The Forever Moment of NOW.

We are always here. In this moment. Now. Each moment is the birth and death of a brief encounter of time. But perhaps it is time that is the myth?

Where ever we are, is actually a whenever we are. All we have is this moment, always. It’s always… RIGHT NOW.

This seems like an obvious statement, however, how often do we really enjoy the moment?

What do you do with Your Right Now’s?

It is an amazing thing to think that we are always in the forever moment of now. Unfortunately, many of us spend most of our time thinking about the past, or worrying about the future… instead of living the now. Being the Now. Right Here, Right Now.

What can we do in to ensure that the moment is spent in the best possible way. How can we maximize the moment?

Past is but a memory. It is the remembrance of moments in time. Nothing more. Only etheric synapses of the brain recalling remembered circumstances. There is nothing for us in yesterday.

“Yesterday’s got nothing for me.” - Axel Rose

I believe that is the first time that Gun’s and Rose’s have been quoted here on Cultivate Greatness. hah. But I feel compelled.

“Yesterdays” - GnR

Yesterday, there was so many things
I was never told
Now that I startin’ to learn
I feel I’m growin’ old

’cause yesterday’s got nothin’ for me
Old pictures that I’ll always see
Time just fades the pages
In my book of memories
Prayers in my pocket
And no hand in destiny
I’ll keep on movin’ along
With no time to planr my feet

’cause yesterday’s got nothing for me
Old pictures that I’ll always see
Some things could be better
If we’d all just let them be

Yesterday’s got nothin’ for me
Yesterday’s got nothin’ for me
Got nothin’ for me

Yesterday there were so many things
I was never shown
Suddenly this time I found
I’m on the streets and I’m all alone

Yesterdays got nothin’ for me
Old pictures that I’ll always see
I ain’t got time to reminisce old novelties

Yesterday’s got nothin’ for me
Yesterday’s got nothin’ for me
Yesterday’s got nothin’ for me
Yesterday

And here as a bonus and to balance out the Guns and Roses reference… here is Noel Gallagher of Oasis playing with Coldplay. Singing “Live Forever”.

Now that you are finished reading this. Enjoy this moment… and leave a comment. And always remember this…

NOW is the Moment of Power

Successfully,

Travis Wright

100 Simple Ways to Change Your Life for the Better

No matter how perfect you may think you are, the fact this there’s always some small way you can improve upon yourself. Whether it’s broadening your knowledge or reducing your impact on the earth, there are seemingly endless little things you can do to make a change for the better. Here, we’ll discuss 100 of these steps, and how you can go about doing them.

Health

Good health is the foundation of a good life, so make these improvements, and they’ll resonate out to the rest of your life.

1. Eat breakfast every morning: Eating breakfast is important for your health and mental power, supplying essential vitamins, minerals, and energy for your day.
2. Get a good night’s rest: You just can’t have a happy and productive life if you’re tired all of the time, so get some quality shut eye.
3. Drink water: Step up your water intake to lose weight, feel better, and improve your skin.
4. Eat slowly: Slow down when you eat, and you’ll find that you consume less while still feeling satisfied.
5. Cut down on junk food: Junk food has a nasty way of bringing your health down, so avoid it whenever possible, opting instead for healthy food like fresh fruits and vegetables.
6. Practice good dental hygiene: Researchers have found that dental hygiene is important for more than cosmetic reasons-it can help you chew food and even avoid heart disease.
7. Drink tea: Be sure to check out the powerhouse of benefits that tea can deliver, which includes improved memory and prevention of ills such as cavities, cancer, and heart disease.
8. Get some exercise: Whether you need to lose weight or not, exercise will have a positive effect on your overall health and quality of life.
9. Improve your energy: If you’re feeling sluggish all day, chances are you’re just not going to feel good about yourself. So take a few steps to boost your energy, and you’ll be better in your daily life.
10. Intensify your workouts: Researchers have found that by doing more intense workouts, you can enjoy similar benefits that you would with a more relaxed workout for a longer period of time.
11. Enjoy fish a few times a week: Eat fish, and you’ll get a serving of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce heart disease.
12. Wear better shoes: Don’t torture your toes with restrictive shoes all the time-limit the amount of time you spend in uncomfortable shoes.
13. Protect your skin: Stay out of the sun to avoid skin damage, or use sunblock to help.
14. Eat at home: It’s easier and cheaper to prepare healthy foods on your own at home, and skillfully cooking a meal is sure to impress just about anyone.
15. Get tested for prediabetes: Diabetes is a disease that many Americans are susceptible to, and by discovering it early on you can prevent it or lessen its impact.
16. Take a daily walk: Get a little bit of movement and clear your mind with a walk every day.
17. Lose weight: One of the best things you can do for your health and overall quality of life is to shed a few pounds.

Mental

Improve your mind by taking these simple steps.

18. Go back to school: Continuing your education does not have to be a complicated endeavor. Take an online class, or just a weekend seminar.
19. Read classic books: Improve your mind by finally picking up all those books you were supposed to read in school.
20. Plan: Always have a plan for your life, so you’ll know what you’re working toward.
21. Quit procrastinating: Resolve to get moving, and you’ll find that you have much more time than you originally realized.
22. Get inspired by a book: Read a book that will help you spark positive changes in your life.
23. Learn from your mistakes: Don’t let mistakes get you down. Instead, consider what you did wrong, and how you can avoid doing so again in the future.
24. Stop worrying: Let go of worry, and know that the future will come no matter what you do about it.
25. Learn to play a musical instrument: Pick up a guitar, or even a harp, to improve your mental capacity and have something fun to do.
26. Work to your own advantage: Improve upon what you can, and let the rest fall away.
27. Think slowly: Instead of jumping to conclusions, carefully calculate what a situation means. Doing so can help you save relationships that might be damaged by rash thinking
28. Participate in a debate: Have a rational discussion with someone of similar intellect to improve your knowledge.
29. Learn a new language: Broaden your horizons by learning how to speak a new language.
30. Visit Wikipedia: Spend some time on Wikipedia learning lots of interesting facts you’ve never realized before.

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Skip the Tuition: 100 Free Podcasts from the Best Colleges in the World

We’ve shown you how to take online classes for free, but not everyone has the patience or time to spend sitting at a computer. These courses let you take your classroom with you, so you can get an education while you’re sitting in traffic or just hanging out in the park. Check out these courses from some of the best colleges and universities out there to get a high quality education on the go.

Stanford

Stanford offers free podcast downloads via iTunes. You’ll be able to study physics, computer design, and much more.

Quantum Mechanics: Learn about classical mechanics, theories of relativity, and more in this physics course.

Human-Computer Interaction: This course features a variety of speakers on interaction design.

Geography of World Cultures: This podcast takes a look at geography and considers the way it impacts world cultures.

Hannibal: In this course, you’ll study the life and archaeological trail of Hannibal.

Modern Theoretical Physics: Learn about quantum entanglement and other theories of physics in this course.

Ben Franklin and the World of Enlightenment: You’ll get to learn about Benjamin Franklin’s life and achievements, as well as how he affected and was affected by the Enlightenment.

Straight Talk About Stem Cells: This course discusses the fundamentals of stem cell biology as well as its surrounding controversy.

The Geography of World Cultures: Here you’ll be able to explore locational dynamics and the way they affect languages, groupings, and religions.

The Future of the Internet: This course discusses the issues of network neutrality and ownership on the Internet.

The Literature of Crisis: Learn the art of living and take a look at the circumstances of existence through discussions on writers and thinkers including Socrates and Shakespeare.

Historical Jesus: This course considers the historical evidence of Jesus against that of traditional Christianity.

Virgil’s Aeneid: Here you’ll get an analysis of this work that is essential to the canon of Latin literature.

Computer Systems Colloquium: In this podcast, you’ll hear from guest lecturers that discuss topics like VoIP encryption, computer architecture, and balancing methods.

UC Berkeley

These courses from UC Berkeley are freshly completed from the Fall 2007 semester, and they should be available in full. Highlights include environmental studies and issues in new media.

Foundations of American Cyber-Culture: This course takes a look at computers, new media, and the world wide web.

General Biology: In this biology course, you’ll cover cells, genetics, animal development, form, and function.

The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs: This course offers an introduction to programming and computer science.

Structure and Interpretation of Systems and Signals: Get a look at mathematical modeling of signals and systems in this engineering course.

Crossroads of Earth Resources and Society: Check out this course to learn about the way geological processes intersect with American culture.

Issues in Foreign Policy After 9/11: This course discusses international issues and events with relation to 9/11.

Metal Cutting: Here you’ll learn about processes, procedures, and theories of metal cutting.

Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice: Listen to this podcast to hear about juvenile courts, theories of delinquency, and the justice system.

Human Emotion: Consider emotion with evolutionary grounding as well as a social constructionist approach.

Time, Money, and Love in the Age of Technology: In this course, you’ll take a look at the meaning of life, visionary business, and going beyond being human.

Earthquakes in Your Backyard: Learn about seismology, tectonics, and natural disasters throughout history.

The Ancient Mediterranean World: This course discusses the history of ancient Mediterranean empires.

Search Engines: Technology, Society, and Business: Consider search psychology, economics, spam, and other topics relating to Internet search engines with this course.

Introduction to Human Nutrition: In this course, you’ll get an overview of digestion and metabolism.

MIT

MIT’s courses feature either audio or video, sometimes both, and are available as podcasts by department feeds.

Aircraft Systems Engineering: This course offers a view of the aircraft as a whole system, with an experienced astronaut as well as a shuttle project manager as professors.

Introduction to Biology: In these video lectures, you’ll cover core biology material.

Introduction to Psychology: Introduction to Psychology is presented as a series of audio lectures, with accompanying lecture notes.

Neuroscience and Behavior: These audio lectures discuss neuronal integration, anatomy, and physiology.

Brain Structure and its Origins: You’ll learn about CNS structures in this series of audio lectures.
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Elephants Never Forget - An Amazing Story about Elephants

In 1986, Dan Harrison (see picture left) was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Dan approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant’s foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Dan worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments.

Dan stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled.

Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.

Dan never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Dan was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenaged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Dan and his son Dan Jr. were standing.

The large bull elephant stared at Dan, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man. Remembering the encounter in 1986, Dan couldn’t help wondering if this was the same elephant.

Dan summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Dan’s legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

It probably wasn’t the same elephant.

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