sincerely believe that he was not a true racist but words you use can make you appear to be very ignorant.
Another example of apparent racism in my life presented itself to me over a decade ago. At the time I had recently made a new friend. This guy and I are true kindred spirits. We have since become the best of friends. One night after my divorce we got together to hit a few night spots. We both knew this one woman that I was interested in dating. We were having a drink and talking before we went out and he made a racist comment about her. You need to understand, I really looked up to this guy. He is older than me and I admire his wisdom. When he made the comment I stopped him in his tracks, looked him in the eye and told him I would never tolerate another racist comment from him ever. I also told him that if that was what he was all about that I would not continue to be his friend. I think I changed him that night. He isn’t racist, he was only joking but it wasn’t funny. That was a life changing moment for both of us. He is my best friend today. He is a mentor of mine but he also has tremendous respect for me. He has since never talked about different races in a derogatory manor, at least in front of me.
I do want to touch on one point of political hypocrisy here briefly. Do you know who Robert Byrd is? If he is still alive I think he is pushing 120 years old. He was a zombie US senator for what seemed like 100 years (it was a very long time). I don’t remember what state he was from but I do know some of his history. He is a permanent fixture in the Democratic Party. He was also a KKK member in the 1960’s. The press portrays the Republicans as the party of racism.
I’m not a Democrat or a Republican. I’m a conservative and a libertarian. I had a conversation with my bio dad a few months ago. He is a rabid liberal. Anyone (like me) that doesn’t agree with him is viewed as a threat to his ideology. Unfortunately he doesn’t know me at all. His perception of my mindset is that I’m a racist homophobe that wants to poison the earth. He has no idea what a loving person I really am. I wish he did because I love him. He is the only bio dad I will ever have. Oh well.
Oprah made a statement several years ago that has always stayed with me. She said, “I’m not an African American, I’m an American”. I love and respect her for that comment. So is this country still a racist country? I don’t think so. Does this thinking make me stupid or out of touch? I guess so if this country is still viewed as racist. Sure, there will always be backwards thinking idiots who feel threatened by others who are not like them but that’s life.
We now have a “black” president (or should I say African American president?). Is saying “black” racist? The fact is, at least for me anyway, I don’t care if he is green or purple or blue. Why is everyone so high on the fact that he is black? I don’t get it. Is this his best qualification? Did he get elected because we needed a “black” president to get over our guilt of our sad history of slavery? What’s the big deal? I vote for the person, man or woman, I feel is best qualified to fill the position. Focusing on who someone is instead of what they are is so important to remember. Can we please stop focusing on the color of a person’s skin as a designation of who they are? It seems to me that focusing on ethnicity for any intention, go or bad, is in itself racist. Please tell me what you think.

THINGS WILL GET A LOT WORSE UNLESS THEY GET A LOT BETTER

2009-02-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

We have become very spoiled here in America. Many people around the world have a negative opinion of us. Is it because we are so engaged in the war on terror? Some would say that is the reason. Others would point to the arrogant attitudes some of us have.
Have you ever seen the show The Amazing Race? This American tv show begins with over 10 teams (couples) that come from diverse walks of life. I used to watch it because of all the interesting places around the world the show visits. Two things really bother me about this show. The first thing is the way some of the couples treat each other. I remember one married team where the husband was actually physically abusive to the wife on camera! Their reward was a psycho analysis on the Dr. Phil-lis show.
The other thing I just can’t stand about this show is the way some of these teams behave towards the people that live in the countries the show visits. Some Amazing Race contestants are just arrogant beyond belief. They give the rest of us Americans very poor representation. I certainly would never behave like a spoiled adolescent as some of these stupid players do. I don’t watch the show anymore because of the way some of the contestants represent Americans to the rest of the world. Tragic.
Our modern society has grown accustom to getting almost anything we want instantly. Just like the ability to buy a house that doesn’t fit the budget (but don’t worry, the government will step in and renegotiate your mortgage if you don’t pay). How did we ever adopt the belief that we were entitled to wants and desires? Who or how have we been fooled into thinking that we deserve to have without earning? I don’t know and I’m not saying all Americans are like this because they aren’t. Many people around the world think we are though.
Many cultures around the world survive on a whole lot less and they are much happier. Whatever happened to gratitude? Why are some so obsessed with what others posses, weather it be riches or intellect? Maybe a better question is how come so many people focus on what they don’t have instead of all of the things they have been blessed with? Why do some obsess about what they can get from somebody else for giving as little as they can in return? How have we become so duped into spending billions of our hard earned dollars on get rich quick schemes that only make the inventor of the idea rich?
So many things have contributed to this mindset in the past fifty years, one of those being the invention of the television. I like tv and I watch it. It’s too bad that we are running out of ideas for true entertainment. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some very good shows out there but they are few and far between. These days tv is more about advertising than entertainment. It’s also sad to see how exploited the television industry and media in general have become.
Back in late September of 2008 I became totally disgruntled with the American election process. I just got so tired of hearing how bad things were from every candidate. None of them inspired any hope for the future in me. If I remember correctly, did the majority of voters here in the land of plenty vote for “change we can believe in”? So where is this miraculous change? It looks to me like the old saying, same s..t different day. This week our new president told America on television that if we don’t approve his new spending bill (the biggest package of PORK in human history) that America will never be able to recover and be the great nation that it has been for so long. If anyone thinks our greatest days are behind us then their life will suck until they change their thinking.
I am sick of this kind of talk. Let’s get the whole country focused on how bad things are and how they are just going to get worse. The more we think like this the worse things will get, I guarantee it. If we don’t let the government print more funny money and control more of the free markets that have made America the great independent nation it is, we will all be doomed. Is this the change the people voted for? Is this the change we can believe in? Did we get fooled again? The only way we will be a great nation for future generations is if we stop focusing on all of the things that don’t work. Vote these clowns out of office on both sides of the isle and let’s get some real leadership in place. I’m not delusional. We do have problems but problems demand solutions not whining. Let’s focus on solutions folks, not problems!

KEEP YOUR EGO IN CHECK

2009-02-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

What exactly is ego? As defined by Webster’s dictionary it’s just one, self. That’s not much help. How about egocentric? That means self-centered. That makes the definition a bit more clear. Ego materializes in many different ways. Egotism is defined as vanity and vanity is conceit so if you go to the word conceit it’s defined as excessive self esteem.
Understanding the different definitions found for the word ego only goes to one thing. People with big egos think of themselves as pretty darn special. They see themselves as “better” than other people. Is that pathetic or what? I once knew a woman who looked me right in the eyes and told me she was better than I was. I felt really sorry for her.
Have you ever heard of a bruised ego? This is another aspect of ego one should guard against. This can happen when we allow the words or actions of another to hurt us. If you have a low self esteem this can be a bad habit that can run your life and crush your spirit. If you don’t know how to control your emotions, your ego is probably out of balance as well.
A few years ago I read A Course In Miracles. The most important thing I learned from ACIM is to keep your ego in check. This gave me some real clarity. I used to be the type of person that would get the bruised ego. That’s not me anymore. I don’t let the actions or words of others dictate my moods or attitudes. When someone behaves in an unattractive manor I just have to remember what I have learned. This is simply a display of someone else’s ego that has been left unchecked.
The unchecked ego can destroy wonderful relationships and leave you hurt and confused. It has no problem destroying anything or anyone it perceives as a threat. It refuses to be accountable because it is dishonest with itself and with everything it infects. This is the truth it will not accept. It knows no truth because it is smart enough to know that it cannot be trusted.
Ego is evil and destructive. It spreads like a slow, silent spiritual cancer of thought. It’s much like the hopeless alcoholic. Until a person realizes and admits they have a problem they continue to rely on the source of their pain for relief. Talk about a double edged sward.
If you think you might have a problem with ego you probably do. Do you see yourself as more than mere common man? Do you idolize others of higher social status? Do you feel the need to have the best or the latest version of “stuff”? Do you wish you were born under a “lucky star” like your neighbor that appears to have it all? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may need to give some thought to why.
Do you accept yourself the way you are? You should, that doesn’t mean you’re all done, that you’re the best you can be. No matter who you are, there is always room for improvement. Do you like yourself? If you’re not sure than make a list of things you like about yourself and the things you don’t. Take a good look at your list of don’ts and choose to change them. I know that is simple to say. Change them, just like that, ya right. I’m serious, you do have a choice.
One way to make these changes is to get a self improvement book, CD, or DVD. That may not even be enough though. Buying a program of this nature and reading, listening to it, or watching it isn’t enough. Learning and memorizing the teachings of these programs is not the same as living them. The only way I know to actually live the positive changes you learn is to learn on a conscious and subconscious level. You can learn to retain information on both levels with the aid of the methods taught in the pages of The Learning Course. You can find this step by step method of learning at www.thelearningcourse.com Check it out now.

PAYING A VERY HIGH PRICE FOR "GREED DISEASE"

2009-01-26T06:26:00.000-08:00

I used to listen to the radio all day long when I was a home remodeler. One type of commercials that always caught my ear was the insane home mortgage and refinancing companies and their shady tactics. I also knew there was something very wrong with the content of these messages. Just to clarify, this is only one aspect of a combination of recent events that has hurt the American and the World economy in recent months. The interesting thing to me is that no one seems to want to talk about a dirty little secret I am going to share with you.
I would like to explain where I’m coming from. Please think about and answer one question. Is the Federal Government in existence to protect us or to take care of us? Opinions vary on this question depending on personal experience. In my mind they exist to protect us. This mindset is changing. If the collective soul of America is going to be fooled into thinking that the government is here to take care of our needs then Capitalism is dead. What will replace it, Socialism? Is that what we really want? Do you really want the same thing greedy politician’s lust for, more power over you? We still have the power to shape our own destiny but it is being eroded by the attitude of a “me first” generation. This applies to more than one recent generation. Remember John Kennedy’s famous speech, “ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country”?
Congress and President Bush are either totally inept or they have traded in their responsibility for greed. First let’s talk about President Bush’s role in this mess. I get so angry when I reminisce about the countless times he made speeches about how home ownership is higher today than at any other time in the history of this country. That’s only because we have a large group of people that were irresponsibly given the opportunity to purchase homes they could not afford. Now we the American tax payer are paying a very heavy price and this problem is not going away any time soon. Is he lying to himself or just stupid? The other side of this coin is the democratically controlled congress. Several of these good ol’ boys have been getting sweetheart Real Estate deals and mortgages for years but no one in the press (except for a few) want to talk about this at all. The only reason these deals were being handed out to the power brokers in Washington D.C. was so that congress would not pass proper mortgage regulations and guidelines. Believe me, I am not big on government regulation but some regulation is necessary to combat greed.
The one disturbing element in the mortgage company commercials I talked about earlier is very simple. These shady mortgage companies advertised new loans and refinancing with one added bonus, they would be happy to appraise your property for free. Wow, what a great deal. They did this with IN HOUSE APPRAISERES. This is clearly a conflict of interest and should have never been allowed to take place. These guys were placing any value they needed to on a property and falsely inflating home prices just to secure the deal. Then they would turn around and sell these sub standard loans in large packages to banks that were backed by the Federal government, you the tax payer. Mortgage companies and appraisers need to be separated by law. This is where the government needs to step in and lead. They don’t want to though; this would jeopardize their personal finances, no more sweetheart deals.
I don’t know the answer. Do we let these industries fail and let them take their lumps? Do we let congress print more money and just give it away at our expense? The more money that is created out of thin air simply means it will just be worth less. I hope we never see the day that it becomes worthless. If the government continues to just dole out bail out money then they will have more control over how the private sector operates. The politicians are getting exactly what they want, more power. The sad thing is they are purchasing this power with our money!
UPDATE
I always write my blog a few days before I post. Today (1-26-09) I learned that CitiBank has just purchased a new $50,000,000 corporate jet from FRANCE! This is because their other 2 jets are over 8 years old. BOO HOO!
I have an idea. Instead of giving our hard earned tax dollars to irresponsible corporate CEO’s to waste, let’s give it back to us consumers. Let us put it back into the economy. But what if we don’t spend it? What if we decide to save it? How will that stimulate the economy? Who cares, it’s our money. We earned it and we should be able to spend it as we choose. If you think the government can spend your money better than you can then you are beyond hope.

I MISS THAT KID…A STORY OF “SECERT” SHIFTERS

2009-01-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

My son Elias is a beautiful soul. This guy is now 16 years old. We don’t talk like we used to. I miss that. I love him more than he will ever know (at least until he has his own kids).
My mom smothered me with so much love when I was a kid. I’m a lot like her with my kids. I know why now that I’m an adult. I was the little guy that filled the void between the love she wasn’t getting from my dad. My dad, God bless the agnostic. He just didn’t have the love to give.
The book “The Secret” has a mental exercise to lift your spirits when you’re down. I’ve done this for years myself. The Secret calls it “secret shifters”. What you do is recall a circumstance or event in your life that makes you feel happy.
One of my “shifters” happened a couple weeks after my wife and I split up. Eli and I painted his little sisters room to surprise her. We painted it pink. When we were done I gave Eli the job of cleaning the brush, roller and pan in the bath tub with warm water. He turned a 5 minute job into about a half an hour worth of work. When I went in to check on him I asked him what was taking so long. He turns to me with a serious look in his eyes and says, “Dad, I have to get ALL of this pink paint off of this stuff. I didn’t want your buddies to see it.” God bless him. He thought that if my guy friends saw any pink paint on my stuff that they would think I’m weird or something. He was just trying to protect me. When I think about that it always makes me smile.
My other favorite story about Eli happened when he was learning to talk. We were getting ready to eat dinner in front of the t.v. and Elias said scullovelie. I’m like WHAT? He says scullovelie again. I still didn’t understand what he wanted. He said it 3 or 4 more times, each time getting a little louder, madder, and more intense, Then he said, “I wanna watch the scullovelie channel”. He just loved the discovery channel when he was little and that was what he was trying to say. That was so cute, I will never forget it.
Elias is the same age as John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s son. Even though I wish I was closer to my son at least he is still alive, I understand how hard it can be to be a teenager and I know he is searching for his identity. I will always be here for you Elias with all of the unconditional love I have to give. For John and Kelly, I am very sad for your loss and I can’t imagine what you both must be going through. To hell with the scrutiny of the press, your both very loving parents. One thing no one can ever take away from us parents are the precious memories we are blessed with from our children.

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

2009-01-05T04:51:00.000-08:00

I recently watched a movie with many lessons in collective thinking. The Comcast guide gave it a four star rating. I guess it may have been that good 58 years ago. In 1951 it was a drama in 2009 it’s a comedy. If you can see past the tears of laughter from the bad acting and adolescent special effects there’s a lot of interesting dialog.
The name of this movie is The Day The Earth Stood Still. This movie has recently been turned into a remake. I am writing about the original one from 1951. This is an interesting study in behavior, a complex look at the perceptions humans hold of the unknown.
An alien space craft lands in Washington D.C. (a paper plate on a string). The ship opens and a guy walks out. He is fluent in the intergalactic language, English. THEY have come to earth to solve all of the words conflicts between nations. So of course we place HIM or IT under arrest and tell space dude that world peace isn’t possible. This guy is an alien disguised as a handsome 30 something. No walls can hold him (it). He escapes custody and blends into local society as a friendly new comer with ease. The word spreads fast that HE is among us so the government locks down the city.
Now the real fun begins. Everyone from Billy Bob and his posse to the U.S. Army are running all over the city with loaded guns trying to hunt down the elusive alien. This creates a worldwide panic. HE came in peace but the press never covered that side of the story. No one who actually knew why THEY were here could imagine there could be world peace.
Many earthlings survive and thrive on conflict. When the alien was at large fear ran rampant. Fear of the unknown. Sadly, so many people have lost the ability (or never possessed the ability) to live harmoniously. I have known many people throughout my life that are miserable when all is well. They thrive on living in an environment full of discomfort and conflict. For many of these people that’s all they have ever known. In some families unhappiness and turmoil is generational. In others a single traumatic event can turn a happy life into a dark hole of despair.
On the other hand, there are a lot of people that have come from tough circumstances and it was the desire to change their own destiny that motivated them to remake themselves and create a beautiful life. I search for people of this nature. I have learned so much from these individuals. Be mindful of the people and environments that you focus on. They shape your destiny on a conscious and subconscious level.

YOU (me?-yes you) HAVE A CHOICE

2008-12-28T19:04:00.000-08:00

What do you want? You do have a choice. Yes you. Weather you know it or not we all have a choice to be happy or miserable. Too many people don’t even realize this. Ignorance is not bliss! In fact, it can be very painful.
I am living proof. Earlier this year I went through a very painful separation from the woman I was supposed to merry. Whew, thank God that happened. She turned out to be a mega ego maniac but that is a blog for another day. This brake up was the ugliest and most pain filled experience I can remember. She hurt me deeply for her own satisfaction. (I may still be a little bitter but much wiser)
If I didn’t know any better I could have easily allowed myself to become bitter, angry, and full of blame. That would have been an easy choice. I decided to choose happiness over anger. This was not a difficult choice but it was by no means automatic. I searched for that happiness and did not stop until I found it. I am human. I still have my bad days but they are few and far between.
Now I practice happiness every day. It does take focus and work. The hard thing to realize is that you need to take responsibility for your behavior, your self-talk, and you own happiness. You can’t depend on others for your happiness, this only leaves you disappointed and unfulfilled. Living an existence of blaming others for all the things in your life you don’t like is the easy way out, or is it?
Wellllllllllll, do you think living a life focused on the situations and people that frustrate you and the reasons why they do is easy-OR-do you think living grateful and happy (regardless of what is going on in your life) would be better? (My still small voice says, “the choice is yours”.)
There will be more to come about how to achieve and maintain a happy spirit in weeks to come. For now you should visit my web site at www.thelearningcourse.com/productrec.html There you will find some wonderful resources my publisher friend Michele and I have personally read, listened to, or watched that have helped us make great positive changes in our lives.
Remember, WE ALL HAVE CHOICES. Comment me on your choices and ways you can make new ones. I invite you to email me at geoff@thelearningcourse.com if you have any questions or need help. I care about you simply because I choose too. Thanks for reading from the TLC guy.

IT’S THE WHO…NOT THE WHAT

2008-12-23T21:03:00.000-08:00

I have made many mistakes in my life. We have all done and said things that we wish we could take back. I don’t know how many times I wanted to go out with a pretty woman based solely on appearances. One thing I have learned is to love everyone. That is no mistake. I just wish I would have learned this sooner. The sooner you learn this, the greater life will be.
I find it easy to love now. The real test that a person has to pass with me is weather I like them or not. For example, you love your family but there may be some family members that you don’t like. Liking someone else and being liked by another is very meaningful. I had it backwards for many years. I used to think before you love somebody you need to like them.
Only recently did I understand how important liking someone is as apposed to loving them. Oddly enough I came to this realization from getting to know my favorite barista. She is pretty and smart, that’s easy to love. From what I know of her so far I like her very much.
I foolishly asked her out shortly after we met and was shot down in flames. It wasn’t that big of a deal because I really hadn’t known her very long anyway. I didn’t know who she was at all. I was just asking her out because I found her to be attractive.
Well, since then I have been blessed with the opportunity to get to know WHO she is. We have had many occasions to converse for a few minutes at a time and sometimes longer. The more I talk to her and learn about her the more I discover what we have in common. I really enjoy talking to her. She is one smart chick.
I always listen intently to what she has to say but I have noticed that it’s easy to become distracted by her beautiful blue eyes. Before I got to know her all I really saw was just another pretty woman. Now what I see is a beautiful sole. In the future I hope to get to know her on many levels emotionally and intellectually (not physically just incase your mind is wondering). I realize this may never happen especially if I try to hard to be her friend.
I just want ya’ll to know this; pay attention to the acquaintances in your life. They have much to teach you if you can see who they are as apposed to what they are or look like. I know this because I have done several programs about the study of human behavior and one very effective method for understanding and retaining the information these programs have taught me is found in The Learning Course.
Geoff / TLC guy
P.S. To the one I’m talking about, you know who you are. Please don’t feel obligated to leave a comment. That’s not why I wrote this. The next time I see you I don’t want you to feel like you must acknowledge me either. It’s okay. I just hope you were able to take the time to read it. (I know you’re super busy) Oh yea, and for everyone else, go to my web site and get my new e-book at www.thelearningcourse.com. It’s well worth your time. Thanks for reading.

IF YOU COULD AUTHOR THE LIFE OF ANOTHER WOULD IT BE BETTER THAN YOURS

2008-12-15T16:06:00.000-08:00

I’m guilty. Most of us are guilty of treating others better than we treat ourselves. Why? I’m not sure but it might be because we just want to be loved.
One important distinction I have come to realize through time and maturity is that you can’t give away what you don’t posses. This is true of anything from love to money or knowledge and anything else. My point is this, love yourself. This is easy to say and/or think but it can be so hard to do (for some of us anyway).
I don’t say this from an egotistical position. There are sadly many folks that think they are better than others. THAT’S WRONG. I personally know a few people that think they are God’s gift to the world. These people are truly lost.
Another gross misunderstanding of humanity is the know-it-all. I also personally know a few of them as well. When we decide we know more than others “in general” we are truly lost. You may be the best at “something” but that is no excuse to pretend you know it all.
People that portray themselves as the authority on all possessive knowledge are just scared children. They nave a need to make sure everyone in their pathetic little environment know how smart they are. So sad. I will never know it all but I take great pleasure in understanding that I have new things to learn every day and that is really living. Go luck in your daily pursuit to reach higher and become a better person. Be sure to go to www.thelearningcourse.com and download my new e-book.

Who Do You Love?

2008-12-15T16:03:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I used TLC (The Learning Course) to study Tony Robbins most recent self-help program named “Get The Edge”.
I recently did step seven again. This turned out to be a real revelation for me. At one point in the program Tony instructs the student to do a “hands on” exercise. He said to make a list of all the people you love. I didn’t actually write down this list but it did inspire much thought. The answer for me was that I really do love everyone. This can be very hard for many people to accept. It took most of my life to learn and accept this as well.
You can’t just walk up to a stranger and tell them you love them but you can feel love and compassion for them. I suppose you could actually walk up to a stranger and say this but you might get punched in the face. That would be bad. LOL
I won’t get religious on ya’ but it has been said throughout history that we all are supposed to love one another. That being said…
I remember how angry 9/11 made me. How could those guys blatantly destroy so many innocent lives (not only the people that actually died but also the loved ones they left behind). My first thought was for all of the children that will never see one or both of their parents ever again. I felt so bad for those children that I had a hard time holding it together and I really needed too because I was working on a large commercial construction site in Seattle that morning.
Do you hate the people responsible for this action? I had a tremendous amount of anger in my heart for this senseless act against freedom and America for a long time. Does feeling anger and hate towards anyone make your life better? If it does please leave me a comment explaining why. Any negative emotion can eat you up inside if you choose to focus on them. Can you imagine what kind of world this would be if no one hated anyone anymore? I focus on how wonderful life is and can be and I’m thankful for all of the people in my life that enhance it, those in my life who don’t aren’t in it for long.
Terrorists are truly lost souls. They will never know how much human potential they poses. They don’t have a clue as to how wonderful life can be. And you know what else, it’s not even their own fault. They are products of generations upon generations of misunderstanding and hate. We are all products of our own environment and the difference between us and them is that we have the freedom to change the things in our environment that we don’t like. All they have ever known and been taught is to hate anyone who doesn’t believe as they do, the Infidels (what a pathetic indoctrination). Also, if they don’t do as they’re told they will be killed by the very mentors that are supposed to love them. How would you like to grow up in that environment, I think I would be a screwed up freak too.

I’m proud to be an American. We all have so many things to be thankful for and sadly how many of us take time each day to be grateful for what we have? I don’t know but for all of the trials and troubles we face in our daily lives, it’s so much better than being raised in a terrorist hell whole. So count your blessing every day and thank a solder for the sacrifices they and their families make. This is not a commentary on this mismanaged war but we are free for a reason and remember FREEDOM ISN’T FREE. It never was and never will be. In fact, it’s kind of an oxymoron.

Do Your Friends Inspire You?

2008-12-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

Do Your Friends Inspire You?
We are all teachers and students of each other. Everyone should have a mix of friends. The first type of friend should raise us to new levels of awareness and abilities, someone that inspires and encourages us. These people are our mentors. Everyone needs a mentor, weather they know it or not. The other type of friend that is important to have is one that we can mentor and bring to higher levels of understanding and awareness.
I know a woman that has been a total inspiration to me. Unfortunately, she has no idea that I hold her in such high regard. We have known each other for a few years. This person is so nice and caring. I realize she simply sees me as an acquaintance but I see her as a true friend. I say that because she has raised my level of awareness. I have a tremendous amount of love and respect for her. Even since we first met she has inspired me to be a better person. I can think of no greater compliment to tell another person than how they have inspired me in such a deep and meaningful way. Our paths may never cross again and that’s okay because the things I’ve learned and realized from knowing her will serve me well.
The most important legacy each of us is responsible for are the positive changes we have made in the lives of others. My aunt Betty has been my inspiration to study self improvement programs for most of my adult life. The things I have learned from her guidance will inspire my family for generations to come. The most immediate affect of learning how to make positive changes in my life is in how I choose to raise my children. The ways in which I teach them to conduct themselves will in time be passed down to their kids. One of the most important things I can teach my kids is to always look for ways to become a better person and a blessing to others. Observing the ways other people conduct themselves has taught me plenty. I love to learn and live to learn new things every day. We all learn many things from others on a subconscious level. When I observe others on a conscious level I learn a lot more from them. I have made it my mission to understand and listen to other people. Call me crazy but I actually enjoy listening to other people talk most of the time. I do deplore ignorance though.

Embrace the information age

2008-11-24T15:19:00.000-08:00

Embrace the information age
Change can be the most difficult thing for some people to face. There is only one real reason to make any change. It’s to better our lives. There is another kind of change we must understand and decide to adapt to. The society we live in is constantly going through change, almost daily.
One of the biggest changes that happened over twelve years ago is the new age we live in. It’s going to take some time to adapt to these changes. All of the advancements humans made in the Industrial Age are amazing beyond measure. It was an age unmatched by any other in history. Most people don’t consciously realize this age is now over.
Many of us grow up with the message get good grades, go to college, find a good job with a solid company, pay off your mortgage, and retire with the gold watch. This idea is obsolete. Even if you have been with a solid company for many years you aren’t safe. An old friend of mine used to have a six figure income with a solid company. This company was sold and the department my friend headed up was absorbed by another department in the new company. A twelve year solid career with a good company up in smoke and it’s nobody’s fault, it’s just a business decision.
By far the biggest change you may not be aware of is what is happening to American auto makers. I had a big problem with the financial bailout for banks on many levels but I also knew it was necessary. I am apposed to the bail out of the car companies. The deals of the past the unions and the auto companies have signed have to be renegotiated, if they don’t these big companies will fail. It’s just a matter of time. The only way this will happen is to let these companies go into bankruptcy protection so they can restructure and reorganize. If this doesn’t happen then the party really is over. Everyone will be without a job.
Originally pensions sounded like a wonderful reward for being dedicated to a company for many years and maybe even your entire career. One fact that has been true throughout history is that in order to earn anything you need to work for it. How long can big corporations continue to pay retired employees a monthly wage without asking for anything in return? I don’t know. I also think corporate executive bonuses are disgusting and out of control. I realize these two items are only part of the reason for the auto makers troubles but they are big problems that need to be solved. Retirees have a reasonable expectation to continue to draw from what they have been promised. In the information age this kind of corporate compensation will become non-existent. So what can you do now? One solution is to learn how to invest and manage your hard earned money now or how to manage money better. There are many books and different strategies on how to best manage money. No matter what books, programs, or seminars you attend on the subject of money management my e-book is a simple guide to accelerate learning. It discusses our three core learning styles and how they can be used together in different combinations for fastest memory retention, this concept is very simple and easily personalized. Download your copy today at www.thelearningcourse.com

I Learned Something From a Classic

2008-11-21T12:11:00.000-08:00

The other morning I woke up at six and turned on the t.v. Star Trek was on. I watched for awhile just out of hysterical fascination. Billy Schatner was running around without his shirt and all I could think was Denny Crane. The lines were as corny as the lasers. It was funny. I never really tuned into this show in the past. If it was a choice between pro bowling and Star Trek then I’d turn off the t.v. My dad used to watch this show all the time when I was a little kid (he probably still does).
I did learn something interesting about myself. After Captain Kirk died for the 23rd time Bones revives Kirk with a flash light. It made an interesting whistling noise. I was exercising at the time but I picked up on this noise. I recognized this variable tone instantly. I make the same whistling sound. I’ve done this since I was a kid and I never thought about why. I never sat a watched Star Trek with the old man but I often used to play with my toys while he watched. On a sub-conscious level I believe the reason I make that whistling sound was learned from that show.
Do you ever think about the environment you’ve chosen for yourself and the way it shapes you as a person? Sure on a conscious level we make decisions and choices all day long. Do you ever consider the amount of information we take in on a sub-conscious level? Even when you leave the room during a t.v. commercial and focus on something else, if you can still hear the t.v. you are receiving information on a sub-conscious level. I now record any shows I choose to watch on t.v. I decided to start doing this a few weeks ago. I just became so tired of every other commercial being about a new medicine. The other half of the commercials were about negative politics.
Our environment shapes who we are and how we behave on unthinkable levels. How healthy is your environment? Just a thought.
TLC guy

2008-11-12T13:18:00.000-08:00

I recently endured a life changing event. It’s very difficult to lose someone you love and when it happened to me I started searching for answers. I found those answers in two very good self help programs. I began to study these programs intensely. The one thing I began to realize as I studied was that I needed to find some way to retain all of the wisdom these wonderful programs had to offer.
I’m not an educator, I’m am a guy with a strong desire to grow personally, to learn all I can from others, and to teach people the beneficial things that have made my life more fulfilling. I believe we are all placed on this massive rotating ball to learn as much as we possibly can and be an inspiration to those who cross our path.
Do you ever ponder how you learn and retain information? How often do you wish you had the time to study a course on self improvement, gardening, cooking, how to build a great web site, or anything else? There is a solution. The solution is The Learning Course.
This is a unique three dimensional step-by-step program to increase memory retention. It can be applied to any academic environment. I’m actually using some of the principal parts of The Learning Course to construct this very article.
The steps of The Learning Course are very basic and we all use them in one way or another. This program will bring them together for you in a clear format. When you understand how TLC works is when the real fun begins. It’s very important to follow The Learning Course as it is designed the first couple of times you use this strategy for learning. After you can move through the steps without referring to The Learning Course instructions, then you can begin to customize how you use the steps to best compliment your individual learning style.
Another benefit to applying The Learning Course to your studies is awareness. The steps to this program will give you a deeper understanding not only of what you’re learning, but how you are receiving, processing, and retaining information.
In a very short period of time you will come to fully understand exactly how you can implement the strategies of The Learning Course in various educational settings. Educational programs on tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, and in books is only the beginning. You can also use these steps to organize information you wish to retain at lectures, on line study courses, live seminars, and in the classroom. It works for individuals, couples, friends, and groups of people. The possibilities to apply the knowledge contained in The Learning Course are endless.
What this unique program shows you is how to separate the key elements of any course of study you desire to learn. Once you have removed the parts of any course of study you don’t need you can direct your focus on the elements you really need to retain. The first step of the process alone can reduce your study time by up to %75. The steps that follow will also teach you how to subconsciously memorize information much quicker with a combination of learning styles. The information in this course is simple and easy to apply immediately. The value of the information contained in the pages of TLC far out weigh the introductory price of acquiring this knowledge. Included with your purchase are an additional free e-book and a 24 minute audio download. We chose to give these gifts away for one reason. By keeping the process simple you will be able to move through the steps more efficiently. So do a short TLC study with these free downloads first and become familiar with the structure of The Learning Course.

2008-11-05T16:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog. I’m very excited to announce the launch of my first book, The Learning Course. I’m not an educator, I’m am a guy with a strong desire to grow personally, to learn all I can from others, and to teach people the beneficial things that have made my life more fulfilling. I believe we are all placed on this massive rotating ball to learn as much as we possibly can and be an inspiration to those who cross our path.
I recently endured a life changing event. It’s very difficult to lose someone you love and when it happened to me, I started searching for answers. I found those answers in two very good self help programs. I began to study these programs intensely. The one thing I began to realize as I studied was that I needed to find some way to retain all of the wisdom these wonderful programs had to offer.
Just listening to the CD’s over and over again wasn’t getting the job done. I needed to think outside of the box. I began to devise a step-by-step process that involved the three core learning styles that all humans use to retain information. It worked so well with the first CD program that I decided to use the process again, this time with the DVD of The Secret. Then I tried the same system out on a book. Not only did I raise memory retention, I was also able to reduce study time significantly.
The positive changes realized in my life recently have been incredible. This program is so easy to understand and implement that I began to share the process with friends and family. They all loved the concept and encouraged me to share my system with the rest of the world.
I’m actually using some of the principal parts of The Learning Course to construct this very blog. It’s really very simple. I’ve linked the senses of touch, sight, and hearing in a unique step by step system. You only need to work the step by step concept on one project to understand how and why it works so well. I recommend studying a small project the first time you use The Learning Course. If you keep it simple you will be able to move through the steps more quickly. This is the best way to become familiar with the process in a shorter period of time.
My vision of this blog is to help others learn this simple study program. I will be sharing stories from my customers to show how something simple can be so empowering.
If you are interested in learning more, visit my website at www.thelearningcourse.com.