The Stephan Michael Band's Blog
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More questions than answers
As the years go by and I see life differently I often wonder why we have reached a point where communication has broke down and hatred has filled in the gap. As an independent thinker and believer that we can solve all problems by working together for common good, I see both sides of the issue but compromise is necessary to solve the massive problems of the day. In life I believe that there is middle ground we can reach and we need to encourage others to find common ground and stop the division that pits one group against the other. From the high unemployment rates to the massive entitlement expansion we have to encourage people to seek solution and not look to others to solve all the problems, this will end in massive failure. I encourage others to seek consensus in solving problems and working with others that have different views can open up potential solutions to the long term problems we face as a society. I have always said that a person that I disagree with is my friend with whom I disagree and that thru mutual respect we can forge compromise, and as a society we have to encourage others to raise the bar in how we deal with one another in these tough times. A civil society need to be civil and I want to set a positive example, I am not perfect and I always work on doing better and I hope that others will do the same. I hope people will ask questions and demand more from their leaders and want people to learn to raise the bar in how we treat one another. We must accept people as they are and treat everyone with universal respect and dignity, no exception. This life has taught me that there are many sides to a story and that solutions are found from a civil consensus that embraces difference and encourages people to think outside the box. Forge a common ground with neighbors and co-workers, spread good will and not division and above all else be a force for good in this world. Change is never easy but we can be kind and respectful to one another and that means starting today and into the future. Start today. -
Unlocking True Potential
I think that all of us at one time or another has been frustrated or feels that we are traveling forward in reverse. We get the sense that we are not in control of our lives and don't see a time in the near future when we ever will be in control, but we are wrong. If we are determined and we proceed ahead with the thought that our lives succeed or fail based upon the effort we put in then we have made the first proper step to being successful in this life. Our dreams and happiness hang on the notion that we block out critics and focus on the goal of a happy and more fulfilling life based on living your dreams rather than settling for the path of least resistance. We also help ourselves by encouraging others to believe in themselves and helping others to unlock the true potential inside them as well. When we look to the state of the world we see a rash of "entitlement mentality" and a sense that they can sit back and others will see that they are happy and satisfied and that is where a lot of this has gone wrong. I believe that if we show people that when they apply themselves and recognize that the future they have can truly be successful by applying themselves, we will begin to see a society that adds great things back and fosters an even more successful environment for all that are willing to change. Our future and our happiness hinge on changes we can make that better our lives and the lives of those all around us. Unlocking true potential and encouraging others goes a long way to heal a divide by forcing us to make the right decisions and with the clock ticking we need to get to living and doing and forget about all the rest. -
A Walk Thru Life
If we are all honest with ourselves we are really facing a very difficult time and standing at a crossroad ,where we have to decide if we still believe that hard work and determination is a winning life or the life look for others to blame when things go wrong is the road. I personally believe that the life we lead and the outcome we receive depends on the amount of work and engagement we take in the process. We walk thru the world and hold on to hope that we can truly change the world for the better and help inspire others to think outside the box and encourage others to do the same. No matter our age or background we all have dreams and whether we will admit it we all want to encourage others and better ourselves along the way, but to do that takes courage to admit our faults and then take action to change ourselves for the better. If we have any hopes of being successful as individuals or as a generation we have to believe that the areas we differ in are great lessons where we teach each other about differing points of view, expanding our perceptions of the world and all those that are our neighbors both locally and globally. I see moments where we can agree to disagree and I see moments where we can grow as a culture and move beyond the petty, bitterness that has become some aspects of our society. The power we have over the direction of our lives is lost by the negative nature of our news media that always points out the negative and the religious institutions that engage in narrowminded sterotyping of groups and individuals that see life from views other than what the church deems normal. I see my life as a passerby, just here for a little while and while I'm here I hope to make positive change and get people to engage in the direction and scope of the lives they lead and the changes they can make that will greatly improve their lives and the lives of others around them as well. A society that no longer believes in privacy and makes fun of people as they make mistakes is s society that really needs to start growing up and recognizing that we are all a series of mistakes and we can learn from it or be trapped in the cycle of destructive behaviour that has no end in sight. I still believe that we can change and we must change if we ever want civility and peace in the rat race lives we lead, I hope that you take these words as an opportunity to change for the better. A walk thru life and the lessons we learn will define the memories people have of us when we are gone, how are you going to be remembered. The moment to change is now and the courage to chage is found in you, one person at a time. -
A wish for 2012
As we end 2011 and the trying economic situations that have arisen during the year we must remember that if we work together we can accomplish far more and do great things to improve the lives of everyone. Whether it is giving to local charity of donating time to a cause that you have a passion for, we are all playing a part in the success or failures of our lives. Let's look at all that happened in 2011 and learn from the mistakes, take the good that happened and expand it and above all else remember that we never give up in making this the most open and understanding society that embraces difference and encourages people to think outside the box. We have seen the politicians whip up hatred and division and I for one am disgusted with the politics and division that showed itself in 2011. I hope that maybe some grownups that put the people first will rise to the top and begin a healthy discussion about the role of government and refocusing attention on protection of civil liberty and freedom. No matter where in the world we are of what background we come from we all have to try harder to add to the civility and increase unity not division, unlike our elected officials. Hoping that we can begin the process of healing a society that is weighed down with distrust, we have to understand that it is the differences we have that add spice and excitement. Whether we are rich or poor, black or white, religious or non-religious we have an obligation to put the best foot forward and show fairness to all and a willingness to see from other points of view. I hope that we can at least start the process of creating an environment that looks at each person as special and unique in adding to the color and beauty of society, I hope so. The racial tension that I see troubles me and I find that the people that are driving the racial tension are profiting and benefiting politically because of it, and this must be stopped. We have issues in this world and we all share common responsibility for the problems we see as a society, what are we doing to address them as individuals and are we the problem or are we the solution. Our society must address a brewing epidemic of the entitlement society and the problems it creates, we have got to get back to a society that prides itself with a good work ethic and honesty and truthfulness. Hard work and the personal sense of accomplishment is a driving force behind the creation of small and large business that improves the lives of millions across the world, we must foster that creative spirit to survive. In 2012 I hope for a discussion with less hate and the understanding that we must work together and fix the problems we face, if not the future and the success we have will be in question.