BEAUTY IN UNLIKELY PLACES.

Dear Friends:

I am guilty of superficiality -- of passing hasty judgment based upon appearances, and with only very limited information. I am guilty of conceit -- of thinking that I know more than I actually do. I am guilty of insensitivity -- of inflicting pain on others because of a lack of vision, patience or compassion. I have wasted other people's precious time, and I have failed to give people enough of my own time and attention. I have spoken too much at the expense of listening and learning. I have overestimated myself and underestimated others. I have failed to see genuine beauty while obsessively digging for fool's gold. I have broken promises, hearts and spirits. I have stood idly by in the midst of rampant evil and injustice. ~~In summation, I have been a fool. I would like to atone, but I do not quite know how. This post may be a step in the right direction. I implore you -- indulge me...just this once.

A brief film clip follows. Turn up the volume on your speakers, and pay close attention. Watch the expressions on people's faces. See the smirks, the eye-rolling...the "knowing" glances between members of the audience (the jury), and the panel (the judges). They have already judged one Mr. Paul Potts, a Welsh phone salesman, before he has had a chance to present his case.

After you have seen the entire clip, come back here and rejoin me. Please.

Click on http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd.html

Welcome back. What you witnessed was humbling and profoundly, painfully beautiful. It was a powerful lesson. I was utterly amazed. I felt ashamed of myself. My heart ached.

It is never too late to learn. It is never too late to atone. It is never too late to improve yourself. And it is never too late to begin a search for beauty in unlikely places. You can start today. How?

• You can telephone somebody whom you have wronged and ask forgiveness;

• You can tell somebody whom you have neglected that you love him or her;

• You can email this post to everyone you care about, friends and adversaries alike! (use the envelope-shaped icon at the bottom of this post), and attach a simple email message: "I needed for you to see this. Please take a moment and watch this film clip. Thank you." Nothing further need be said.

I appreciate your taking the time to go through this very personal experience with me, and for letting me into your heart. If you were moved to tears, if you cried, do not be ashamed -- there is great hope for you. And if there is hope for any one of us, then there is hope for all of Humankind. One motivated person can change the World. History is replete with well-documented examples.

I was compelled by Mr. Potts' performance to write this brief article; he gave me no choice. It is my hope that this brief article will help to awaken at least one special person, and that that one special person will be an agent for change. I have an irrepressible faith in the potential for Humanity to evolve. I also believe that miracles can and do happen. I witnessed one tonight. You did also.

Respectfully, and with great humility and gratitude,

Douglas Castle

P.S. All of the other blog posts have been updated. Find the links to all of them on the right-hand side of this page. Simply click on each one, and you'll be transported. Thank you. --DC

INTERESTING THINGS...

Dear Friends (and Stu, even though you haven't called me in ages):

I am delighted to report that all blogs have updated with new postings and fresh new formatting, as well, please click on the links on the right side (the left side is the wrong side) of the page to find many postings of interest and importance.

I have been saving some hyperlinks and downloads just for you! Here they come:

1. I believe that hope has psychological and physiological benefits. Some say that hope increases endurance, strength, the threshold of pain, leadership ability and a host of other good things. Some say that hope reduces trauma from injury and accelerates healing. Some say that hope can be cultivated in a person by a true leader. Some say that the predisposition toward hopefulness is actually genetically programmed into our DNA. Hope, statistically speaking (and my statistics are anecdotal), is a selector for survival. Poetically, and in sum...while we have hope we live...when we lose all hope, we die. Hope is an energy, a richness of spirit. Hope is contagious. Hope can be kindled, or it can dissuaded and stomped into nullity. Hope (in an obviously paradoxical statement), even when it is completely unwarranted and unrealistic, can attract opportunity. Personally, I live through today in my hope for tomorrow. Hope is my fuel -- and it defies the vaunted and venerable laws of physics -- because I can give it to you without losing any of it myself.

Learn about the HERTH HOPE SCALE (thank you, Robyn) by clicking on www.savefile.com/files/1025258, and then clicking on the "DOWNLOAD" button.

2. Our senses deceive us, as we are so easily distracted through misdirection and anticipation.
In the clip which you will see, an illusionist (who bears a frightening resemblance to "Weird Al" Yankovich) seems to vanish in plain sight.

Click on www.savefile.com/files/1030020 , and then click on the "DOWNLOAD" button.

3. Innovation is that sentient function subsumed by imagination and ignited by motivation. People can devise amazing solutions to virtually any problems by virtue of imagination and inspiration. Sadly, people spend a great deal more time identifying problems (and creating new ones) than searching for, and seizing opportunities. It's easier to be the critic than the creator. The clip that you are about to see is as inspiring as it is hysterical (thank you, Joanne).

Click on www.savefile.com/files/1030025, and then click on the "DOWNLOAD" button.

4. Lastly, there is no excuse for the link which follows, except for the established fact that I enjoy the blues.

Turn up your speakers (you crazy cats and groovy chicks), and click on: http://www.yahoo.americangreetings.com/view.pd?i=278012879&m=7274&rr=y&source=yahoo999

If we are still on speaking terms (or even if we weren't before), please click on each of the links in the right-hand column for EXCITING UPDATES!

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle