The Price Of Maintenance Increases

The week of Mon Sep 8, 2025 was catching up. There were no physical workouts due to fatigue and a minor injury to my left Achillies heel. Circumstances favored me for which there was no weekly household cleaning. I felt good I caught up with most of my backlogged responsibilities and projects.

The week of Mon Sep 8, 2025 inspired today's blog. Prices are increasing to maintain our lives. The price is not necessarily monetary; however, in today's inflationary economy, all goods and services for maintenance increases. Time is another price increase. More time is required to maintain our lives. If a person has too many priority responsibilities to complete, then the price the person pays is less sleep.

Bare necessities for body maintenance such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and aspirin. Prices increase. Shoes, socks, shirts, shorts and supplemental equipment for physical workouts. Prices increase. Human body services such as medical, dental, and gym membership for those who need gym equipment. Prices increase. Engine oil, tires, windshield wipers, and wax. Prices increase. Utilities, light bulbs, batteries, furnace air filters, and cleaning supplies for residence cleaning. Prices increase. Further, more time is required to complete everything above. And learning new job skills to maintain careers. Prices and time increase.

Cut The Distractions

I admit I'm distracted in today's Information Age. There is a song stuck in my head. I must play the song on my computer. I look up information on Google or on YouTube. Unimportant information catches my attention. I click on the website or I watch the video. There is a breaking news headline. I read the news article. Time wasted. The distractions increase the price of maintenance.

Update On A Past Blog

Here are two blogs on maintenance. The first is Car Maintenance Is Expensive written on Mar 26, 2025. I wrote interior maintenance and exterior maintenance are important. The ultimate price for non-maintenance anything is chaos.

The second is Maintenance Is Important As Innovating Infinitely written on Nov 6, 2016. I repeat what I wrote from the Car Maintenance Is Expensive's Update On A Past Blog: "I shared some of my life maintenances including a clean household, job training, physical fitness, and keeping myself clean and groomed. I admit maintenance can be boring; however, my life is in chaos without maintenance."

I also update Normal Adolescents At Chipotle blog written on Dec 9, 2023. The blog was mature junior high school students socializing at a Chipotle restaurant. I overheard a conversation between three ladies at the gym earlier tonight. Two of the three ladies are high school students. The third is probably college. I'm bad at guessing people's ages. The three of them organize a breakfast meetup at their local cafe on Sat at 9:30am. 9:30am in the morning--on a Sat weekend. My initial thought was high school students sleep-in on Sat mornings. The two high school students are mature and responsible.

Emotionally Draining

The 2023 Major League Baseball playoffs saw all three teams with 100 or more regular season wins eliminated in the best of five divisional rounds. The 90-win Philadelphia Phillies defeated the 104-win Atlanta Braves 3-1. The 90-win Texas Rangers defeated the 101-win Baltimore Orioles 3-0. The 84-win Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0. The Dodgers and Orioles were the first time multiple 100-win teams who didn't win a postseason game. The Orioles were never swept during the regular season.

In addition, the Rangers defeated the 99-win Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 in a best of three wild card round. The Diamondbacks defeated the 92-win Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 in a best of three wild card round.

Full disclosure. I watched zero innings of the wild card and divisional playoffs. I'm not a professional sports journalist. I share my intuitive opinion. I believe winning 100 or more games was too hard. The 2023 season was emotionally draining. There are past 100+ win teams winning the World Series; for instance, the 2022 Houston Astros won 106 games, the 2018 Boston Red Sox won 108 games, the 2016 Chicago Cubs won 103 games, and the 1998 New York Yankees won 114 games. According to Wikipedia List of Major League Baseball 100 win seasons, 116 teams won 100 or more regular season games in a season as of the end of the 2023 season. 68 of the 116 teams played in the World Series (.586). 38 of the 68 teams won the World Series (.559). 38 of the 116 total teams won the World Series (.328).

The three 100+ win teams experienced winning emotional fatigue. The winning high was over when the postseason began. The winning feeling was over when the postseason began. Supplemental emotions or auxiliary emotions were required to reach 100+ wins. The three teams clinched a postseason spot. The 100+ wins meant nothing if the teams couldn't win postseason games. I'm sure physical fatigue and mental fatigue were nonfactors. Winning inspirations were jaded. No winning emotions feelings. No championship.

Emotional energy is unsustainable. Emotional energy depletes faster than physical energy and mental energy. Emotional energy is the easiest to achieve maximum. Emotional energy is the easiest to achieve empty. Physical and mental are more important than emotional. Skills, abilities, and knowledge are more important than feeling good. Is motivation or desire an emotional feeling? Is motivation or desire a spiritual feeling? Or is motivation or desire mental for which motivation is a state of mind? I have said motivation is more important than intelligence. I may have contradicted myself.

Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.

Human Influence

Another possibility is rigged games. Las Vegas casinos and sports bookies influences the games for which the underdogs won the series.

The National League Championship Series best of seven Phillies lead the Diamondbacks 2-1. The American League Championship Series best of seven Astros and Rangers are tied 2-2. Both series standings are as of today's blog.

I Owe The World By Making A Difference

Today's blog is an update on a past blog.

Update On A Past Blog

I thought about all my past friends and my past co-workers. 95% of them got my backs if anything bad happened. Good people support good people. Good friends support good friends. I failed to realize all 95% supported me. My past friends go as far back as junior high school.

I questioned did I make a difference to the 95% from the blog Did I Make A Difference? written on Jul 7, 2015. I said the 95% made a difference to me. "They made my life better. I'm a better person today."

I failed to be a difference maker to the 95%. I could have been and I should have been a better friend. I have no excuses. I owe the 95% something in return. I don't know what is the something. My feeling tells me the something must be multiple permanent life changers big or small.

I can't explain what I did correctly to earn their friendships. I thank my intuition. Was it I showed up? Was it I listened well? Was it I smiled when they needed a smile? I hope my self-pity didn't attract people.

The minimum owing back the 95% is become stronger. Don't be a jerk. The world needs one less bad person. I assure the 95% and the world I practice personal responsibility. I wrote I Owe The World on Apr 8, 2018 I take care of myself in a positive way such as working hard to earn freedom, stay healthy, and never stop learning.

A Pain In The Neck

Two attributes important to live an independent life or live with freedom are responsibility and motivation. Be responsible to complete assignments. Be motivated to work on assignments. Responsibility and motivation require little intelligence. Completing assignments increase intelligence. Avoid being too patient to get to work. Don't take too long--no relaxing too much, no lingering, and no lollygagging. Also, be decisive. Choose a plan. Stick with the plan. A responsible person is not a pain in the neck. A motivate person is not a pain in the neck. Today's blog is easy to comprehend. Don't be a pain in the neck.

A Second Letter To 20 Year Old Raymond Mar Now 21

Today's blog is an update on a past blog.

Update On A Past Blog

I wrote a blog writing A Letter To 20 Year Old Raymond Mar on Apr 26, 2015. I told my 20 year old self three lessons. They are never stop meeting new people, get a part time job, and don't take life for granted. I write a second letter containing three more lessons one year later. The letter is below.

Hi, young 21 year old Raymond Mar. It's your old Raymond Mar one year later. I hope you made new friends and earned spending money to improve your life. Use some of the money to seek new adventures and experience new experiences. Here are three new lessons you must practice for a better life. I promise your 30s and 40s are stronger, smarter, and wiser when you learn three more lessons.

The first lesson or fourth lesson overall is be useful. The lessons, the education, and the knowledge you learned in the classrooms were garbage. Yes, the economics helped you find a job. Yes, the economics helped you read between the lines in the business newspapers. The economics doesn't help you find new friends better than your current friends. The economics doesn't help you in survival situations. The economics doesn't help you find a wife; although, if your wife is an economist, then more power to you. Learn how to change the oil. Learn how to tie knots. Learn Morse Code. Learn how to cook. Learn how to make paper airplanes. Learn basic computers such as building a PC from scratch. Learn basic land navigation with a compass. Remember the toy electronics set? You were not dumb when you read the instructions. The electronics set was broken. Correct the mistake. Learn basic electronics.

The second lesson or fifth lesson overall is trust your intuition. I mentioned trust your intuition in the first letter. I emphasize intuition here. You may not realize you have been using intuition. Most of the problems solved are using your intuition. Most of the time you don't know what to do. Intuition tells you the answer. Follow your gut feeling. You might have dodged many past problems when you used intuition.

The third lesson or sixth lesson over is desire is more important than intelligence. I will is more important than I know. The first time I saw the "I will is more important than I know" was math tutoring at a high school. Ironically, I said don't apply to become a math tutor. I still mean it. Don't apply to become a math tutor. Continue working at your part time job. Anyway, motivation is more important than knowledge. You don't need to be smart to be motivated to become smart.

I repeat the last two paragraphs to reemphasize. Simple, to the point, and true. Stop believing you live a good life nothing negative happens to you. You're going to experience bad moments. You're going to have times in your life you need to stop. Time out and checkpoints are part of your life.

Be responsible for your actions. Earn your successes. Learn from your mistakes. Be a good person. Be professional. Work to be a champion. Trust your intuition. Grow up.

Sincerely,

Raymond Mar

P.S. Did you understand the two meanings to "stay hungry" and stay foolish?"

High School R.O.T.C. Leadership Lesson Another Viewpoint By Rank

I took the U.S. Marines Reserve Officers Training Corps or R.O.T.C. in high school for three years. I still remember the leadership attributes and leadership skills. I discover another viewpoint. I share them.

Leadership attributes. There are four leadership attributes C.A.P.P or CAPP: Communication, Ability to deal with others, Physical fitness, and Professional knowledge. If I rank CAPP from hardest to easiest, then Communication is the hardest to Professional knowledge is the easiest. Communication is the hardest because most people have trouble communicating their thoughts, feelings, and explanations professionally, personally, publicly, socially, and privately; moreover, people with poor communication skills their ability to deal with others skills are weaker. Most people with communication problems don't seek professional help. Professional knowledge is the easiest because anyone can read a book. The most ignored leadership attribute is physical fitness. Many people lack physical activity.

Leadership skills. There are seven leadership skills M.I.S.S.C.R.E.E.K. or MISSCREEK. Motivation, Integrity, Self-discipline, Self-confidence, Courage, Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Emotional stability, and Knowledge. If I rank MISSCREEK from most important to least important, then Motivation is the most important and Knowledge is the least important. Motivation is more important than knowledge or desire is more important than intelligence. Most of the best people in the world are not the smartest people in the world. The best people are highly motivation. Anyone can read a book to increase their knowledge. I will is more important than I know.

List Format

Leadership Attributes
Communication
Ability to deal with others
Physical fitness
Professional knowledge

Leadership Skills
Motivation
Integrity
Self-discipline
Self-confidence
Courage
Responsibility
Enthusiasm
Emotional stability
Knowledge

Life Is Hard

Life is hard. Life is supposed to be hard. If life is easy, then life doesn't need lawyers, mental institutions, and therapists. If life is easy, then no need to earn success. Everyone lives with everything on a silver platter. There are exceptions. Life is unfair because life is hard. Moreover, some people live unfortunate and unlucky lives such as bad childhood, physical limitations, poor mental capabilities, and little opportunities. Blame the act of God.

I lived a childhood and young adult life easy peasy. I lived a childhood and young adult life with an easy attitude. I didn't earn my successes. I followed the flow. Following the my life flow was too easy. It wasn't my fault. My parents raised me the easy way.

The life is hard lesson is learned. Strength, courage, grit, intelligence, wisdom, trial and error, training and practicing, good support, patience, and good mentors are required to be successful. They are required to handle life is hard. Failure is a possibility. Timing and luck are factors. People die everyday. People die before success everyday. Regardless, success becomes real after the hard work is completed. There are new successes to achieve afterwards. There are infinite successes to achieve. Choose carefully.

Update On A Past Blog

I'm lucky. I experienced life changing moments. I exclude the common life changing moments such as marriage, newborns, graduation, job promotions, legally drive a car, and first time in a foreign country. Some people don't experience the life changing moments. I emphasize the again. I shared my the life changing moments at My Four Mount Rushmore Greatest Moments In My Life on Sat Aug 9, 2020. They're cosplaying, growing up, job training, and watching The Shawshank Redemption movie. I expect more life changing moments soon replacing any or all of my present Mount Rushmore.

It's nobody's fault some people don't experience the life changing moments. These people are victims of circumstances. These people experience bad luck. These people experience bad timing. These people don't have the opportunity to make mistakes. These people don't have the chance to learn from failure. These people slip through the cracks. There are no people to call out their shortcomings.

The system can be blamed. I watched a Roseanne rerun. Roseanne, Jackie, and Nancy needed a loan to start a business. They visited the Small Business Association (SBA) to borrow money. They were frustrated because the SBA didn't loan money. The SBA guaranteed loans from banks. In other words, they needed to get a bank to approve a loan before the SBA assists the three ladies. The fictional television show is an example of social-economic barriers for the poor.

Going Up Or Getting Better Am I?

I wrote a blog at my Finding Raymond Mar titled Going Up Or Getting Better Am I? on Jul 13, 2019. I choose to share the blog at Innovating Common Knowledge. Here it is.

I question my life. I'm getting smarter learning new job skills, reading books, and writing blogs. My health is good working out at the gym four days a week. I haven't been sick in 2019. I minimized eating processed foods. I rarely watch TV. I watch one or two movies a week. I sleep eight hours a night.

On the other hand, I'm unemployed long-term. My social skills are regressing. My relationships are diverging. It's the natural growing apart from my family and my friends.

Is my life getting better or getting worse? Is my life going up or going down? Honestly speaking, I'm one step closer to become a genius.

Update On A Past Blog

One sign a person has poor self-esteem is laughing too loud, laughing too much, talking too much, and behaving too enthusiastic. I'm fortunate I'm no longer all of the above. It's okay to behave those emotions when achieving a big goal, experiencing a big moment, or you’re the highlight of an event. Keep them in check. Be discrete. Stay in control. I refer to be discrete and stay in control from the two blogs "Let Me Think", A New Social Problem I Must Fix on Oct 26, 2013 and Innovating My Enthusiasm on Mar 5, 2007.

Perspective Pictures

Here's another perspective blog. A picture tells a thousand words. Today's perspectives are pictures.


Do you see a young woman or an old woman? Or do you see both a young woman and an old woman?


There are websites stating Albert Einstein didn't say the quote above. Regardless, the quote is something to think about.


Boat? Land? Which is the correct answer?


Never give up. You may be one step to success.

Update On A Past Blog

I wrote men should Think With Your Penis to become better on Dec 29, 2014. Men should live a good lifestyle to take care of their penises: eat healthy, minimize alcohol consumption, workout at the gym, brush teeth, read books such as erotica, and be clean. Men should practice good body hygiene. Men must be intelligent because good women avoid idiots. Men should know good knowledge; for example, good sex knowledge to fulfill the men's side in bed. Practice being a sincere gentleman. Competence is attractive. Strength, high self-esteem, and genuine appearance are sexy.

Sort Of Professional Painter

I hate painting. I don't refer to painting as art. I can't draw pictures to save my life. I refer painting as home improvement. Ironically, I act professionally and I behave professionally when I paint. I get the job done. My life lesson is be professional in favorite times and not favorite times. Be professional when responsibilities I dislike must be completed.

Update On A Past Blog

I remind myself my current life situation I partially blame myself. I blame other people and other events I wrote Growing Up Too Late Was Not My Fault on Nov 2015. The blog cheers me up. The blog comforts me I'm doing the best I can catching what I missed decades ago. My current life situation could be worse such that I never grow up. Trust intuition, life, and karma. All is forgiven. I'm responsible for myself. I earn my freedom. I need timing, luck, and any support.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

I Need More Stories

One gauge to determine how good a person's life is stories. Does a person share many stories? It's likely he or she lived a good life. Does a person share few stories? It's likely he or she lived a boring life. Some stories are bad; however, some bad stories have good endings. Lessons are learned. Wisdom acquired. Strength gained. There are tips to improve the quality of stories at the end of today's blog.

I already have stories such as the first time I was an inpatient in a hospital, improving my Mahjong skills, cosplaying, backpacking, late bloomer growing up, ballroom dancing, self-teaching new job skills, local sports teams winning championships, and attended a Paul McCartney concert. I share stories getting married and becoming independent soon. I need stories visiting a European country, visiting Hawaii, playing new board games, making new friends, and improving my cooking skills.

Tell a Story

The scenario is I'm interviewing for a job. One of the interviewers asked me to tell a story. I was inspired from the movie "La La Land" when Emma Stone's character was asked to share a story in a movie casting.

"Okay, it's a risky story. Risky is an incorrect adjective. I can't think of another adjective. Interpret the story on your own terms.

"I want to share a story finding my wife. I'm looking for a woman who is still new in life. She is still fresh. She's behind in life. I'm behind in life. I want her and I to catch up what we missed. I haven't visited a foreign country. Canada doesn't count. There are places I haven't visit in San Francisco, and my home city San Jose. My bucket list includes a Chow Mein pot luck, hosting board game nights, hiking in Hawaii, and an all-time favorite movie night binge. There is a blackout night we pretend there's no electricity we entertain ourselves with candles and flashlights.

"The best example I'm catching up is I drank an alcoholic beverage for the first time when I worked at a retail start-up. Another best example is I both camped and backpacked for the first time when I visited Zion National Park."

Tips To Tell A Good Story

Carmine Gallo wrote the book "The Storyteller's Secret: From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Other's Don't" shared some rules from The Costco Connection magazine July 2017. Here they are:

*Don't tell a boring story.
*Do tell a story with a clearly defined villain.
*Don't pretend you never had to struggle.
*Do embrace your past and the experiences that define you.
*Don't end the story in the middle.
*Do provide a happy ending.

Side note 1: Alex Haley said the best way to being a speech is, "Let me tell you a story."

Side note 2: A little knowledge is better than a lot of ignorance.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

A Strength And Courage Day

Today requires strength and courage to live. I want to mix it up today doing something different. The doing something different never happens. Today the answer to the question, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" is no. I don't have the enthusiasm to do what I want to do today.

I can waste today watching too much TV, go back in time playing video games for hours, and eat junk food. Today is not a day to waste. My strength and my courage make me live today doing something productive even though they're the same. I also play the grateful card. I'm grateful I have shelter. I'm grateful I have activities to avoid boredom. Today's activities are relaxing and stress-free. Some of today's activities require thinking.

Today ends well. Today is acceptable. Today is satisfactory. I don't rely on good endings, acceptable endings, and satisfactory endings similar to today. Today is lucky. There are some days the ending was unacceptable and unsatisfactory.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Top Ten I'm A Sucker For

You hear a conversation which caught your attention. You thought of something random out of the air stuck in your head. You see something walking in the city you turned your head. These moments require a pause. There is an urge which must be satisfied. Resistance is difficult. I'm talking about something, somewhere, or someone you're passion about. Maybe obsessed. He, she, or it excites you. Fulfillment is inevitable. You're a sucker for *fill in the blank*.

I'm attracted to police cars. I take police cars pictures anywhere I'm on foot. I stop what I'm doing and where I'm going to take the picture. There are personal rules I don't take a picture including the police officer in the car, funeral procession, and during a crime scene. I'm like a professional photographer with the attitude of must get the shot.

Here are the top ten I'm a sucker for . . .

10. Abstract Articles. I'm an economist. I think abstractly. Give me those unordinary publications. I want to read unusual papers. FiveThirtyEight is one of my favorite articles to read.

9. Classic Movies. I became interested in classic movies when I went back to school at De Anza College. I use the American Film Institute Top 100 Movies 1997 list as my guide.

8. Preparedness. I'm an amateur prepper. I'm still learning how to survive in emergency situations. I carry a bug out backpack. I have flashlights, first-aid kit, duct tape, knives, sewing kit, and binoculars. My car has blankets, tarp, lantern, rope, and fire extinguisher. My prepping is a work in process. I welcome prepping information.

7. Cooking I rate my cooking skills as minimal enough to survive. The taste is good enough to eat. The food is cooked thorough. I'm open for suggestions for experienced chefs.

6. Interesting Conversations. I'm a sucker for long conversations. Let's meet. Let's talk. Let's share thoughts, experiences, and knowledge. Conversations is one way I make new friends.

5. New Sightseeing. I find time for outdoor leisure. My definition of new sightseeing is anywhere out of the house. The places include tourist attractions, hiking trails, stores, concerts, and new cities.

4. Board Games. Board games is one of my favorite hobbies. I enter any store selling board games. I'm looking for board game suggestions. I'm always open to try playing new board games.

3. Lights. The first aisle I walked to when my family shopped at Orchard Supply Hardware was the light bulbs when I was a child. I'm a fanatic of lights. Flashlights, LED light bulbs, night lights, headlights, police emergency light bar, signal lights, bike lights, etc.

2. Sex. I continue my sex education my entire life. Erotica, sex toys, massage, sex positions, lubricants, condoms, couple friendly porn, sex locations, sex variety, sex health, sex safety, etc. I'm never a master. There's something new to learn.

1. Books. I'm a sucker for book recommendations. Tell me the recent books you read. I make a note on my wish list. Modern fiction, classical fiction, business, sex, erotica, juvenile, economics, games, cooking, self-discovery, some humor, and some sci-fi are the books I read. I avoid biography, mystery, suspense, and most romance.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

How Do I Self-Improve My Entire Self Inside And Outside Top To Bottom?

Blogger's Note: Today's blog I ask myself questions. I post at both Innovating Common Knowledge and Finding Raymond Mar blogs.

I blog how to improve myself. I blog getting stronger, smarter, kinder, and wiser. I blog being responsible. I blog earn your successes. Don't take life for granted. Always meet new people and make new friends. Find new adventures. Experience new experiences. Never stop improving life. Never stop innovating. I ask questions questioning some of the blogs I have written those themes above. I have few answers. How can I practice what I preach with quicker and/or better results? I give myself a B- grade practicing my preaching. I want to raise the grade to a B+. Then I raise the grade to an A.

I imagine myself I'm with a group of people in a social situation. The situation can also be a professional meeting, a training seminar, or a family gathering. And the situation can be small and brief such as waiting in line at the grocery store or small talking the bank teller.

How do I improve my strength, appearance, confidence, charisma, kindness, and sincerity in any social situation? How do I get stronger? How do I look handsome? How do I communicate my gentlemen side? How do I attract more people? How do I share the goodness from my heart? Also, do I know I'm a good person? And how do I show I'm a legitimate person? There's no acting. People look at me for the first time thinking I'm the person they want in my life. I believe the older I get, the more handsome I become. I must be doing something correctly. My better look is related to my increased maturity. How is my self-awareness being myself telling me I'm being a good person? I could be a jerk not knowing it. I could break etiquette rules without my knowledge. I hope my conscious and my awareness are sharp to tell myself I must make improvements and corrections.

What do I offer with a group of people today? A good conversationalist. I enjoy conversations getting to know other people, learning, and sharing experiences. Trust. There's no faking. I communicate the Raymond Mar inside and Raymond Mar outside. I believe being true towards others is a strength. I don't need to be somebody else. How do I improve? How do I communicate a good vibe from me to others? It's like my presence is in a room of people. There's a good aura coming out of me other people feel. The feeling is having people talk about me in a positive way. The feeling is other people want to be with me.

Can I Do Better?

I stay active never being bored. I read books. I work out at the gym. I minimize watching TV. I listen to a variety of music such as classic rock, classical, and classic jazz. I cook healthy meals. I minimize eating out. I listen to four podcasts to acquire new knowledge. I completed training being a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and I continue my disaster training. I play board games. I'm open to try something new. I started a new theme this year for which I continue indefinitely. The new theme is do something out of my comfort zone.

My final thought is when I'm in a jam, I trust my intuition. My intuition saves me in an awkward social situation. Smile and listen.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

What Tiredness Are You?

There are five types of fatigueness that requires rest and recovery. They are physically, mentally or intellectually, emotionally, financially, or spiritually. We rest and recover physically when we sleep at night for the most part. A common knowledge regarding the office workforce is walking during lunch hour. The reason is to rest and recover mentally from the morning's work. Another common knowledge is taking a nap in the afternoon. The reason is the same.

Recovering emotionally happens when we exerted big emotions during a moment. The examples include playing your favorite board game for extended hours, rooting for your favorite sports team, and cheering your sons or daughters at any activity. The best way to rest and recover financially is stop spending money. There are moments we spend lots of money at an event or a shopping spree. Back to school, Christmas holiday, upgrading furniture, and buying souvenirs on vacation are good examples requiring rest and recover financially. Indulge something fun to recovery spiritually. Do something out of the ordinary as long as it's safe.

There was a moment I was tired mentally. I worked a Sun shift. The store was open for five hours. I worked five hours straight. I went to the gym in the evening because I wasn't tired physically. Working out at the gym requires very little mental thinking.

Identify what you need to rest and recover the next time you feel tired anytime in the day. Distractions are a great way to shift your focus. Choose the following what you need to take a break: physically, mentally or intellectually, emotionally, financially, or spiritually.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Mike's Rules

I create new rules to give my life more strength. I name the rules "Mike's Rules" because there was a night time staffer at my gym named Mike. He smiled and small talked with the members. He reminded me to begin greetings in a friendly way; moreover, communicate a variety of greetings. I wish him luck pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Here are Mike's Rules:

Complement A Person. Your goals are to recognize the person's presence, make the person smile, and say thank you. For example, complement on the person's boots.

Take The Initiative to make people feel better. A complement is a good idea. Other ideas include offering assistance, be a good listener, and being the person to get change to help pay the bill in a restaurant.

Communicate the other person's name. Write the person's name on the email. Say the person's name first when communicating to him or her. Sir, miss, ladies, and gentlemen are acceptable.

Begin And End In A Friendly Way. Greet the people you see for the first time today. Good morning. How's your day? Are you feeling better? Top of the morning. What has been going on? Say goodbye to the people you see for the last time today. Drive safely. Have a good day. Bye guys. Ladies, take care. Add variety to your greetings and endings.

Smile. Self explanatory.

Give Sincere Appreciation. Self explanatory, too.

Small Talk. Small talk is acceptable conversations. Sometimes small talk leads to long conversations. Small talk can be useful to meet new people.

Be Professional. The most important rule in Mike's Rules. Do everything professionally. Be a pro. We watch professional sports players on television. They're working. They're performing at their highest professional level.

I add three new rules that are excluded from the original list.

Addendum #1: Fake It 'Til You Believe It. There are going to be moments you must trust you intuition. Convince yourself you can do it for others to follow. Believe in yourself.

Addendum #2: A Quote I Remember. "You can choose comfort or you can choose courage, but you cannot have both." --Theodore Roosevelt

Addendum #3: High Power. I pose and present my physical self in the high power.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Do Boring People Exist?

A person is not boring when he or she is doing something such as work, leisure, being with people, or raising the family. What am I going to do today? I believe a person who can't answer the question is not boring; rather, a person has too much time in their hands. There is a lack of motivation to do something, anything. There is no inspiration to do something, anything new. He or she rather takes it too easy instead of being busy.

A bored person is someone who does a task, a responsibility, a job, an activity with no heart. There is a lack of effort. There is no enthusiasm. The person doesn't care what's happening at the moment. The job is completed satisfactory without satisfaction like a boring teacher. The lesson is taught. The teaching methods and the teacher explaining the concepts are without care. The job is done. There is no emphasizes on quality. It's like cooking a meal with no seasonings, and pre-cook preparation. It's like a birthday cake without frosting and colorful decorations. It's not what he or she does. It's not who he or she are with. It's how a person presents himself or herself and their actions determine what other people think bored or not bored. Do everything honestly, professionally, and with a smile.

Moreover, I believe boring is relative and subjective. There are tier levels or different degree of boringness. Who are the people with you? What are you doing at the present moment? Where are you? How are you presenting yourself? The people who relates to what you're doing, where you're doing, and how you're doing determines you're bored or not bored. Some people say you're bored. Some people say you're not bored. For instance, I'm going to be bored watching bird documentaries on YouTube. On other hand, I'm going to be excited watching highlights from past professional sporting events on YouTube. Here are examples when I'm with my friends. I'm bored when my friends talk about video games. On the other hand, my friends and I are excited when we play board games together. My friends are bored when I talk about sports and reading books.

More People In Your Life

A good test to determine if you're a boring person is how many people enjoy your company. The people include friends, family, and acquaintances. Another test is how many new people you meet remain in your life for an appropriate duration. You're a good person with good company, an active life, and the number of people remaining in your life increases indefinitely means you're not a boring person.

Bring Back Emotional Thinking

I realized thinking emotionally was missing in my life. I turned off emotional thinking when I grew up on Sat Oct 4, 2008. I believed emotionally thinking was immature, naive, and an idiot thought process. I know I thought emotionally rarely from time to time. I believe it's time to bring back a part of my past since I'm conscious and fully aware I thought emotionally. I'm getting back to who I was before. I'm bringing back my emotionally thinking for better uses.

My emotional thinking definition is thinking with my feelings. My best examples include happy thoughts, sad moments, cheering people up, acting immature in a mature way, sharing depression, expressing anger, fearing something, crazy timing, being the inner-child young at heart, and being fatigued. Go with the flow with your feelings. Go with the flow with the social atmosphere. There's no logic. There's no wisdom. There's no intelligence. There's no intuition.

One reason I'm bringing back my emotional thinking is that thought process brought out my funny side, my comedian side, and my ability to make other people laugh in my past. Emotional thinking was my stronger side of being funny. I feel stronger and more open I can think emotionally again in any situation with people.

Another reason is saving myself in troubled situations. The common sense is think clearly and smart when in trouble. Avoid emotional thinking in a life or death situation. Avoid emotional thinking when a contract negotiation is falling apart. Emotional thinking is better sometimes. Unfortunately, I don't remember any past situations thinking emotionally saved me. However, I have another thought process option to find a solution the next time I'm in trouble.

Find your emotional thinking from your heart to your brain. Then use both your heart and brain. I believe you have a new perspective on life.

My Thoughts On Mind, Body, Spirit

I realize the power of a person's mind, body, and spirit. These three must be in focus, in sync, and in good health. These three must be present, be at the moment, and with the person now. I have a better understanding the mind, body, and spirit are keys to a good life. They must flow in a person from head to toe and keep their five senses active, alert, and sharp.

The mind must be simulated. Do activities to keep your mind growing. Learn something new. Read a book. Solve a puzzle. Find new adventures and experience new experiences. Visit a new city to see new sights. Try a new food to experience a new taste. Use the mind or lose it.

The body must be physically moving like the wind. Do activities to keep your body active. Be physical to stay healthy. Walk, run, or bike. Work out at the gym. Combine physical activity with new adventures such as hiking, learning how to ice skate, or start indoor wall climbing. My uncle lost weight playing ping pong and found he has more energy. Stay physically active to stay in shape. A person has more energy and strength being fit. Treat the body well physically or lose stamina to enjoy life.

The spirit is the feeling of living life. The spirit says to a person, "Today is a good day so make something happen." Life is really not that bad despite the sad and depressing events on the evening news. Spirit brings optimism, something positive, and joy. There is beauty, laughter, and friendliness. The spirit is around us. We find it, create it, and spread it around other people. Otherwise, the world is gloom and doom.

We continue living life with the mind, body, and spirit. People miss out living an optimal life with only one or two. A good example is overweight people. These people may be smart and smiling; however, being overweight minimizes their physical strength and energy. These people can live better lives getting in shape, feeling much better with a sound body, and have more energy to be happier with their minds and spirits.

Make an effort for the mind, body, and spirit to be present and focused. If one or two are out of synch due to an illness, a loss, or a bad timing event, then take a deep breath, spend some time to recover, refocus, and reset. Mind, body, and spirit are important for a good and successful life. Stay active.

It's Okay To Live At Home

There are millions of people who share a similar life situation like me. We are experiencing tough economic times. I'm unemployed and I live with my parents. It's like I'm George Costanza from Seinfeld. There is no shame living at home and being dependent on my parents. I'm no less an adult. I'm still a strong person. Bad luck, bad timing, and bad fortunes are part of my present life.

Living at home is easier with my parents who accept my current life conditions. Life is easier when I live my life as if I'm independent. I help out around the house including cleaning the dishes, vacuuming, cooking, and doing the laundry. These are house chores I'm responsible if I lived on my own. I take care of my body. I work out at the gym, practice good hygiene, and eat healthy. I take care of my car including oil changes and routine maintenance. I'm responsible for my appearance such as wearing appropriate clothes, shaving, and monthly haircuts. I take the initiative to maintain my job knowledge and learn new job skills taking online classes.

I still have a life. I'm dating a girl. I have friends I spend time to have fun. I read books. I watch movies and some television series. I listen to music. I visit new places such as hiking new trails. I experience new experiences and find new adventures. Life is never on a complete pause living at home.

I'm not lazy sitting on a sofa and watching television. I'm not playing video games in the late night and waking up late. I'm a good person and a good son who shows, acts, and behaves well and makes good choices. I'm fortunate and lucky I live with my parents such that I can focus on finding a job. My home is easier to live as long as I make my parent's life easier. I know living at home is temporarily. I move out and live independently one day. I experience a big break with luck and timing in my favor soon. I must be patient.

It's okay to live at home. Don't take the generous offer for granted.