Dave Guerra (the official blog): August 2023

31 August 2023

Journal - Thursday - August 31, 2023 - TRAGEDY

TRAGEDY

Tragedy befalls all of us.

No one is immune.

No one is overlooked or passed over.

The TRAGIC side of TRAGEDY is when someone is pushed out,

the TRAGEDY begins when that those pushing fail to see the TRAGIC outcome.

When they do "finally" see it, it is too late.

The deed is done and the TRAGEDY cannot be retracted.

Live with that!

-David Guerra

P.S. I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

P.P.S. To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader: Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

30 August 2023

Journal - Wednesday - August 30, 2023 - RESOLVE

image by Tom from Pixabay

RESOLVE

A die is cast, a stone is turned, a decision is made.

They make fun of it when you have it.

They demand you respect them when they have it.

RESOLVE is a TWO-WAY street.

RESOLVE must be respected and accepted.

Fail to respect others for the same thing you demand there be respect for you

You will find yourself out, not in.

The RESOLVE is a form of a declaration or of taking a stance.

You put your foot down. They put their foot down.

RESOLVE takes root.

It isn't easy, then again it ain't that difficult.

The only thing that is difficult is when imbeciles see it as their way or the highway.

Well, hey! I hit the highway.

Mutual Respect isn't when it is one-sided or without expectation.

29 August 2023

Journal - Tuesday - August 29, 2023 - NERVE

image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

NERVE

Touch one and find out.

Have one and be ridiculed.

Break one and find yourself still.

The Last One always counts the most.

Ask me, I know!

28 August 2023

Journal - Monday - August 28, 2023 - NEAR

NEAR

You can only get so close.

You only be so near.

Don't stop...GO FURTHER!

BE NEAR

27 August 2023

Journal - Sunday - August 27, 2023 - BETTER

image by Waldryano from Pixabay

BETTER

You can only make yourself better.

Others may believe they know better than you.

They are FOOLS and IMBECILES.

They think they know BETTER.

What they actually know is NOTHING about YOU.

They don't even know themselves.

Remember, only you know what is BETTER for you.

Let the FOOLS and IMBECILES continue with their nonsense.

They will never get it, because all they know is NOTHING just how to be FAKE, FALSE, a FRAUD.

Never Genuine but they will never admit to it because they truly believe they are BETTER than YOU.

SADLY, Better People Never Have To Flaunt they are better because they have something that the FOOLS and IMBECILES do not have.

And what they have is called HUMILITY.

26 August 2023

Journal - Saturday - August 26, 2023 - SEASONS

image by David Mark from Pixabay

SEASONS

Seasons Come And Go.

The Seasons Always Change.

You cannot change the seasons.

They change on their own.

Life is All About Change.

You can ONLY change your life.

Whether You Like It Or Not!

Leave others to do their own thing.

Whether You Like It Or Not!

Just like the green leaves will turn colors and fall off,

the tree lives through the winter.

So will you.

Let Seasons Change You!

25 August 2023

Journal - Friday - August 25, 2023 - REASON

image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

REASON

When it comes to REASON and why you do the things you do, there is one thing to remember.

YOU HAVE YOUR REASONS & IF OTHERS DO NOT LIKE IT, WELL THAT'S ON THEM?

As an adult you have certain FREEDOMS that, whether others like it or not, can NEVER be taken from you.

One FREEDOM is you have free will to do what you want to do with or without Rhyme or REASON.

There is no FREEDOM when others demand you MUST consult with them first.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for them to be all in your business.

There is NO REASON for them to know every single thing about you.

Their untold REASON for them to know all there is to know about you is simple.

They won't say, they will deny it, and most of all, they will hide the real REASON.

Their untold REASON is three-fold:

To HOLD what you say over YOU.
To USE what you say AGAINST YOU.
To USE it all as a tool to CONTROL YOU.

My advise to you and the very same advise I failed to follow for so long:

KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!

Other than you spouse, there really is NO REASON for anyone else to "have to know" all about you, what you do, what you say and why you say and do what you say and do.

I guarantee you this: They will NEVER reveal themselves to you that way.

Because, well, they have NO REASON other than they do not really care about you, with the exception of what you say and do that can be USED AGAINST YOU.

24 August 2023

Journal - Thursday - August 24, 2023 - FALLING

image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

FALLING

FALLING is NOT a ONE-WAY Trip!

FALLING is actually a TWO-WAY trip!

FALLING and GETTING BACK UP!

FALLING and staying down is for those that have given up.

Staying down is for those that do not want to SUCCEED.

The longer people stay down the more they are apt to do what they can to KEEP OTHERS DOWN.

Don't be like those people that only feel good about themselves when they KEEP OTHERS DOWN!

Be Yourself. Be Better. Know that you can Fall and Get Back Up On Your Feet.

Remember, FALLING is actually a TWO-WAY trip!

23 August 2023

Journal - Wednesday - August 23, 2023 - DIRECTION

image by Svetlana from Pixabay

DIRECTION

Do you know where you are going?

Do you know the DIRECTION you are heading?

Most people do not know where they are going. Hell, most people do not know where to find their four-points of contact let alone where they are or where they are going.

Sadly, it is those people that do not where they are or where they are going that are READY to TELL YOU exactly where you can go and what you can do when you get there.

Yeah, people can be quite predictable.

However, what is not predictable is YOU knowing where you are or where you are going.

The more people that can find DIRECTION, the better it all becomes.

It all becomes better when more people that know where they are or where they are going!

Know Your DIRECTION!

And Get On With It!

22 August 2023

Journal - Tuesday - August 22, 2023 - GROUND

image by Elias from Pixabay

GROUND

GROUND YOURSELF.

If you are one of those individuals that constantly finds themselves out of sorts, not-centered, and/or non-sensible.

It might be time to get yourself GROUNDED.

We all need to periodically GROUND OURSELVES.

Life moves pretty fast. People demanding you to do this or do that.

Imbeciles invading your space with their nonsense.

Among all that, you just trying to keep your head above water can be be a daunting task.

It can feel like things are getting out of hand, out of control.

STOP! Take a deep breath and do what it takes to re-connect with yourself.

Take some time to GROUND YOURSELF.

It is the best thing you can do for yourself.

21 August 2023

Journal - Monday - August 21, 2023 - COMPASS

image by PDPics from Pixabay

COMPASS

A COMPASS is a device that is used to help us know where we are, where we are going, and of course, where we are not.

The COMPASS is important to keep us on track and on the right direction as we make our way from Point A to Point B.

The COMPASS works using the Earth's magnetic north as the base reference point to determine what our current bearing, course, or heading we are on.

Deviations from the course are then made to get us back on track.

Barring any physical damage, the COMPASS will never fail you.

You fail yourself. The COMPASS will always work.

You fail when you take your eye off the course or path you are on.

You change course without consulting the COMPASS.

You go in the wrong direction. You listen to the WRONG people.

You find yourself off-course, get back on track, get focused.

Use the COMPASS to help you get to where you want to go.

20 August 2023

Journal - Sunday - August 20, 2023 - VERIFY

image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

VERIFY

Back in days of the COLD WAR there was a Russian proverb that was tossed about by both sides.

TRUST, BUT VERIFY / Doveryai no Proveryai (Доверяй, но проверяй)

One of the greatest proverbs about life, personal or professional.

It is also fits in nicely when it comes to relationships.

TRUST, BUT VERIFY

...ALWAYS!

19 August 2023

Journal - Saturday - August 19, 2023 - CHECK

image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

CHECK

Do you ever CHECK in on yourself?

If not, you should. Really, you should.

I do. I HAVE TO.

If I don't, I find myself in situations that I would prefer not. There are way too many hard lessons that I learned from those situations.

Periodically, you have to CHECK in with yourself to see

how you are doing
if are you still on the right course
if you are getting to where you want to be
if you are taking the right path
if you are keeping it real
if you are prioritizing yourself, first
if, most importantly, you are keeping the wolves at bay

So, as the song goes...."Check yourself before you wreck yourself..."

Because there is no coming back!

18 August 2023

Journal - Friday - August 18, 2023 - WONDER

image by Justin Martin from Pixabay

WONDER

Do you ever stop and WONDER how you got here?

Here is the place and time that you are in.

Do you ever stop and WONDER where you are?

Where you are is where you are in this place and time.

Do you ever WONDER what others are doing?

Wondering what others are doing is the fast track to wondering what they are thinking.

Wondering what others are thinking is the fast track to wondering what they are thinking and saying about you?

If this is YOU, then STOP.

STOP IT.

STOP WONDERING what others are thinking and saying about YOU.

They do not know you. They may think they know you but they really do not.

So, do not set yourself up for failure.

FAILURE is when you have given up thinking and doing for yourself.

FAILURE comes from being a SLAVE to the minds of others.

If this is YOU, then STOP.

STOP BEING A SLAVE.

17 August 2023

Journal - Thursday - August 17, 2023 - PLACE

PLACE

We all have a PLACE in this world.

We ALL have a PLACE in our lives.

When you find that PLACE, you will know it.

There is no timeline to find a PLACE.

When you find a PLACE you know it.

16 August 2023

Journal - Wednesday - August 16, 2023 - FACE

image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

FACE

When a diamond is cut to have sides it is said to be multi-faceted.

A multi-faceted diamond is very beautiful.

However, not all things that have multiple faces are beautiful.

People that have more than one FACE are far from pretty.

They tend to be ugly on the inside but on the outside the face they project is a façade of perfection. What a joke!

It is a sad existence but when one has two or more faces their life becomes so much harder.

Harder in the sense that the longer they keep up their idiocy the harder it become to keep things in order.

Eventually, all those faces fail to keep things in some kind of order and the individual is then revealed for who they really are.

Then what do they have? NOTHING!

They have failed to FOOL everyone and they get what they deserve.

THEY GET NOTHING!

Folks, stick to one FACE. It is easy to deal with and you will look so much better not have to remember which face is which.

15 August 2023

Journal - Tuesday - August 15, 2023 - STAND

STAND

The cheese stands alone.

Why does the cheese stand alone?

It does so because it is unique.

It is unique in that cheese is a solid at room temperature.

ALL other dairy products, at room temperature are liquid or liquefying (butter & ice cream).

Cheese stands alone because it can, because it is built that way.

You will, one day, find yourself having to stand alone.

Do not be afraid. Do not be scared. You stand alone because you believe in something.

Whether they like it or not, YOU will STAND alone.

14 August 2023

Journal - Monday - August 14, 2023 - SWARM

Image by Maria Maltseva from Pixabay

SWARM

They can surround you.

They can buzz in your ears.

They can point you in the direction they want you to go.

You can surrender to the swarm

You can go your own way.

No matter what, only you can DECIDE what you want to do, who to do it with or without.

In the end, you choose your path. You go the direction of the swarm or a journey that is uniquely your own that is up to you.

YOU ALONE!

13 August 2023

Journal - Sunday - August 13, 2023 - WHISPER

image by Desiree from Pixabay

WHISPER

If you cannot hear the words.

Then they might not be for you.

That does not mean they are talking about you.

It just means that sometimes the conversation has NOTHING to do with YOU.

And when it does, you will find out soon enough.

12 August 2023

Journal - Saturday - August 12, 2023 - AMBUSH

image by G.C. from Pixabay

AMBUSH

Here's another word that most people assume they know the definition but sadly they do not know the whole story.

So let us break it down.

AMBUSH is defined as "make a surprise attack on (someone) from a concealed position."

Most people stop at "make a surprise attack" and believe that is enough.

Well, it is NOT enough.

One of my old Platoon Sergeants once told me, "Half-assing an AMBUSH is NOT an AMBUSH!"

This guy is a Vietnam Veteran. Former Active Duty Infantryman. Spent just two tours out under the jungle canopy of the State of Vietnam (South Vietnam) and this guy knew two things with absolute certainty:

#1 What exactly an AMBUSH is.

#2 He knew, without hesitation and reservation, when people were HALF-ASSing things.

It is that simple: Launch an ambush, Make it a SURPRISE (that's the "from a concealed position" part), and CREATE CHAOS.

As a Leader, you have to stay on your toes because CHAOS will occur but it can be managed ONLY if you are prepared to FIGHT through a REAL AMBUSH.

See, for those that can only HALF-ASS anything and everything they do, they are NOT prepared to commit.

They are NOT READY to take the HIT that usually follows a HALF-ASSED AMBUSH.

Word of warning or advice: If you are NOT capable of delivering a proper AMBUSH you never will be.

However, by committing to conducting a REAL AMBUSH, there will be NO PUNCH IN THE FACE.

This is because when Properly Planned and Violently Executed, an AMBUSH is a BEAUTIFUL THING.

When it is NOT, then the roles are reversed and the you GET what you DESERVE for just going through the motions and not committing.

Don't let the AMBUSH AMBUSH YOU!

11 August 2023

Journal - Friday - August 11, 2023 - MADNESS

image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

MADNESS

They say repeating something that you failed at and expecting a different result, each time, is MADNESS.

So like the moth to the flame because it wants to be close to the light but it keeps getting burned.

PURE MADNESS.

Sadly, People are more like the moth.

They keep doing the nonsense and keep getting burned but are too oblivious, too hard-headed, too ignorant or too stupid to STOP their MADNESS.

Well, good for them.

Thus, proving Darwin right as their MADNESS works towards thinning out the herd.

MADNESS!

10 August 2023

Journal - Thursday - August 10, 2023 - THINK

image by John Hain from Pixabay

THINK

You have a BRAIN!

You don't have to think about breathing.

You do NOT have to THINK about it automatic because you have a BRAIN!

When you THINK you are making a conscious (not automatic) effort.

When you THINK you are putting in the work.

So Put In The Work and THINK!

And before I forget, how about trying to THINK with an OPEN MIND, KNOW there is MORE than just ONE OPINION, and that YOU are NOT the ONLY ONE.

YOU THINK. I THINK. WE THINK! BUT NOT THE SAME WAY!

09 August 2023

Journal - Wednesday - August 9, 2023 - GUARD

Image by Photo Mix from Pixabay

GUARD

Keep Your Guard Up!

En Garde!

Be Ready

Be Prepared

Do not get caught short.

Do not be found lacking.

Keep Your Guard Up!

08 August 2023

Journal - Tuesday - August 8, 2023 - EXCUSE

EXCUSE

Selling an Excuse is OK.

Selling EXCUSE after EXCUSE is NEVER OK.

People are hell bent on making excuses for why they cannot simply get the job done.

Then almost immediately following the excuse comes the blame game.

OWN YOUR SHORTCOMINGS. STOP YOUR EXCUSES.

I OWN ALL MY OWN SHORTCOMINGS.

Trust me, when I say I own it, it certainly feels much better than trying to make up some LAME ASS EXCUSES and then trying to remember who has not yet been blamed.

KEEP YOUR EXCUSES TO YOURSELF

Because there is NO EXCUSE.

07 August 2023

Journal - Monday - August 7, 2023 - SHOUT

image of cereal from Kellog's

SHOUT

For some context here, let's define SHOUT = "utter a loud call or cry, typically as an expression of a strong emotion."

In this post, SHOUT is not about talking above others.

In this post, I talk about having people understand that YOUR EMOTIONS drive YOUR PASSIONS and NOT the other way around.

You OWN Your EMOTIONS. Therefore, how you choose to express it is strictly up to YOU.

However, those with an immature mindset that do NOT agree with you or your emotions or your passions will ALWAYS find the NEGATIVE to dump on you and yet find nothing wrong with shouting back at or to you.

Whether by choice or accident their IGNORANCE and HYPOCRISY is still of their own choosing.

When it comes to YOU remember you have a right to express any emotion you want, especially to do so in your own HOME is not up for questioning (by anyone).

When we have something to say and that something is very important to us. Then SHOUT it out!

Remember, if you SHOUT that is yours whether they like it or and they probably won't like it so they will make noise, with their BLAH...BLAH...BLAH!

Just never forget that even sometimes we have to "shout above the din of our rice crispies."

06 August 2023

Journal - Sunday - August 6, 2023 - REPLY

Image by Csaba Nagy from Pixabay

REPLY

It is all about DIALOGUE! A Two-Way Communication.

If you cannot REPLY to a question.

If you refuse to have a CONVERSATION because you cannot be bothered to hear how other people are doing.

If you are not mature enough to see that it takes two to make the world a better place

If you are not prepared to accept that people will ask you questions

You choosing to not REPLY is part of the conversation.

The CONVERSATION that GOES nowhere.

It is the CONVERSATION that will find yourself by yourself.

How's that for a REPLY?

05 August 2023

Journal - Saturday - August 5, 2023 - INTENSE

Image by WikimediaImages from Pixabay

INTENSE

First off, let's define INTENSE.

It is "of extreme force, degree, or strength"

There comes a time when you will need to apply extreme force, degree or strength into something you wan to accomplish.

However, the negative power (and INDIVIDUALS) that surround you will do what they can to distract you, to bring you down, to keep you under their control.

This is the moment to kick up the INTENSITY.

INCREASE Your FOCUS and OVERCOME THEM and THEIR NONSENSE.

You have more important things to do than to pay homage to those self-perceived leaders, fake patriarchs or matriarchs, and anyone that thinks they are better than you.

INTENSIFYING your FOCUS and RESOLVE will serve as a CATALYST for three things:

1. You distance yourself from those hellbent on bringing you down.

2. You Self-Confidence Increases

3. You reach your GOALS faster.

However, they may try to match your intensity. Let them. You just keep driving forward to achieving your GOALS and COMPLETING your MISSION.

All they while they are WASTING themselves away by wasting their time, energy and resources for what? They achieve nothing and you...well, you achieved EVERYTHING and now YOU want MORE!

BE DELIBERATELY INTENSE!

04 August 2023

Journal - Friday - August 4, 2023 - CLOUDS

Image by Elisa from Pixabay

CLOUDS

You look up to the sky and what do you see? CLOUDS

The fill up the sky as a break from the blue.

What happens when you run out of blue?

Things get cloudy. Stay cloudy for too long and it rains. Rain for too long is a huge distraction.

The same goes for our lives.

We are at PEACE when our sky is clear and blue.

When the clouds start rolling in we call that part of life and tolerable.

When we get ourselves into a CLOUDY mess, that is far from tolerable.

Then we desperately search for PEACE.

We search high and low for blue sky.

However, we need the CLOUDS to keep us grounded and in the present (here and now).

The CLOUDS show us the light and give us shade.

Enjoy the CLOUDS but keep an eye out for the CLOUDY DAYS.

03 August 2023

Journal - Thursday - August 3, 2023 - CONFUSION

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

CONFUSION

When it comes to CONFUSION we usually do not know when we are CONFUSED until we realize we are knee deep in it.

How do we become CONFUSED?

Usually, this occurs when we do not hold ourselves ACCOUNTABLE.

By not holding ourselves accountable to ourselves, we leave ourselves open to ATTACK from all angles.

Not necessarily physical attack but attack from not assigning priority to things and people.

Then when it all comes at you and without priorities there is no order.

Lack of ORDER creates CHAOS.

CHAOS brings CONFUSION.

Set Priorities. Be Vigilant. Be Aware. Stay Focused. Kick CONFUSION to the curb.

02 August 2023

Journal - Wednesday - August 2, 2023 - SUBSTITUTION

image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

SUBSTITUTION

Substitution is NEVER acceptable!

Accept NO fakes, no posers, no wannabes, no false prophets, you get the picture.

There is NEVER an excuse to accept FAKE things, FAKE feelings, and most of all, FAKE people.

They said one thing to you and say something DIFFERENT to others.

They will do things to make themselves look good while going out of their way to make you look bad.

They rain negativity down on you, all while rays of sunshine shoot out their back side for the whole world to see.

You do NOT deserve to have SUBSTITUTIONS in your life.

These SUBSTITUTIONS for real decent authentic and genuine human beings are not what are going to help you grow and become a better person.

These SUBSTITUTIONS will drain you. They will make you doubt yourself and most of all will make you doubt the REAL relationships you have.

These SUBSTITUTIONS are nothing but fakes and they will stop at nothing to make you feel beneath them.

These SUBSTITUTIONS are not good for you, your health, your well-being both physically and mentally.

Toss these SUBSTITUTIONS in the garbage bin because that is where they belong along with all the other fakes things in your life.

ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTIONS, EVER!

01 August 2023

Journal - Tuesday - August 1, 2023 - CURIOSITY

image by Adrian from Pixabay

CURIOSITY

So you decided to stick around.

Good for you. You sadist you.

You are probably curious to see what comes next.

See, I promise going forward what you will see and read is NOT for weak individuals.

The premise of this blog has been and always will be "TO NOT PULL A SINGLE PUNCH"

Sugar coat your life, all you want but I refuse to sugar coat the cold hard reality.

That is for people who love to stick their head in the sand.

Live in a world of illusion, all you want.

This here is a world of my making and of MY understanding.

Your world is yours. It is not mine.

Thus if you do not like what I say here you know where the door is.

Now with that bit of nonsense out of the way.

Curiosity is good. It is good for growth.

Growth as a Human Being.

Stick around you might just learn something...about yourself.

-David

P.S. I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

P.P.S. To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader: Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble