Endless Potential Abound!!!

I live in Los Angeles and there are lots of homeless people holding signs as you exit the freeway. Therefore, I hand out granola bars if I'm stopped.  The other day I gave a box of kind bars to a homeless veteran. He said to me "sir can I really have the whole box?" His gratitude made my entire week.

I have a lot of frustrations in my life. Not being able to walk like a healthy person my age or enjoy social skills humans should. In addition, I am off balance both physically and emotionally almost all the time. Falling and not putting my hands down to brace my falls is one of my biggest complaints because nothing can be done. I see 2 neurologists who prescribe medication, which is often trial and error because of the rare nature of my disease. In addition to my neurologists, I go to physical therapy every Monday, which is rather enjoyable actually. On Thursday's I see a mental health specialist. The other week I asked her what my disorder is called in her profession. She says it's Major Depressive Disorder. Hearing that put me in a bad mood because I've always been an outgoing person, and while I do have problems going out in society on a daily basis for a number of reasons. Then there is Social Security. I have been denied from receiving benefits after their 'ex...

What do you look for in your ideal apartment? Is it size? Price? Perhaps, it's proximity to things to do. Well, I am looking for a new place and the reason is I feel stagnant in my current one. It's really spacious but I would trade size for a number of things. 1.  I'd like a newish building. With the recent hurricanes and earthquakes I know my current building would fall apart during a big earthquake. 2.  An elevator or ground floor apartment.  Having the medical condition MERRF is very difficult and I get frustrated that I'm on the 2nd floor and nobody tells me when or if the elevator isn't working. 3.  A decent looking apartment. I do spend a lot of time at home so I need an apartment that looks nice. 4. A garbage disposal and dishwasher. It's quite difficult for me to do fine motor tasks because of this chronic and progressive disease. Now it's your turn. I really would like to know what you look for in your living space...

On Monday September 4th, I was in the bathroom, groggy and my MERRF caused me to fall without putting my hands down. I slammed my head on the floor of my bathroom. Fortunately, I didn't hit my eye or head on the toilet bowl, sink or towel rack.  As I rose to my feet, and looked into the mirror, I noticed a gash on my upper left side of my head. So, I called my father and began to ice it. After icing and applying a cloth to the wound, the bleeding did not stop. Therefore, I called my father back and he drove me to the ER because I didn't know if I had a concussion or not. Though I needed four stitches, I didn't have a concussion. And, the ER said I did not have any restrictions for driving or otherwise. I am a very positive and outgoing person, yet I often wonder how much brain damage do I have.  Over time, I have suffered a few massive head injuries, which were diagnosed as concussions.  Do you have something that you think about often?  

There's a saying, and it's no cliche. "You only live once." I am 32 and losing a battle to a mitochondrial disease, MERRF. I have come to realize that I shouldn't feel guilty about an occasional ask.  I had visited Oslo, Norway before as well as much of Southern England, but those regions are beautiful and I wanted to see the Fjords in Norway as natural beauty is my calling. One day, my parents and I were in their family room and I asked them if we could take a trip together. I think they could tell I was nervous because I like to be independent. My family and I landed in Heathrow and drove out to the Cotswolds, which is such a beautiful and historic part of England. It's so different, how Englanders drive on the left side of the road. We visited many Cotswold's towns and tasted their fare as well. This is part of what makes traveling so wonderful to me.   After England, we were headed to the Northern U.K. Scotland to see Edinburgh and The Orkne...

I'm not writing about autumn / Fall, although that is also around the corner. Rather, I am writing to discuss the myriad of sports that commence within a week or more. All of which I love partially because they take incredible skill and practice to master. While the baseball's regular season comes to a close in September, the year's 4th and final tennis open begins in New York on August 28th. The greatest men's player ever to play the game will compete for his 20th open event championship. Last year, his fellow countrymen Stan Wanwrinka won the event. During this celebration of tennis competition, the first week of College Football begins, and the first week of games in the NFL are 1 week later. This melange of great sports activity is all I could ask for. I can't wait for it all to begin!

It's said that ignorance is bliss . However, that's the same as being proud of walking around with your head in the sand. All your senses are gone. And, this mantra is spreading. I've heard my friend declare, and with enthusiasm, and pride "I don't watch TV or read the newspaper!"  While there is a lot of garbage on TV, it's important to read newspapers and books. How else will you educate yourself?  Increase your vocabulary for goodness sake.  Oh, here are 2 easy ones, listen to podcasts and books on CD. Another statement I recently heard is "I wish the media would stop reporting the U.S. President's tweets."       The job of a journalist / media organization is to report. The President is the one who wrote the information, not the journalist.  Our media isn't going to please everyone, but you shouldn't turn it off completely. Stay informed! You're missing out especially if you're not getting a different perspectiv...

Towed Car: I have never had a car towed until this April. And, I believe that the city I live in was towing cars and putting up "Do Not Park Here Signs" Illegally. Therefore, I had a hearing with the city at the end of June of this year and met a man who really raised my spirits and positivity level, which I already try to keep high.  The man had a booming, deep voice and pictures of him participating in wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball. I asked him about him competing and he explained that he had been doing so since he got injured.   What a great man he is! He got injured and thought about what he could do not what he couldn't do. He also had a poster next to his desk that read, "The only disability is a negative attitude."  This man has taught me that positivity is a must as well as my attitude. - Thank you Daniel 

Written from a male perspective: Don't * You're pretty * Great body  * Get to know the person before paying them a compliment. A straight up compliment sends a pick up line message, whereas if you get to know the person you're going to compliment it sounds as if you are genuinely interested in them. * It is human nature to seek and desire attention. Be the one who gives it to them. * If you're around your family or friends don't interrupt their conversations, but find out what they are interested in. Do's * Make a point to know everybody's birthday you care about and call them on the day. * If someone has beautiful red hair talk about how great their tennis game is and at a later date mention their hair. * Your energy is so positive today, I love it. * Introduce randome strangers who you've just met at social gatherings. * Show that you are knowledgeable. In life, it's important to be positive and to prove that ...

As readers of this blog may know by now I have a rare physical medical condition, which has given me a unique perspective to how we live our lives and what I believe is important.  When I reflect, I've realized that I write with the goal of having a conversation. And, I understand that me writing about philosophy, is one sided. I have made the decision to write about my life, and hopefully you will form your own opinions and converse with me.  Right now the major aspects/goals I have are: connecting with a woman, finding a job: while I'm an entrepreneur at heart, I cannot put the energy forth needed to start and run a business, following my love of sports, and remaining active in my physical pursuits. While I write, I hope you will share your thoughts, opinions, goals, and inner thoughts with me. I will not share your information with anyone unless you ask me too. Also, I love to read, watch movies, and learn about new ideas so please share them with me.  Let's start ...

We all want it, say it, talk about doing it, know we have the power to do it, but ultimately, what do we do, we wait.  Yes, I'm talking about making a change in our lives, the kind of change that lasts.  For me, it really hit home while I was in Lake Tahoe this past July.  The birds were chirping, the air was fresh, and I couldn't be happier. And then I began to think, why is this?  Well, as the saying goes, "the early bird gets the worm."  While this might be true for some (I'm in this mix), there are other animals who roam the Tahoe night, though much fewer of them. So how does a human such as myself see more of the day; Go to sleep earlier, right? Well, it's a lot easier said than done. You have to begin with changing your daily and evening habits. Keep a sleep journal and identify what your sleep need is in terms of hours. Next, it's time to define when you do your best work, exercise, reading, relaxing, meditating and so on. The idea here is, once y...

The term "Bucket List" has been adopted by the general public as things we do before we die. If one kicks the bucket, that means he or she dies. So, how negative is this term? Why would anyone want to be thinking about death? It is probably the top fear we all have.  Let's eliminate it from our vocabulary. My friend mentioned that he wants to drive a Ferrari before he dies. Well, it's on his "bucket list." If I could change his or anyones internal thought process it would be something like this. "I will find an owner of a Ferrari in the next 6 months and find a way to drive the car."  We shouldn't have bucket lists. I also never understand why we want to know what others do for an occupation. To me, it's important to know their interests. Do we have anything in common? A simple smile, hand shake and good eye contact separates those I immediately like from those who aren't worth talking to. A great t-shirt, hat, or haircut will certa...

All of us seem to have a need for limitless information. If we don't know the answer to a question we immediately go to Google. And, who is the most guilty of this? It's easy for me to jump on the media, and I will. To me, questions should be asked for the sake of acquiring information that is necessary for present or future factual reporting. This includes writing down medications one takes, family members for estate planning, historic questions, and many many more. The problem is, that we all seem to act as experts even if we have no training. I am guilty, as everyone else. For example, why are gossip magazines, meaningless blogs (does mine fall into that cateragory), and countless Online Journals popping up all over the Internet? The object of a question is to get an answer, right? Well, what if you were blatantly lied to all the time? I don't think we could live in such a society as it would create anarchy. On Wednesday of this week I took a fall and face-planted on...

I can tell you that anyone who is going to be a part of, or already in my family, loves food and large family get-togethers.  For my parents it's a way of keeping our Jewish culture alive and well. As an atheist/agnostic, deist Jew, it's just the way things are. When my sister-in-law was first introduced as my brother's girlfriend, she was inundated with family events. She didn't handle it. I view that as a passive aggressive term for getting by, but embraced everything. I am the luckiest guy in the world because I look at her with the same love as I would a sister. And, I only have a biological brother. What a champion she is! Our family is so close to each other, and so large that I don't even bother explaining how I'm related to someone I just meet anymore. If I don't recognize someone, I just proclaim "welcome to the family."  It's the truth. We make excuses to get together. Why not? If I am in the area I'll stop by someone's hous...

On Monday afternoon I attended a funeral of a non-related family member.  There was so much I learned from this one funeral. Perhaps, it's because I have been to so many funerals of late and perhaps it was about all who gathered to remember this woman. As the lady who passed was a death-camp surviver, I know that there are increasingly few of these people alive and well to pass along the horrific tragedy's of the Holocaust. Seek counsel and advise from those with more life experience in all walks of life. A touching eulogy of his grandmother was given by my brother's best friend and the deceased grandson. He recalled all the times he visited her at her home in LA that she would make sure he had something to eat, no matter what! That theme was echoed through out a few of the eulogies. What probably most important to my brother and my friend is how his grandma introduced his parents to his wife-to-be. They both work at they same hospital?  Whichever religion you practi...

The unexpected is to be expected. Especially, in todays gadget filled world where apps of all kinds dominate imaginations and computers, yes computers, are becoming obsolete. You must focus on what is important to you. There will be plenty of distractions that get in your way.   Too many people think day trading on the stock market is a profession for anyone. After all almost all stocks went up in the past couple of years.  I might point out 2008 as a warning to these individuals. Do your research before investing; take an investment class, read company's financial, accounting and cash flow statements. If you don't understand something, is it really a good idea to throw your money at that company. That's gambling.  You can find plenty of free information on www.Investopedia.com.   The idea is like most things, do your homework before making any financial decisions. With relationships, I don't know many people who get this one wrong. Experience teaches you wha...

As I watch the successful people in my life, those with a wonderful family/financial balance, I find a common theme among them.  Whether they are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Atheist or Agnostic, they all know how to make decisions in their lives. More importantly, once these decisions are made they stick with them. My father has been with the same law firm for more than 25 years. My uncle Jack has been with Lockheed Martin for as long as I can remember, and my closest friend is following in his father's footsteps as a commercial real estate mogul. Most articles and head hunters will urge you to jump from job to job. I plead with you to look in the mirror and don't just think about the money at a new job. Money comes because of hard work and stick-to-it of ness. Do what you love and stick with it. In Richard Branson's "Losing my Virginity" he says, "A business has to be involving: It has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instinc...

In my first post, I mentioned that I have a chronic, debilitating progressive neurological disease with the acronym MERRF. While I see 2 very smart and trustworthy specialists for the condition their opinion of how I'm doing versus mine are stark.  The problem for me is that they get a snapshot of me ever 6 months or so and I have an inner conversation multiple times a day. To hear the latest news "you're doing great" is not how I feel at all. My posts are generally not about me, this time however I'd like your input. Please email me with the subject WHEN DEFINITION MATTERS AT DBARSOOK@GMAIL.COM.   I'd Like to Know What You're Going Through.

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today." This ancient Chinese Proverb speaks volumes to me. The first time I heard the proverb I was in the car and I got the goose bumps.  There are 2 primary lessons we can draw. One, it is never too late to create beauty in the world. And, two, take hold of your own life and make the necessary changes to succeed whether that be spiritual, financial, or familial.  Today is so beautiful and those who make the most of each moment are the happiest and most well-off. All we can do is make the most out of each moment we have. If you plan your 2, 5, 10, and 20 year goals in life you only set yourself up for worry and anxiety. Let's control the present. I do think that everyone needs to set career goals or markers, but all you can really control is the here and now.  I have come to learn from my father that one shouldn't stress over uncontrollable circumstances.  Seek information from those in your ...

Each of us has to enjoy our days or we will not succeed. But, before taking a job, starting a new business, deciding to become a day trader, salesperson or whatever endeavor you set out for, it is of paramount importance for you to understand what makes you most happy. Do you crave a luxurious lifestyle, approval for a job well done, helping less fortunate individuals, or the physically / mentally handicapped? I know that I am a serial entrepreneur. In November 2014 my cousin's mom, also my cousin, was wearing a necklace and I remarked how nice it looked on her and the unusual pattern.  She mentioned that her son had maid it. The beginnings of a failed business was born. But, out of this we learned his talents are in computer design and logos, which we are currently pursuing.  I love the challenge of motivating an artist and running a business. I try not to complain. Rather, I seek advise when I don't have the answers. For me, it's not about the money. At least not f...