A Presidential candidates’ favorite

Today we’re going to take a break and have some fun in the kitchen.
What kinds of cooking do Barak Obama and John McCain favor?
Not surprisingly, both Presidential candidates like Mexican.
We don't know what Sen. Obama's favorite dish might be.
When Sen. McCain is at home, he goes to the Asylum in Jerome. Ariz.
Yes, that’s the name of the restaurant. He often orders the BLT.
Our family loves BLTs, especially this time of year.
There’s nothing quite like fresh garden tomatoes in a sandwich.
The Wall Street Journal recently printed the Asylum’s BLT recipe.
We’ve tried it and recommend it to you.

The Asylum’s BLT (for 4)
16 thick-sliced mesquite-smoked bacon strips
4 6"x4" slices of ciabatta or other crusty rustic bread
8 red-leaf lettuce leaves
2-3 large tomatoes cut into 16 slices
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Cook bacon in skillet or between paper towels in microwave.
When crisp, drain on paper towels to remove excess fat.
Half each piece of ciabatta, lightly toast and spread with mayo.
Top 4 halves with lettuce, bacon and tomato slices.
Place other 4 halves on top and slice diagonally. Serve.
If you can’t find mesquite-smoked, any smoked bacon is great.
Next week we’ll talk about daring the critics and the naysayers.
For more on daring to dream big, click here.

What light will you bring into the world?

Yesterday we talked about examining your life and dreams.
Today we’ll talk about what those dreams can do in real life.
What drove Thomas Edison to become a great inventor?
Edison saw darkness and resolved to light the world.
His experiments failed more than 1,000 times.
He did not give up his vision of a world with electric light.
He said he had found 1,000 ways a light could not be created.
His ultimate success changed our world and the way we live.
Now we enjoy light 24 hours a day, thanks to his tenacity and vision.
Can you imagine what our world would be like without that?
Imagine the primitive conditions we might still live in.
The advances in science and medicine that would not be possible.
Computers. The Internet. This blog. None would be possible.
That took vision and determination. It took faith and courage.
Rarely does anything important come easy or without cost.
Here’s my challenge to you today, this very minute:
What do you see that would further light our world?
What’s your vision and what price are you prepared to pay?
Will you devote your time and energy to a great cause?
Will you help me defeat illiteracy and learning disabilities?
Tomorrow we’ll take a break for a mouth-watering favorite recipe.
For more on realizing your vision, click here.

What’s your dream?

Yesterday we talked about the importance of examining your life.
Today we’ll talk about examining your dreams.
What did Walt Disney see that hundreds of others did not see?
Walt Disney didn’t just create Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
He envisioned Disneyland, a great playground for young and old.
That vision came one Saturday morning in an unremarkable way.
He and his daughters liked to visit a Los Angeles amusement park.
They loved the park. But something was wrong.
Walt began to see behind the glitter. The reality wasn’t pretty.
The paint was chipped. The rides were not well maintained.
Walt was creative. He was a dreamer — much like you and me.
He began to dream about his own amusement park.
There the paint wasn’t chipped. The rides were well maintained.
He dreamed of an exciting place he called Disneyland.
You know the rest of the story of Disneyland and Disney World.
They attract millions of enthusiasts every year.
It's a must-see experience for children, parents and grandparents.
Where do you see the equivalent of chipped paint in your life?
What dream does this evoke? What better world do you see?
Walt Disney left us a legacy of fun and family togetherness.
What legacy would you leave the world with your dreams?
Tomorrow we’ll talk about another famous dreamer.
For more on your dreams and your purpose, click here.

Coupon clue: What secret do monkeys know?

Examining your life is essential

"The unexamined life isn’t worth living," Socrates told his students.
The Greek philosopher figured that out more than 2,400 years ago.
By that, I think he meant: Learn from life. Learn from your mistakes.
So lets turn it around: Lets examine our lives and our mistakes.
Lets become students of ours and other people’s experiences.
Lets keep a journal in which we record these lessons.
That accomplishes two things: We examine our own lives and learn.
We leave a legacy for our grandchildren of the lives we lived.
God is watching what we do with the lives and gifts given us.
Here are four questions to ask yourself and answer in your journal.
1. What great purpose will give my life great meaning?
2. What is my agenda today to help me fulfill that purpose?
3. What changes must I make to help me fulfill my purpose?
4. What do I feel strongly motivated to accomplish today?
These are but four of many questions I ask you in my new book.
These questions are my challenges to you.
"Your Life’s Great Purpose" will help you answer them.
Tomorrow we’ll talk about the dreams you have for your life.
For more on your own life’s great purpose, click here.

Divine intervention at work

My friend Bill Hatfield met me for lunch at Bogart’s the other day.
We were talking about my goals for "Your Life's Great Purpose".
In walked two friends from a special place, Glenforest School.
Glenforest students are bright but can’t make it in public school.
Their brains are wired differently. They learn differently.
Dr. Gillian Barclay-Smith is the head lady there.
Barton Calvert is her right-hand man.
They joined us and the conversation about my new book.
Gillian grew excited and wanted a copy. I gave them both a copy.
We talked about introducing the book to their students.
Was that simply a chance encounter? I don't believe so.
Why did Bill and I decide to go to Bogart’s that day?
Why did Gillian and Barton make the same decision?
You might call it luck. I call it Divine intervention.
Often in life, a higher power steps in and makes things happen.
My goals, as you probably already know, are two:
1. Help young people find their direction and purpose in life.
We’re all here for a purpose. We just have to find what it is.
2. Make a dent in illiteracy and help kids with learning disabilities.
42 million Americans can’t read. 2 million more join them each year.
This is a national disgrace. We’re going to do something about it.
We’re going to sell 20 million books to raise $200 million.
That will help millions whose lives will be enriched by reading.
Want to help? Drop me a note at Jerry@JerryBellune.com.
Tomorrow we’ll talk about what you can get out of this book.
For more about the book, click here.