Category Archives: Personal stories

Cod Liver Oil Yuck!

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Cod liver oil story

I have told this story several times to my children. When I was a child my mom would make homemade hot oatmeal cereal for breakfast. Then just before we would leave for school we would get a tablespoon of cod liver oil, because it is high in vitamin D. About an hour later I would be burping up this Oatmeal-cod liver oil flavor.

One morning I just couldn’t take it anymore just thinking about cod liver oil made me sick. I went into the bathroom and lost my breakfast after taking that disgusting stuff. From that day on, I never had to get a morning dose of cod liver. To this day I have a hard time eating hot oatmeal cereal for breakfast. At the time it was a terrible experience now I just laugh.

Growing up on a small farm I was raised on fresh, homemade, things for most of our meals. If we didn’t like what was made from any of our meals, we were told to go pick something out in the garden to eat.

Surprisingly enough there was usually something fresh in the garden nine months out of the year, from the carrots and potatoes to all kinds of fruit. I have always been taught that fresh uncooked fruits and vegetables are the most healthy. I love this advice. Remember whole grains not white flour. I Love making things homemade, or as we called it making things from scratch.

The Mower Mishap

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The Mower MishapThis last fall I was busy cleaning up my yard that has eight large trees on the west side of my house. It can get overwhelming raking up the leaves when the trees start dropping their leaves. The neighbors are not thrilled when all the leaves blow into their yards so cleaning up the leaves is a must. I have discovered mowing up the leaves is easier then raking them up. The leaves also make a great mulch for my garden.

While I was starting up the mower I cut my finger where the skin meets the base of your finger nail. It was just a little cut nothing to big. I proceeded to mow up the leaves, when I went to empty the mower bag I noticed my finger was still bleeding. I wiped off the blood then continued to mow up the rest of the leaves. When I finished I looked down at my hand. You would have thought I just finished a scene from a horror movie. This small wound was still bleeding.

After I put the mower away I decided to clean up. I was amazed at the fact this little cut on my finger was doing a lot of bleeding, this is when I thought this is ridiculous. I decided to put Helichrysum essential oil on my wound. Helichrysum has been studied for its ability to speed up the healing process with open wounds. I was blown away! As soon as I put this essential oil on my wound it wasn’t 15 seconds later the bleeding stopped.

Since my experience with my wounded finger, I have used helichrysum on several sores including a wound on my cheek that just kept oozing pus not quite healing up. This wound is on it way to a quick recovery. I am grateful for these experiences with essential oils. The more I use them the more I am convinced they are an effective alternative in many situations. Essential oils have become my first line of defense more times then not.

Love Your Work

Better Living, Personal stories, , , , , ,

GoatWhen I think back on my childhood one thing that I remember was how much I worked. This was not a bad thing either. Our family had to work if we wanted food on our table. We had a huge garden and animals to feed on our little farm. I feel truly blessed to grow up where we did and learned the value of hard work.

When most kids were excited to sleep in and play all summer the Fish children were already up at 6:30 a.m. milking the goats and harvesting what crops were in season before breakfast. I look back with fondness of the opportunities I had of learning how to really work hard and feel good about what I had accomplished that day. At the time, I was working I thought of a thousand things that would have been better than working.

Twice each year my brother, Melvin and myself had the job of cleaning out the barn. This was six months of old hay and manure. It would take all day. I can still hear my Dad say, “Any job worth doing is worth doing right”

I can also remember the summer of 1976. Everyone in the family helped my Mom can 1,000 bottles of fruit when she was 9 months pregnant with my brother, Aaron, with only a fan blowing in the house. I am so thankful for parents that taught me how to work.

How many of us know someone that works hard, yet never seems to get anything accomplished? Sometimes it is better to work smart rather than working hard.

Did you ever hear of the single idea for which a man was paid $25,000? It was worth every penny of it. The story goes that Charles Schwab the president of a big steel company had granted an interview to an efficiency expert named Ivy Lee.

Lee was telling his prospective client how he could help him do a better job of managing the company, when the president broke in to say something to the effect that he wasn’t at present managing as well as he knew how.

He went on to tell Ivy Lee that what was needed wasn’t more knowing but a lot more doing. He said, “We know what we should be doing. Now if you can show us a better way of getting it done, I’ll listen to you and pay you anything within reason you ask.”

Well, Lee then said that he could give him something in 20 minutes that would increase his efficiency by at least 50 percent. He then handed the executive a blank sheet of paper and said, “Write down on this paper the six most important things you have to do tomorrow.” Well, the executive thought about it and did as requested. It took him about three or four minutes.

Then Lee said, “Now number those items in the order of their importance to you or to the company.” Well, that took another three or four minutes, and then Lee said, “Now put the paper in your pocket, first thing tomorrow morning take it out and look at item number one. Don’t look at the others, just number one, and start working on it. If you can, stay with it until it’s completed, then take item number two the same way, then number three, and so on, till you have to quit for the day.

“Don’t worry if you’ve only finished one or two; the others can wait. If you can’t finish them all by this method, you could not have finished them with any other method. Without some system, you’d probably take 10 times as long to finish them and might not even have them in the order of their importance.

“Do this every working day,” Lee went on. “After you’ve convinced yourself of the value of this system, have your people try it. Try it as long as you like. Then send me your check for whatever you think the idea is worth.”

The entire interview hadn’t taken more than a half-hour. In a few weeks the story has it that the company president sent Ivy Lee a check for $25,000 with a letter saying the lesson was the most profitable, from a money standpoint, he’d ever learned in his life. It was later said that in five years this was the plan that was largely responsible for turning what was then a little-known steel company into one of the biggest independent steel producers in the world.

We will all work in some form or another our entire life. Lets all make a difference in the life of others through our work. Our mind is also a powerful tool when solving problems at work or in life, so use it.

Handling Money Wisely

Better Living, Personal stories, , , ,

Spend SaveThe most important advise I can give about money is to learn how to listen to your inner voice when it comes to money. If it doesn’t feel right don’t do anything you will regret tomorrow. If you are not sure about something sleep on it and make a decision the next day.

The next bit advise I would give about money is if you have enough money in your life, you have a money thermostat that is working just fine. If you don’t have enough money change your money thermostat. Have you ever wondered why some people are successful with money and some are not? It all boils down to how you have been taught to understand money in your life. If you believe money is bad then you won’t have much. If you believe you can never hold on to money, you will never have it. If you believe money is power or you believe you will always have money, then you will.

For example when it gets too cold a thermostat calls for heat and when it gets too hot it calls for cooling. This way it is always at a comfortable temperature. Everyone has their own comfort zone. The same is true with money. Everyone has a different money thermostat setting. Some are comfortable making $10,000 a year while others need to make a million to be in their comfort zone. No matter what you do with money you will always stay in your comfort zone. Have you ever noticed that most people that had money as children have money as adults?

The way you reprogram your money thermostat is by using positive affirmations and by changing your thoughts towards money will change your thermostat. Also remove the words I can’t afford it from your vocabulary. When you say this you are programming your subconscious that you don’t have enough money. If you feel like you can’t buy something tell yourself it is not a priority. Even when we are very low on money we always find money to buy things that are not a necessity.

Saving the best advise for last is, if you want more money give more money away. As crazy as this sounds it is true. Successful people give money to charities churches and people in need. God is the source of our supply so if you have a feeling that you need to give money to someone do it. This is Gods way of testing you to see how you will serve others with his money. If you can be trusted with little than he will know you will serve him when your money flows over with abundance.

One day I was with my children filling up my car with gas when a man approached me saying his car broke down and he needed some money to get home. I said I am sorry I don’t have any money. I paid for my gas and started driving away when I had this feeling give that man the money you have in your wallet, I had $20 dollars. I turned the car around told my son Rick to give the man the money, he did it felt good to give. I have no idea what happened to the man or even if he was telling the truth, it didn’t matter. It felt good I knew I was doing the right thing.

Be a Good Listener

Better Living, Personal stories, , , , ,

Saint Bernard PuppyMy sister, Wendy, is very spontaneous. One day she just dropped in to say hi. I love being spontaneous myself, so this never bothers me. After talking to Wendy for only a few moments, she said she needed to get going. I asked her to stay longer She changed her mind, and ended up staying longer. We had a wonderful visit. If I hadn’t asked her to stay, she would have left earlier. It is important to encourage others to continue talking, if you want to be a good listener.

How many people cut off another person, with this sometimes toxic statement “I know that.”? It makes the other person clam up and stop talking. I think it is fun to pretend ignorance in order to encourage others to express their views fully.

I remember my mom was having a hard time getting my Dad to listen to her one evening. My Dad who is a very driven person, loves focusing on helping people and solving problems. He was not paying attention to my Mom.

Without missing a beat, my Mom said she was going with the children to pick out a Saint Bernard pup. Mom and Dad had agreed to never get a large dog. My Dad said that will be fine without really paying attention to what my Mom was saying. Then all of a sudden he said, “Saint Bernard?” Then my Mom said, “Got ya.” I need you to listen to what I am saying, so I wanted to say something crazy to get your attention.”

When you paraphrase and restate what the other person is saying in different words, this will allow he or she to confirm that you have understood what they intended. Or you can say something wild like my Mom, did to get my Dad’s attention.

One of the best ways to be an effective listener is to sympathize with others. When you can honestly put yourself in another persons shoes, people will open up, and trust you with their feelings.

Effective listening is never old fashioned. What a great way to win more friends, and influence people. Your family will benefit from it as well.

Effective Listening

Better Living, Personal stories, , , , , ,

Girl Clasroom Thinking“If speaking is silver,
then listening is gold.”
Turkish Proverb

When I was in 3rd grade, everyone would stand up to say The Pledge of Allegiance, except for a girl named Lisa. She was a Jehovah Witness. Everyone would stare at her, because she would just sit there. In our eyes she was different.

One day at recess when everyone had left the classroom, I was late getting out the door, I think I forgot my coat. I saw Lisa in the corner of the room sobbing. She was talking to herself. Under Lisa’s crying voice, she said, “Why don’t I have any friends, I don’t fit in, no one cares.” I said, “I will be your friend.” I think I startled her, and she said, “go away and leave me alone.”

I understood her pain. I felt lonely many times myself. I think this was the first time I could put myself in someone else’s shoes and truly empathize with what this person was going through. Stephen R. Covey says, “Seek first to understand then be understood.” We will definitely increase our listening skills when we seek to better understand every situation we are in.

Find Your Passion

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Running on the beach celebration“A musician must make music, an artist must
paint, a poet must write, if he be at peace with
himself. What a man can be, he must be. “
Abraham Maslow

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, “Many people die with their music still in them.” I think back on my life and ask myself, “Am I living my life in such a way that my heart sings with joy because I am living the passion that stirs my soul?”

What puts a smile on your face?
Is there a particular event, a particular topic that makes your whole face just lighten up? When there is something that makes you smile, and makes you happy whenever you encounter it, this is a sign of something you are passionate about. I truly believe that happiness and passion walk hand in hand. Both require each other. So following what makes you truly happy, is a wonderful way to figuring out what you were put on Earth to accomplish. Think about something that you do, or that perhaps you used to do that brings total peace to you when you do it. Peace is happiness, and happiness is passion.

What do you find easy?
Usually, what we find easy for us to do, will be related to what we are passionate about. It’s very hard to hate something that we do with ease! For example, let’s say you are naturally good at playing the piano, you will find the activity easy, and this ease makes it much more enjoyable. Fun leads to happiness and happiness is synonymous with passion.

Assess everything that you do, whatever it is that you find really easy and fun may very well be your passion. Don’t think that anything is off limits or silly. Some people have taken their passion for skateboarding, drawing, or collecting to full fledged careers. Remember this, you can make a career out of anything you are passionate about.

What sparks your creativity?
One of my passions is cooking I love making food that everyone enjoys. I think back to my childhood and I remember that I started cooking when I was young. I remember when I was 14, my mom said, “For every pie crust you make for Thanksgiving I will make the filling.” I made 20 pie shells and my mom lived up to her side of the bargain, and made 20 pie fillings. As a result of making all those pies, we needed to start eating pies before Thanksgiving. My mom said, “Let’s invite family over to help us eat these pies.” We also made some soup. That day was the start of a family tradition that has been going on for over 35 years. We now have many families bringing pies and soup. Every Wednesday before Thanksgiving, you will find me eating soup and pie with many family and friends.

Think about something in your life that seems to always expand your horizons. Whatever makes you creative, is probably something that you are very passionate about.

What would you do for free?
When I was in Junior High I was riding the bus to school one morning when I spotted a home made Christmas calendar hanging in a window of one of the homes I was passing. When I got home that evening, I wanted to create my own calendar. I spent hours making this calendar, loving every minute of this creative adventure. Over the years I have perfected this calendar, and I think it looks pretty cool. I have hung this fun calendar on a wall every year, for more than 30 years. When you love something to the point of losing track of time when you do it, then you know you have found your passion.

Another thing I love to do is sing solo’s and duet’s. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to record a few songs on a music album. I have also recorded some songs that I made into an album of my own.

I have read a countless number of stories about stock brokers and doctors for example, leaving their high paying positions to follow what they really love. There is a reason for that. I truly believe that if you follow what you are passionate about without thinking about whether or not it will make you rich, you will end up being successful.

I have a friend who made a confession about his career. He had just graduated with a pharmacy degree when he made this comment. “Now that I have graduated from college, I wish I was still a custodian cleaning the school, just as I have been doing for the past four years.”

Doing what you have a passion for brings out your best, and this leads to greatness. Greatness turns into success. Do you think that the most successful people in the world got to where they are because they wanted to get rich? Absolutely not! They did what they were so passionate about, and their immense success was just a by-product of their dedication.

What do you like to talk about?
A few years ago I was asked to speak in church about a topic I am very passionate about. I was asked to give a talk on how being positive can help you spiritually. I was in a zone when I was writing my talk. Everything seemed to just flow as I was typing the words on the page. Everything was coming together flawlessly. This reminded me that the topics of the conversations we have can definitely tell what we are interested in. This is a good way to find out what we really enjoy most in life. Most of the time, we aren’t totally aware of this.

A very good way to find your passion, is to ask your friends what they believe you like to talk about the most. Ask them what topic makes your eyes brighten up, and changes your entire behavior.

I can guarantee you that some of their answers will be surprising to you. Some of these things weren’t that clear to you, but your friends can see the reaction on your face that you can’t see yourself. Try it out, it’s a very insightful exercise, and one that can direct you closer to figuring out your passion.

What makes you unafraid of failure?
Twenty five years ago I was a new home owner. Repairing something that is broken can be very costly, so I learned how to fix things around the house with my Dad as my coach. When I needed to repair something, I knew that if I got stumped, my dad would help me. This knowledge, and knowing my dad was there for me, gave me the confidence I needed to fix almost anything. Passion gives one the courage and drive to go forward without someone to fall back on. When we do what we are passionate about, we have total confidence in our abilities. This makes us not worry about failing, because in our mind, how can we fail when we do what we love? Doing what you love is a success in, and of itself, so failure is like an impossibility.

Think of something that you do just for the fun of it, without having second thoughts about it. This may very well be your true passion.

What would you regret not having tried?
When I look at my wife and children I am so grateful for the opportunity of being a husband and father. Had I not had this opportunity, one of my greatest regrets would have been not being and doing what husbands and fathers should do, by leading and guiding their families.

My greatest joys have come into my life because of the opportunities of being a husband and father. Not experiencing these moments, would have been a huge regret.

We all have dreams. Somehow life pushes us in another direction, and the next thing we know, we are far from the dreams of the past. If you were at the end of your life, what would you regret not having pursued or accomplished? What would you have liked to have done, that you didn’t get a chance to do? Think about what that might be. Whatever it is that may cause you to experience regret, now or later on, this may be your true passion.

There is nothing worse than arriving at the end of the journey and having regrets. This is why finding your passion, and following it, is so important. Live your life, so that you do not have regrets.

“Nothing great in the world has been
accomplished without passion”
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich HegelFind

The whole point

Better Living, Inspirational, Personal stories

Rishi kinger's avatarHappy days of life

When I was in elementary school my parents told me it didn’t matter what I did when I grew up, so long as it made me happy. “Happiness is the whole point of life”, my father said. “l loves to built, so I became a engineer. Your mother love reading and writing, so she became an  teacher. We both find happiness in the work we do each day.”

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A few years later when I was in junior school, my 6th grade teacher put me in detention for “being difficult”. She went around the classroom and asked each student what they wanted to be when they grew up. Answers pop’s up like doctor teacher astronaut etc. When she got to me, I told her I wanted to be happy. She told me I was missing the whole point of the question. I told her she was missing…

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True Happiness

Better Living, Personal stories, , , ,

Boy playing in wheatYou can be as happy as you make up your mind to be. Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections in life.

Being happy is an attitude. The people that are the happiest are happy under every circumstance, regardless of their social status, their age, religion or race. They are the bright light when they enter a room.

Have you ever been so happy that you lose track of time? You are so engaged in what you are doing, two hours seems like only five minutes has gone by. This is bliss. You are in the happiness zone.

I remember as a child, my brother Mel and myself asked our parents if we could go play. We couldn’t have been older than nine or ten at the time. We went to Steve’s house for a while. Then we decided to all go over to our house. On the way over to our house, we cut through a field where we noticed an old barn door was open.

So we went inside. We found a barn full of wheat. This was a barn that used to have many animals, but now it was just used for storage. We started jumping in the wheat. It must have been 6-8 feet deep.

We started diving and swimming in the stuff. We even buried ourselves. We found a way to climb into the rafters of this old barn, and jump into the wheat. Before we knew it, we were pulling wheat out of our shoes, hair, our pants pockets, and our underwear.

We decided to take off all of our clothes, and jump in the wheat nude. It made it easier to shake the wheat from our clothes.

We were gone for hours. By the time we got home, we knew we were in trouble. It was way past dinner. It had been so much fun that even going to bed without dinner didn’t matter.

I still remember thinking it was not possible that we had been gone for hours. Those hours seemed like minutes, I was truly happy.

Choose Music Wisely

Better Living, Personal stories, , , ,

Choose Music WisleyIf there is one thing that never changes 
in this world, it is the power of music.

Music is very powerful. Whether we like it or not, music can change the way we feel. It can immediately take us to a distant land, take us back in time, or give us hope for the future. I love Christmas. I love everything about Christmas, especially the music. I can hear a song, and remember where I was and what I was doing at that moment when that song was being played. Music creates many wonderful memories.

When I Listen to Carole King singing, “So far away” I am instantly in Oregon driving along the Columbia Gorge. When I sing, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” I remember my Grandpa Jesse Fish, and what a good example he was for me. That song was sung at his funeral.

I believe not one thing effects the soul more for good or bad, than music. Have you ever tried watching a movie with the sound turned down? How would you feel if you didn’t sing at church? Whenever you listen to music, ask yourself this question. Does this music encourage you to help the little old lady cross the street or run her over? I know this is exaggerated but it works. Choose music that helps transform you into someone even better then you were before the music began playing.