Do you do most of your

D        R        E        A        M        I        N        G

when   you’re   A W A K E

or  A S L E E P.          .          .          ?

Back in December I had a lot of colleagues get laid off right before Christmas and though I grieved for them each for the personal loss I was feeling it was for the REAL LOSS they were Experiencing.          .          .

It made me start this very present

never-ending game called:

WHAT  IF

It goes like this and I’m going to invite you to play along

although this is a game that doesn’t get competed and go safely back into a box;

Let’s begin:

Do you have a WHAT  IF  LIST?

Actually it’s more than just a list.          .          .

it’s a couple of lists;

at least two.          .          .

Here’s the first WHAT IF LIST:

What if you lost your job RIGHT NOW:

What would you do.           .         .

LIST      YOUR      POSSIBILITIES

I’d be a Lyft driver and immediately start writing a book entitled LYFT TO LIFT chronicling  all the experiences and all of the stories that I would gather together with the folks I would take from one destination to another.      .     .

I’d start working for Starbucks

I’d start working for Amazon

I’d become a REDCOAT for Cleveland Clinic and instruct/help them where to go

I’d work exclusively for funeral homes

I’d become a full time Officiant for funerals, weddings, baptisms

I’d open up a cigar shop and call it HOLY SMOKES

I’d open a bar and call it CONFESSIONALS

I’d open a full service Spa and call it SOULED OUT

I’d open a coffee/tea shop and call it HOLY GROUNDS

I’d begin a Churchless Church that would never meet on Sunday’s and call it
NO PLACE

I’d open a hospice facility that’d never be dependent on government funding or regulations and call it BEGINNINGS

I’d open a FREE thrift store called GIFTED

I’d open a second free thrift store and call it CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY

Now what about that second what if list.          .          .

It’s a great list called:

WHAT  IF
You   won   the   500   million   dollar   lottery  list

I’d be a Lyft driver and immediately start writing a book entitled LYFT TO LIFT chronicling  all the experiences and all of the stories that I would gather together with the folks I would take from one destination to another.      .     .

I’d start working for Starbucks

I’d start working for Amazon

I’d become a REDCOAT for Cleveland Clinic and instruct/help them where to go

I’d work exclusively for funeral homes

I’d become a full time Officiant for funerals, weddings, baptisms

I’d open up a cigar shop and call it HOLY SMOKES

I’d open a bar and call it CONFESSIONALS

I’d open a full service Spa and call it SOULED OUT

I’d open a coffee/tea shop and call it HOLY GROUNDS

I’d begin a Churchless Church that would never meet on Sunday’s and call it
NO PLACE

I’d open a hospice facility that’d never be dependent on government funding or regulations and call it BEGINNINGS

I’d open a FREE thrift store called GIFTED

I’d open a second free thrift store and call it CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY

Sounds like both of my lists are the same.          .          .

Sounds like both lists talk about me being very altruistic and giving loving and
non-judgmental.          .          .

Sounds like both lists really uncovered who I truly am at heart:
S       E       L       F       I       S       H

YEAH. It might sound like I’m altruistic;

it may sound like I’m a really giving person but here’s the truth:

I      AM      SEVERELY      SELFISH

A   HARSHER  TRUTH:

I’m  STRIVING  to  become  even  more  S E L F I S H

I am the way that I am even though it appears so good, so true, so compassionate, so empathetic, so giving.            .            . when really I’m the most selfish person
I   have   ever   met.             .            .
It truly makes me feel good to be the way that I am and I agonize that I’m not  even  more   like   that.          .          .

I think I’ve uncovered the secret of life.          .          .
it’s not the fountain of youth;
it’s not quick get rich scheme;
But it is so highly effective
and I believe even more severely contagious;
I would hope that it not only characterizes me as a
Caring Catalyst
but also Caring Person.         .       .

The Secret:

GIVE      WHAT      YOU      WANT      TO      RECEIVE

No abracadabra stuff.         .        .
No magic.        .        .
Secret formula or potions.        .        .
No A-B-C-D  and then you will get X-Y-Z.         .        .

W H A T-IF-ING

is a great game.           .          .
It’s a fun game.          .          .
It’s a really cost-you-nothing-bet-your-life-changing-game

that, if involving others,

will long outlast a pulse beaten,
a breath taken
a heart pumping;

And it’ll absolutely teach

THE  LESSON:

COMPASSION      COMES      WITH      DIRT-CRUSTED      HANDS
that never come clean

Go ahead.          .          .

Bring FLAME  to  WICK

E           X           P           E           R           I           E           N           C           E

the pure answer of

WHY    LIGHT    A    CANDLE    WHEN    YOU    CAN    IGNITE    WICKS

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.          .          .
W     H     A     T         I     F