What Happens To A Man Struck By Cupid's Arrow?

A MAN COULD BE experiencing the worst day of his life, overwhelmed by the unforgiving universe—as if the sun, moon, and stars have secretly conspired against him—yet if Cupid flies by and makes this man the target of his next arrow, it will cause all that is wrong to seem so right, creating heavenly bliss out of humanly pain.

Such is a story to which all men can relate, as men throughout the ages have all experienced the raw power of the human heart at some point in their lives; for the heart is a valiant hero who has been blessed with the magical ability to rescue man from the depths of own despair.

But sometimes it must be nudged into action...

The stimulus need not be much. Once man is struck by Cupid, something as simple as a fleeting glance from that perfect woman—one who has unwittingly reached out and greeted his beleaguered soul—will provide the impetus necessary for change.

When this occurs man undergoes a stark transformation: His eyes sparkle, his spirits dance, his heart burns with desire, his soul shivers from the joyful anticipation. He will do everything in his power to win her affections, all other concerns instantly vanishing like a wisp of smoke into thin air, since nothing else matters to him any more—except for her.

These feelings which have motivated men throughout history enliven the body, uplift the spirit, and enrich the human experience.

...and it's all because of a woman.

What Causes Human Conflict?

HUMAN CONFLICT is an unfortunate byproduct of human interaction which has plagued the world since the dawn of man. It manifests itself in highly complex ways, yet it exists for a surprisingly simple reason.

The root of human conflict (both large scale and small) can ultimately be traced to an inability of the individual to accurately express his thoughts and feelings in a constructive manner.

While such a character flaw cannot be said to be entirely unexpected—considering that we only have a limited number of words at our disposal to describe an infinite number of emotions and ideas—this fact does not absolve the individual from his societal responsibility.

By artfully using words as brush strokes to depict a coherent, understandable whole, a person will be able to articulate the many complexities of his own unique experience by painting a picture so detailed and clear that there can be no equivocation about what he is trying to say.

Sadly, though, most people fail to look at the canvas or even pick up the paintbrush. Couple this tragic fact with man's habitual failure to approach problems calmly and rationally, and what remains is a no-win situation for everyone.

Although others may graciously fall on their swords for the sake of a quick resolution, blame should never be assigned to anyone other than he who is most deserving—the ineffective communicator...

Have You Finally Accepted Your Fate In Life?

EVERY HUMAN BEING starts out in life believing that he is destined to conquer the world. Ask a child what he wants to be when he grows up, and it wouldn't surprise anyone if the youngster replied: a doctor, a lawyer, an astronaut, or even President of the United States.

But one would be hard pressed to find the child who exclaims, "I want to grow up to make $40,000 per year!"

...yet that's what many of us end up doing.

Make no mistake, there is nothing at all wrong with holding down a job which pays such a salary, but even those who earn that amount would probably concede that adulthood has played out much differently than what they had envisioned as children.

This leads to a pivotal moment in man's life—a moment that should be called 'The Point of Acceptance' because it is a point when he must finally come to terms with all of the choices he has thus far made in life, and boldly accept his fate; for if he fails to do so, he will end up spending his golden years lamenting the unchangeable past while ignoring the malleable future, a shame considering that the future always holds the key to unlock the doors behind which greater happiness lies...

Thinking about your own life's journey, have you reached your 'Point of Acceptance' yet and begun focusing on the future again?

Does An Argument Really Change A Person's Mind?

ARGUMENTS HAVE the power to destroy. You've seen it countless times in the past: Feelings get hurt. Relationships end. Friendships are ruined. Sometimes physical altercations (and even death) can occur.

All because of a disagreement.

After an especially heated argument, we are forced to sift through the fallout and survey the changed landscape of the said relationship.....yet we are fated to step into the middle of another argument at some point in the future.

Why? Especially when we know what the result will most likely be? Do we honestly expect our future adversaries to wave the white flag and say, "You were right, I was wrong," and then make peace?

Man must understand that unless both parties handle themselves with dignity and class, and one side is honest enough to admit defeat in the end, then an argument will always conclude on a sour note and could even degenerate into something worse.

The solution? Walk away from impending arguments because when a person attempts to initiate a verbal battle, it says more about him than anyone else. (Such a person will never admit he was wrong anyway) In fact, verbal disputes should be handled no differently than fistfights.

A gentleman never willingly accepts an invitation to participate in a brawl—something that must be remembered when one anticipates a war of words.

So the next time you feel tempted to enter an argument and push your chips all-in, simply fold your hand and walk away from the table instead...

Could The Artist Be The Most Courageous Of All?

IF YOU ASK PEOPLE to identify occupations which require a great deal of courage, you would probably expect to hear replies like policemen, firefighters, soldiers, etc.

Without a doubt, these are very honorable lines of work, but how would you react if your respondent answered by naming.....artists? Now before you scoff at the notion that artistic endeavors require any amount of courage, consider the type of life which the artist has chosen for himself.

While those who pursue other careers have at least some idea of what their "return on investment" will be, the artist is afforded no such luxury. In fact, the artist makes a conscientious decision to live a life of uncertainty, spending hours upon hours perfecting his craft, creating masterpieces from mental blueprints, and doing so without any guarantee whatsoever that he will earn even a penny for his work.

...which leaves him open to ridicule from his so-called friends and family who snidely ask when he will get a 'real' job.

Such remarks only add to the great courage displayed by the ambitious individual who puts everything on the line for his art. A individual who lives through each day knowing that in 30 years' time, he may either have achieved success..........or he may find that he has sacrificed three decades of his life with nothing to show for it...

Can You Succeed In The Game Of Life?

WHAT IF SOMEONE offered you the chance to play a thrilling, rewarding game?

—A game that requires all of your wits and every ounce of effort you can muster.

—A game that demands an extraordinary problem-solving ability to address a number of increasingly-complex problems.

—A game that will test your heart in thousands of ways that you had never thought possible.

—A game that will challenge your mind and mercilessly push it to its very limits.

—A game in which you will meet others who will do everything in their power to prevent you from reaching your goals.

—A game that will require you to instruct young people on how to play, even though you may not be an expert yourself.

—A game where the decision-making process is crucial because you can never take back a move.

—A game that will reward you with happiness beyond your wildest dreams...if you can figure out how to master it.

Well, guess what? You are already playing the ever-challenging Game of Life...

Are Human Beings Born Moral Or Amoral?

ENDOWED WITH MORALS or self-serving savages from birth? The classic debate will most likely continue forever, with each side vigorously defending its position. Observers will come away believing that either (1) man is a greedy, selfish creature who cares about nothing but himself, or (2) man is by nature a kind-hearted, peace-loving being who disdains violence.

But which side is correct? Neither...............and both!

Such an answer may appear to be a conveniently-timed dodge, but one must remember that inquiring minds have a tendency to unnecessarily complicate matters by searching for absolutes rather than seeking the simplest, most logical explanation.

To the critics, I would argue that although one cannot deny that human beings are naturally kind and thoughtful creatures, they nevertheless possess an overriding instinct for self-preservation, which inevitably leads to gut-wrenching conflict within, and this new perspective changes the entire premise of the debate, putting the spotlight on the raging battle between man's 'moral' nature and his 'amoral' instincts.

Which side will emerge victorious?

It all depends, because when people are unable to observe the real-life impact of their actions on other people's lives, their amoral instincts will win. For example, a man who finds $50.00 on the sidewalk may very well keep it because that money will allow him to acquire extra goods and services. On the other hand, if he knew that the $50.00 belonged to a single mother of three who had planned on using it to feed her kids for the day, then he would almost certainly return it. (The difference being that the new information acts as a 'trigger' to release his innate moral goodness)

One must always remember, the question isn't about whether or not human beings are born morally superior or morally indifferent. Each man harbors two opposing forces within his soul, and these forces are constantly competing, constantly fighting for control of him...

Does Man Run Toward A Goal Or Away From Trouble?

HUMAN BEINGS SPEND the entirety of their lives on the move, for life is like an extended marathon in which all men are active participants. While keeping one's eye on the ultimate goal should be a fairly straightforward task, this is easier said than done for those who are easily-distracted.

Although man is advised to stay focused and pace himself for the long haul, he all too often forgets the purpose of the entire exercise and simply aims to stay ahead of his problems—which he inadvertently attracted along the way—that follow in close pursuit. Not surprisingly, this becomes one of the main sources of his woes.

Rather than dealing with these problems head on and proceeding with the journey, man allows his pesky problems to chase him off his desired path—sometimes permanently—which in turn causes him to lose sight of his long-term goals. One can look around and easily spot individuals running through life who have (sadly) all but forgotten the reason why they initially started running in the first place.

Man must always remember that one's objectives can only be reached if he keeps his mind focused and moves in the proper direction. And if he finds himself dogged by troubles that persistently nip at his heels, he must not stray from the course and spend the rest of his life running away. Instead, he must directly confront and conquer those problems, so that he may get back on track and continue on the path to glory...

Would You Rather Be Liked Or Respected?

BEING LIKED and being respected are not mutually exclusive, yet one can find many instances of individuals who fall into only one group or the other. (For example, there is the unassertive man whom everybody likes, yet all take advantage of him; and on the flip side, there is the grouchy old miser whom nobody likes at all, yet everyone respects him because he lost a limb fighting in war.)

Concerning those who are liked, they will usually attract people who want to interact with and be around them.

Regarding those who are respected, they are usually admired for things they have done in the past.

(These being generic definitions, of course)

The big questions are: Would you rather be liked or respected by the world? And more importantly, why?

Can Man Stop The Eternal March Of Father Time?

THE CROTCHETY OLD FIGURE of Father Time is known the world over, yet he remains entirely elusive and little understood by man. We helplessly watch as he methodically marches to the steady beat of his own drum undeterred by the events taking place around him.

...and, while this happens, citizens of the world have little choice but to follow.

Throughout history, human beings have sought ways to turn Father Time in the opposite direction or—at the very least—coax him into stopping for a much needed rest. But to no avail.....the stubborn old man listens to no one, takes orders from no one, and in solitude trudges on—through busy days and endless nights, never pausing to look back at the road he has traveled.

Where does this leave man? In a confused state, not knowing what to make of time's never-ending journey over the rough, unpredictable course of history.

But unbeknownst to man, he is destined to remain at the mercy of the silent, slow-moving specter of time—powerless and unable to influence the lumbering old man in any way, but fated to feel the inevitable effects of his long, eternal march...