The Tire Iron and the Tamale

Posted on 25. Mar, 2011 by in The Goo Blog

By JUSTIN HORNER  - Justin Horner is a graphic designer living in Portland, Ore. This essay was adapted from a message-board posting on reddit.com.

Published: March 4, 2011

During this past year I’ve had three instances of car trouble: a blowout on a freeway, a bunch of blown fuses and an out-of-gas situation. They all happened while I was driving other people’s cars, which for some reason makes it worse on an emotional level. And on a practical level as well, what with the fact that I carry things like a jack and extra fuses in my own car, and know enough not to park on a steep incline with less than a gallon of fuel.

Each time, when these things happened, I was disgusted with the way people didn’t bother to help. I was stuck on the side of the freeway hoping my friend’s roadside service would show, just watching tow trucks cruise past me. The people at the gas stations where I asked for a gas can told me that they couldn’t lend them out “for safety reasons,” but that I could buy a really crappy one-gallon can, with no cap, for $15. It was enough to make me say stuff like “this country is going to hell in a handbasket,” which I actually said.

But you know who came to my rescue all three times? Immigrants. Mexican immigrants. None of them spoke any English. (more…)

Nature Smiling Twice

Posted on 14. Mar, 2011 by in The Goo Blog

I love this photo of Nature smiling at us in two different ways.  Pay attention and notice how Nature is smiling at you today.  I know she is.

Out Of The Way Thinking

Posted on 02. Sep, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

By Guest Blogger – Nicole Irlbeck – Restoration Fitness – Boulder, Colorado

What inspires you?

You know those days where you feel like you are headed in the right direction, and everything you are doing feels like what you were meant to do?

Then again, why do we spend so many days feeling like we are in a fog, just going through the motions?  Did you ever stop to think that the reason you are feeling dull, uninspired, or less than successful is because you are in your own way? (more…)

You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have

Posted on 02. Jun, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

Being yourself and sharing your gifts can be like turning on a light in poorly lit room full of people.  As the daylight fades and the light in the room diminishes, some people do not care that there is less light, some people are happy the light is fading and others are disappointed that it is getting darker and harder to see.  When you walk in, radiating your brilliance it is like turning on the lights.

To those who did not care that the light was going away, this additional light does not matter.  They are fine either way.  To those who were excited about the diminishing light they are annoyed.  They moan and complain. (more…)

“Can’t Never Did Anything.”

Posted on 28. Feb, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

When I was growing up, anytime I told my Dad that I can’t do something, he would reply, “can’t never did anything.”  And as annoying as that was to hear I knew he was right.

Think about it.  Name one thing that has ever been attributed to “can’t.”

The Wright brothers had a bicycle shop.  Why were they the first ones who succeeded in developing motorized flight?  It certainly was not because they told themselves we can’t.  They did not ask why are we qualified to pursue this?  They just asked how to do it and kept going until they found the answer.

It is said that Thomas Edison failed over 1,000 times before he discovered the incandescent light bulb.  He had over 1,000 opportunities to say “I can’t” but he didn’t because “can’t never did anything.” (more…)

Cake for Breakfast

Posted on 26. Feb, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

A couple days ago I woke up wanting cake for breakfast.  You can’t eat cake for breakfast I thought.  That is just not right.  But it was what I wanted.  Man did I want it.

I ate a banana in an attempt to distract myself from this craving.  Didn’t work.  Maybe a hard boiled egg.  I am just need some protein.  That will take care of things.  Nope.  I simply need more to eat, but it needs to be good for me so how about a bowl of oatmeal.  Well the oatmeal was good, but I still wanted cake.

Screw it!  No one is here to see me eat it anyway. (more…)

Follow the Energy

Posted on 22. Feb, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

Have you ever felt like you needed to do something like write a paper for school, clean the house or get a report done for work, but just could not seem to do it. Try as you may, you just could not make it happen.

Everything was easier and more enticing to do than the task at hand. Checking email, doing laundry, doing your taxes, cleaning the office, baking cookies. You name it, virtually anything could distract you from what you wanted to get accomplished.

I was in this exact situation last week as (more…)

Love is Never Wrong

Posted on 10. Feb, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

Motivation is fear based.  As my friend and mentor Michael Tamura says  Everyone can run to some extent.  And if a bear was chasing you, you would run the fastest you ever have.  You are motivated to do it because you fear for your life.

Fear is a low level energy.  It is not a high level energy like excitement, or enthusiasm or inspiration.

Inspiration, however, (more…)